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  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    There are so many ways you can get your 40 hours of community service completed. Besides volunteer centres, you may be able to find other alternative ways to get your mandatory service hours.

    If you are living in Ontario, check out these guidelines listed on the Ministry of Education website:

    http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html

    These guidelines will let you know what is considered acceptable and not acceptable volunteer activities. If you don’t live in Ontario, visit your provincial government website’s high-school volunteer guidelines.

    An excellent search resource for students looking to complete their hours is charityvillage.com . This website allows you to search for volunteer listings all over Canada. It is easy to access and will give you a choice of many different volunteering opportunities.

    Another great, easy, searchable resource for finding volunteer opportunities is volunteermatch.org . This website will let you search opportunities all over Canada, as well. It is easy to navigate and allows you to search by category or what you are passionate about.

    What Volunteering Can Do for You

    Volunteering can turn into a life-long habit. If you are passionate about helping others or a specific cause, it may follow you throughout your life. You can learn a lot about yourself, your community, and others. Even though it is a requirement in high-school, it doesn’t have to stop there. Your interests might change over time, but you can always go back to how you felt while volunteering in high-school. Do not see volunteering as a chore- see it as a chance for you to walk in someone else’s shoes.

    Tip: Whatever you do, don’t leave volunteering to the last minute. If you do, you may not be able to get your diploma-you don’t want that to happen!

    Tip: You don’t want to be grunting and groaning through your volunteer experience- you want to enjoy it. Remember to research and take up opportunities that you will like and have fun doing.

    Tip: Mix it up! You don’t have to pick only one type of volunteer opportunity. It may be in your best interest to do some hours at one organization and finish the rest with another.

    Revised by Erin Lynne Bouman

  • The Benefits of Volunteering

    The Benefits of Volunteering

    When it comes to our busy schedules, most people can’t even find the time to squeeze in a meal let alone find the time to volunteer. And much like the difficulties associated with deciding between which clubs to join in school it’s difficult to know which organization or charity to volunteer with. But, even if finding the time to volunteer seems daunting, there are plenty of places to volunteer and the benefits gained are something that could very potentially add to your life for the better.

    When I was in high school, getting in my community service hours seemed more like a chore than anything else. I remember volunteering with my friend at her church and going to help serve food to the homeless in the winter. I felt like I needed to be there because I was pretty much forced into getting my hours in order to score my diploma. I’m not sure how it was with other high school students but that was definitely not the attitude to have walking into volunteer work.

    Then university hit. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but in my third year I decided to become a volunteer note-taker for any students who were associated with the Accessibility Centre. It never once felt like a chore because I had decided on my own terms to do it. I knew that I was being relied on, which made me feel good, and I also knew that I was making a difference for the students who wanted to work with me. This feeling of helping and knowing I was making a difference eventually blossomed into me furthering my volunteer experience to becoming a study partner. Before she graduated, one of the women I was helping told me that I was the most wonderful, and dedicated person she had ever worked with. It was an incredible feeling and at the end of the year I knew that I had made a new friend. I was also even granted a certificate upon completing a year of volunteer work.

    Volunteer work has lots to offer you. Not only will you make several connections with people but you’ll also be able to add something to your resume; the great feeling that comes with helping people benefits them but also you. You need to make sure that you do it for you though and not just because you have to, otherwise it’ll feel like work. There are lots of places you can go to volunteer, though some do require a commitment from you, which is another reason why you need to make sure you want to do it. But you have tons of options for where to volunteer. And by volunteering at one place, you open the door to more facilities and charities you can work with as well as enriching your experience in the workforce and in life.

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    • Promote volunteering
    • Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers
    • Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities
    • Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • 3 Surefire Tips for Smart Volunteering

    3 Surefire Tips for Smart Volunteering

    These days, if you wish to get your foot in the door of prestigious colleges and universities and high-profile companies, you need more than a remarkably written application letter and a well-rounded personality to seal the deal and get ahead of the competition. You need to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crop. One good way to do that is to include your volunteer experience in your applications, and more often than not, doing so is an effective way to grab the deans’ or prospective employers’ attention.

    However, if you want to volunteer, always remember that it’s about the people or organization you lend a hand to—not about you. So while it’s good to know that volunteering is adding a feather to your cap, don’t forget to have your heart and mind in the right place. Below are tips for smart volunteering.

