Province Launches Seventh Annual Youth Volunteer Challenge
High school students are being challenged to “change the world” while earning the volunteer hours they need to graduate. In its seventh year, the ChangeTheWorld – Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge is an annual call to volunteer. It encourages young people to contribute to their communities and to develop important transferable skills, such as leadership, communications and time-management. “High school students are encouraged to connect with one of the 23 volunteer centres across Ontario during the ChangeTheWorld campaign, so we can help them find meaningful volunteer opportunities in their community,” says Carine Strong of the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network.“This campaign is an important opportunity for youth to explore their passions, share their talents, gain skills and become civically engaged.”
The challenge starts this week, National Volunteer Week—Apr. 6 – 12—and ends May 19. Delivered in partnership with the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network, this year’s campaign goal is to get 33,000 students between the ages of 14 to 18 volunteering. “Students tell us the ChangeTheWorld challenge helps them develop many different skills—from listening, leadership, and networking, to communications, budgeting and organizational skills,” says Michael Coteau, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. “But what they most enjoy is helping their communities grow and knowing they’re making a difference in this world.”
QUICK FACTS
- Over 6 million people, from across the province, volunteer each year.
- In Ontario, youth aged 15 to 24 have the highest volunteer rate at 58.1 per cent.
- Since 2008, over 100,000 Ontario youth have contributed more than 433,000 volunteer hours in their communities through ChangeTheWorld.
- Ontario students must complete 40 volunteer hours to graduate from high school.
