Canadian Students are Givers

An impressive number of students in Canada find ways to give back to the community, even while they're still in school. Keep reading to learn how you can get involved.
 

Why volunteer?

If you're wondering what you have to offer, the answer is: a lot! Just ask one of the thousands of Canadian student volunteers:

"It gives you the opportunity to share part of yourself with those who can use some help or just someone to talk to," says Jennifer Lee, a longtime volunteer and Social Work student in Ontario. Over the last five years, she's volunteered with a street outreach program, March of Dimes™, a distress centre, a literacy organization and a hospital.

Even when volunteering meant leaving for her shift at the distress centre at midnight and working until 6 a.m., the experience was well worth it. "I learned about how I could promote change and be active," says Lee.

In the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (2000), (refer to Youth Volunteer Fact sheet in Related Links on the right side of the page) youth volunteers reported giving 154 million hours of volunteer time in 2000, averaging 130 hours each. That's far beyond the mandatory volunteer hours required by some Canadian high schools (for example, Ontario schools require 40 hours of voluntary work for graduation).

Youth aged 15-19 hold the highest volunteer rate of all other age groups with 37% volunteering.

Giving and volunteering are important first steps on the path to well-rounded success. According to a recent study in the Canadian Journal of Economics ("The role of credentials in the Canadian labour market", November 2002), volunteers were even found to earn about 7% more than non-volunteers.
 

Where to start?

• Contact your local volunteer centre. There's one in almost every community and they can help match your interests with an organization that needs help.
• Visit websites like Charity Village® and the Volunteer Opportunities Exchange (see Related Links on the right side of the page.) Volunteer Opportunities Exchange has listings based on the region you live in, the type of work you want to do and your availability.
• Read your local paper or look at the notice boards in your community centre for opportunities.
• Contact any organization you're interested in. Non-profit organizations are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. If you know how you'd like to help, call or visit and offer your services.
   

No time? No problem

Offering your time is just one way to contribute to a worthy cause. Many Canadian youth somehow find a way to make financial donations. Even if the contribution is small, it counts.

In the year 2000, according to the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (see Related Links on the right side of the page):

• 58% of 15-19 year olds and 70% of 20-24 year olds made direct financial donations to charitable causes.
• The average annual donation by youth 20-24 years was an amazing $118.

If financial donations just aren't a realistic option, there are a couple of ways to donate that almost everyone can afford: give up your old clothes or donate some canned goods to the food bank. In 2000, 59% of Canadian youth donated clothing and 49% donated food.

Giving and volunteering benefit everyone. You'll be reaping the many rewards of having contributed, and the organization you help out will have gained from your generosity.
 

Moral of the story

What will you get out of the volunteer experience? More than you know. You'll enhance your social awareness, learn about yourself through community service, gain self-confidence, and discover your strengths and talents. Above all, you'll find out what the old saying "giving is receiving" really means.