    Do an extensive research.

    A wide range of volunteer opportunities exist, but to come up with a substantial list, prepare to do an extensive research. Look in your local papers, community or church newsletters, and websites like Volunteer.ca and Cadip.org. Don’t underestimate other sources, however. Your family, friends, and neighbours may also have good recommendations.

    Find a cause that you are passionate about.

    Once you’ve done your research, chances are, you will have a long list of options, and it can be overwhelming to narrow down your choices, but don’t draw names out of a hat! It all boils down to knowing what issues or causes you care about.

    For example, if you are passionate about animal companions, offer to help shelters in your community. If you feel strongly about environmental causes, submit your volunteer applications to the organizations that promote awareness of environmental issues through tree-planting activities, park or beach clean-ups, recycling campaigns, and the like. If you have a soft spot for the senior members in your community, join organizations that provide meals and transportation for the elderly. Volunteering for organizations with beliefs that are in line with your own means you are likely to give your all, and that is the most important thing.

    Plan your schedule.

    You can volunteer for as many organizations as you like, but remember not to overstretch yourself. Volunteering can be an exciting experience, especially when you begin to see the fruits of your efforts, such as forming friendships with the people you help out and receiving words of appreciation from them, but do not overcommit. The last thing you want is to renege on your promise to help out. As such, if organizations are planning for a big event, such as a pet adoption day at the neighbourhood park, double-check your schedule before you specify a volunteer shift. Remember that volunteer heads have a lot on their plate, and if you agree to a date or time that your schedule don’t really allow, the heads would be forced to move schedules around and rethink their plans as well.

    Take note of the three tips above, and you will be on your way to make volunteering a worthwhile learning experience. After all, it’s a chance to give back to your community. That’s a worthy enough reason to do things right. Good luck!

  • Paying it Forward with Volunteering

    Paying it Forward with Volunteering

    On special occasions such as birthdays or Christmas, many people like to give gifts to their family and friends. They might give objects like books or toys, or they might decide to give an experience like a trip to somewhere special.

    Often, people give gifts to people who have given them something in the past, but sometimes they help someone else instead. People call this action “paying it forward,” and one of the most common ways that people pay it forward is through volunteering. Do you ever pay it forward in this way?

    People have tried to help each other throughout history, but the term “pay it forward” is relatively new. It has become a popular idea since an author named Catherine Ryan Hyde used the term as the title of one of her books, in which she wrote about the concept of doing good things for others.

    The idea of paying it forward is fairly simple: people should give gifts or help to others instead of returning the favour only to the people who have helped them. For example, suppose that someone helped you by finding your lost bicycle. The next day, you might decide to help a third person with a problem that you know how to solve. That’s what paying it forward is all about; helping strangers or other people whom you might not normally help.

    Finding someone to help is not always very easy, but working for a volunteer project can be a good choice. Many Canadians are involved in volunteer work in different areas such as sports and recreation, social services, and education. They might coach a sports team, visit the elderly, or tutor at a school. Some people renovate houses for the poor or deliver baskets of food and gifts to people who can’t afford to buy what they need. Opportunities are available for almost any kind of volunteering.

    Suppose that you got help from a tutor in one of your classes when you were struggling to learn what you needed to know. You could pay it forward by volunteering as a tutor at your school or in a community centre. Or suppose that one of your friends wants to play on a sports team but lacks the necessary skills. Maybe you needed help when you wanted to get onto the team, and someone took the time to assist you. Now, maybe you want to give someone else the kind of help that you got. You and your friend could practice together after school.

    Volunteering and paying it forward is different for each person. Maybe you know how to teach writing or mathematics. Maybe you enjoy caring for animals or raking leaves. Whatever you can do to help people can be part of paying it forward. You might even start a new paying it forward movement and help to change the world, at least for a few people.

     

    Bibliography:

    Hay, Susan. Volunteer organization looks to ‘pay it forward’ http://globalnews.ca/news/1033474/walls-of-hope-make-a-difference-to-families-in-need/

    Pay It Forward Day.com. “About the Day.”

    http://payitforwardday.com/about/about-the-day/

    Vézina, Mireille and Susan Crompton. “Volunteering in Canada.” http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2012001/article/11638-eng.htm.

