Global Youth Service Day 2010

From April 23^rd-25^th 2010, millions of youth in over a hundred countries will do their part to make their communities a better place during the 22^nd annual Global Youth Service Day. Established in 2000 by Youth Service America, GYSD is the largest service event in the world. Organized by Youth Service America, the National Youth Leadership Council, international organizations, national coordinating committees, and thousands of partners, GYSD mobilizes youth to address the world’s most critical issues through service led programs and service-learning. GYSD was inspired by the success of National Youth Service Day, which launched in the United States in 1988. Over the past twenty-two years, GYSD has brought together more than 40 million youth in partnership with families, schools, communities, faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments in thousands of communities worldwide.The three main goals of GYSD are to mobilize, support, and sustain. GYSD mobilizes youth to identify and address the needs of their community, organizations to provide opportunities for youth service projects, and media and politicians to promote youth as assets to their communities. GYSD supports youth on a lifelong path of service, and schools and organizations through training and technical assistance, grants, and resources to engage youth. Lastly, GYSD strives to help communities sustain improvements through year-round engagement of youth as leaders.GYSD outlines three main reasons why the event exists. Firstly, access to information around the world by youth has led to an increase in awareness to their potential contribution to society through service. As a result, millions of youth are becoming involved in service projects at all levels of society (locally, nationally, globally). Secondly, research in the United States shows that youth who volunteer are more likely to continue onto higher-education, and become active citizens through voting, participating in community groups, and giving philanthropically. In addition, youth who volunteer are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, become involved in delinquent activities, and drop out of school. Lastly, service programs provide mentorship for youth, a pre-requisite for youth to achieve healthy and complete development.Past GYSD projects, as described on their official website, are as follows:

Tarija, Bolivia

“Forty youth addressed the public health issues surrounding unsanitary drinking water with the help of a Disney Minnie Grant. They were trained as public health educators and facilitated workshops for the community. The workshops focused on the serious threat of gastrointestinal diseases that can arise through drinking unsanitary water. They integrated art and literature into these workshops and provided participants with easy ways to disinfect their drinking water.”

Washington, USA

“Youth volunteers from various faith communities partnered with D.C. Habitat for Humanity to address the pressing housing needs in a Northeast Boundary neighborhood where public housing has been taken down. Volunteers embarked on boats to perform a shoreline cleanup on Kingman Island in the Anacostia River, Washington’s “forgotten river,” that runs through historic African-American neighborhoods.”

Kuchinarai, Thailand

“Twenty youth and eight teachers engaged fifty-five children orphaned due to AIDS in a week-long summer camp focused on education, life skills, leadership, and self-esteem. The fifty-five youth, ages seven to fourteen, tutored each other in math and literacy skills, organized a talent show, learned more about HIV/AIDS, and participated in academic competitions. The participants returned to their communities as resources with accurate information about HIV/AIDS.” For more information on GYSD 2010, and how you can get your community involved, visit: www.gysd.org