1. Teenagers are an extraordinary asset and resource to a community, possessing unique perspectives, idealism, energy, creativity, and commitment. This makes them particularly valuable in addressing society’s unmet needs.
2. Youth service activities have a unique ability to create strong, diverse communities of inspired, intelligent, civically engaged young people.
3. Youth-led service projects are most effective because decision-making gives young people ownership for the solutions. Nevertheless, adults are important partners with youth to maximize the impact of their service by providing them with resources and support services.
4. Service-learning is a valuable learning method that, if adopted widely and implemented with high quality, promotes student achievement and civic engagement.
5. Service-learning provides opportunities for meaningful community service experiences with academic learning, personal growth, and civic responsibility .
6. Teen Leadership Corps instructors and staff promote respect and compassion through dignified service to all generations.
7. Teen Leadership Corps service-learning programs promote reduction of general stereotypes and facilitate cultural understanding among students and community members.
8. Youth empowerment provides a ripple effect creating community rapport for ALL generations.
Statistical Support of Service- Learning Programs
• 94% of poll respondents believe that a good education is much more that just learning to read, write, and do math.1
• 90% support including service learning in their local schools if service learning helps to create a partnership between schools and communities.2
• 89% agree that service learning encourages active citizenship and community involvement.3
• 90% agree that service learning helps students build the skills they need to be successful in life.4
• Youth who volunteer just one hour a week are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or engage in destructive behavior. 5
• Teens say the benefits received from volunteering are: learning to respect others, learning to be helpful and kind, learning to understand people who are different from them, developing leadership skills, becoming more patent, and acquiring a better understanding of good citizenship.6
• Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote, and be philanthropic. 7
"Studies demonstrate that if you engage in helping activities as a teen, you will still be reaping health benefits sixty to seventy years later." 8
"Research has shown that helping others is highly protective for adolescents, reducing risky behaviors while increasing well-being and self-esteem." 9
1,2,3,4: Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc., Public Attitudes Towards Education and Service Learning, November 2000 (www.learningindeed.com).
5: Search Institute, 2005.
6: Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996.
7: UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute, 2001.
8: Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Stephen Post, PhD, and Jill Neimark, 2007. (pg 2)
9: Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Stephen Post, PhD, and Jill Neimark, 2007. (pg. 24)
Lead. Serve. Inspire the World