    Volunteer Action Centre. “Building Blocks for Youth Volunteer Engagement.” https://volunteer.ca/content/building-blocks-youth-volunteer-engagement.

     

     

  • Exercise Your Compassionate Nature through Volunteering this Summer

    Exercise Your Compassionate Nature through Volunteering this Summer

    No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks- You’re free! Summer is great time to let loose and shake off all the lingering anxiety of those dreaded tests, assignments and projects. However, the summer can’t only be about sunshine and lollipops. It can also be a time where you explore different sides of yourself because you have the time and space to do so. With this thought in mind, it is always good to embrace your giving, empathetic and more compassionate side. In order to get the most out of your summer, you can break your time down in to 3 categories: Work, play and volunteering. Volunteering can make you feel great, but the best part is that you are helping others. What happens when you help others in need? The world changes a little bit more for the better- and that is a beautiful thing!

    If you really want to make a difference in people’s lives this summer, you can. All it takes is a positive attitude and a willingness to give up some of your free time. There are volunteering positions that are full time and require travel and accommodations, but there are always part-time positions available, most likely in your own local area. You need to find and narrow down the right position for you. What subject matter do you feel passionate about? You don’t want to “get stuck” into doing volunteering for a cause you don’t even care about. There are many students/people that do volunteering work only because they think/know they have to, in order to fulfill guidelines for school or otherwise- this is the wrong approach. Exercising your compassionate nature through volunteering can increase your level of happiness, but most importantly, the happiness of the people you are helping.

    There are many different types of volunteering positions. They can range from stuffing envelopes for your local community newspaper, to helping out at a retirement home. In helping at a retirement home, you are really impacting the lives of people directly. When you are stuffing envelopes at your local community newspaper, you are more or less taking on a job that some of the staff members couldn’t fit into their schedule- there is a big difference, here. You can choose to do either one of these types of volunteering positions, but to become informed and make a lasting impact, I would choose the retirement home.

    Where you are 10 or 18 years of age, you should always exercise that more empathetic side of yourself; volunteering is one way to do it. Whatever you do this summer, be productive. Accomplish things. The carousel never stops turning and either should you.

    Listed below are some Volunteer options across Canada and Abroad for summer 2015:

    Therapeutic and social programs for elderly people in Vancouver, BC.

    Volunteering Abroad

    Volunteer with First Nations Communities in Alberta!

    Red Leaf Volunteer Programs in Canada

    Care & Rescue for Bears and other Canadian Wildlife

    Your Connection to Canada’s Volunteering Community

    Red Cross Volunteering

    Ontario Volunteering Options and Programs

    YMCA Volunteering- Toronto

     

  • Why Not Volunteer this Summer?

    Why Not Volunteer this Summer?

    Summer is here. School is almost done. The question on everyone’s mind: How will you spend your summer? If you are looking to get more out of your summer vacation, consider volunteering! You will learn new skills, gain great experience for work or school, and meet tons of new people. Volunteering is also a great way to learn something new that you’re curious about, but may not be familiar with. You might discover a new passion, or a future career. Deciding where to volunteer is tough. Most towns and cities have many volunteer options, and figuring out the best fit can be the hardest part. A good first step is to think about talents you have, activities you enjoy, or activities you are curious about but have never experienced. Then you can look for related volunteer opportunities. Ask yourself, “Am I interested in…”

    • Plants, Nature, or Gardening? Your local Horticultural Society may run projects such as community flower and vegetable gardens, or planting projects in public spaces.
    • Kids and Sports? Facilities such as the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club, and community youth sport leagues, often need helpers to assist with their programs and activities.
    • Kids and Books? Public libraries offer literacy and activity oriented summer programs for kids and youths, such as games, group story time, or buddy reading.
    • Working with Animals? Local animal shelters often need volunteers to assist with cleaning cages and socializing the animals.
    • Medicine or Working with the Elderly? Many hospitals and nursing homes operate programs for volunteers to visit with patients and residents, and engage them in activities like games, crafts, and exercises.
    • Arts and Culture? Summer is ripe with events and festivals that rely on volunteers, such as outdoor music festivals, artisan and craft fairs, or performance theatre events such as those run by the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals. Summer is also fan convention season, and many cons, such as FanExpo Canada, have volunteer opportunities for a few hours, all day, or all weekend.
    • Working with your hands? Habitat for Humanity and similar programs in your area are often most active in the summer months, and usually need extra hands when there are projects in progress.
    • Social Services and Non-Profit? Most Canadian cities have food banks, Goodwill and Salvation Army facilities, and a host of other community non-profit companies and programs, all of which rely on volunteers to support their efforts in your community.

    Of course, these are only a few of the options available. Regardless of what type of volunteering you find yourself interested in, the second step is always… Do Your Research! If the event or organization has a website, check to see if their volunteering needs are posted; if not, use the contact information to inquire. Make sure you learn what tasks will be required or assigned to you, if there are any age requirements or restrictions, and how much of a time commitment they will expect from you. Once you decide on your volunteer opportunity, step three is… HAVE FUN!

  • Summer; and What to Do with It…

    Summer; and What to Do with It…

    Summer. For some students this means vacation, relaxation, hot weather and no school. This is what summer is all about. Unfortunately, with this comes summer learning loss.[1] This is the loss of basic math and literacy skills created by the two month summer break students receive. It is important that students stay involved mentally and physically throughout the summer. With all of the beautiful weather, students have many opportunities to work, volunteer and study, thus keeping their minds active.

    Summer holds many employment opportunities; outdoor jobs such as landscaping and public parks patrol, to indoor jobs such as lifeguarding and clerical work. Ontario Parks offer seasonal jobs to students. Students can expect to network and meet new people, developing new skills for the future. They can also earn professional certifications such as a CPR and WHIMIS training.[2] Deafblind Ontario is another interesting and helpful organization that hires students. This organization is devoted to assisting individuals who are hard of hearing and visually impaired. Aside from working, students can also volunteer both for experience and to accrue the required community services hours needed for a high school diploma. A fun way to volunteer is to help coach organized sports.[4] The YMCA of Canada also offers many volunteer opportunities. Students can greatly expand their knowledge of a chosen field by volunteering and potentially gain full-time employment upon graduation.

    While summer vacation can be relaxing, students tend to forget what they learned in the previous school year. It is important that students continue their studies and keep their mind and body both mentally and physically active. Playing sports is great way to stay fit. Reading is also an excellent way to stay informed and mentally alert. It is essential that students continue their academic and personal growth over the summer.  By working and volunteering, students can meet new people, develop and improve their skills and discover new things about themselves. So, my advice is to make the most of your summer by mixing together work, play and volunteer; you cannot loose!

    [1] http://www.canada.com/life/curb+summer+learning+loss/1731823/story.html

    [2] http://www.ontarioparks.com/careers

    [3] http://www.deafblindontario.com/summer-students

    [4] www.peelschools.org/students/40hours/volunteerjobboard/Documents/Dixie%20Soccer%20Club.pdf

  • It Feels Good to Volunteer!

    It Feels Good to Volunteer!

    Volunteering is an opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and to contribute to your community. When volunteering, you are provided with a repertoire of experiences that can help you to better understand how the world works. The more knowledge you gain, the more able you are to face the challenges that life presents you. Some people do not learn from being in a classroom; they prefer to learn in hands-on ways. Volunteering can also put you in touch with different people who you may not otherwise meet. Meeting new people and gaining new experiences is a great way to grow personally.

    When you are volunteering, you can choose to volunteer in an area that is related to your area of interest for a future career. Doing the volunteer work helps you to gain experience working in your field; this not only looks good on your resume, but also will give you some skills that may be useful to you in the future. Doing some exploration of your field of interest is equally useful as you may discover things about working in that field that you like or that you do not like. Gaining some insight into what tasks you enjoy doing and what tasks you find tedious will help you to identify some of your strengths and weaknesses as a worker – information that is invaluable when conducting interviews for a similar paid position.

    Contributing to your community is another benefit of volunteering, and it is something that is particularly important once you have put in significant studies in a particular area. There is a time for learning and there is a time for giving back, and volunteering provides a great outlet for helping others and reflecting on all that you are grateful for. When volunteering in your own community you may be able to help people who have previously helped you, or to help within an organization that has helped you in the past.

    Choose an organization that you believe in and within which you think your skills and abilities will be valued. Good luck!

  • Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.