2009-2010 Registration/Commitment Form
Youth Philanthropy:
Giving the power of philanthropy to young people allows teenagers to become valuable contributors now, as well as essential leaders for the future.
Successful youth philanthropy programs can contribute to many positive outcomes.The program responds to their need to belong and be a part of a peer group engaged in socially constructive activities. The experience gives them a basis for improved understanding of their importance to the community and encourages them to strive to achieve all they can in every walk of life. By participating in a representative youth philanthropy board, they develop abilities to work with a wide range of people from different cultures and contexts, which is increasingly necessary as society becomes ever more diverse. Giving young people experience with the power of philanthropy also integrates issues of community participation into the program approach. It is human nature to build ownership and give higher importance to those things in which individuals have the power to decide.
Society has denied youth any useful or productive role until they are in their twenties. Many of our social problems are caused because youth feel marginalized, disenfranchised, and alienated Institutions need to stop excluding youth and start to welcome the contributions they can make while they are youth.
In giving youth a VOICE and the power of choice, the youth philanthropy program is simply allowing and encouraging them to be committed, caring contributors to the community. Young people bring valuable new leadership skills and energies into the community, and, if allowed to apply their talents, encounter fewer limits to the growth and strength of the community. The additional creative and human resources are considerable.
Press release regarding ChangeMakers in Round Rock Leader
Photo feature of MLK Day of Service in Round Rock Leader
Benefits to Youth Participants
- Feel needed and useful
- Assume new roles and responsibilities
- Learn the importance of giving back to their community
- Gain a sense of belonging
- Develop skills to work with a variety of people
- To work across cultures
- To see all sides of issues
- To be more open-minded
- To he honest and have integrity
- Increase community participation through volunteerism, career exploration, and democratic activity
- Advance social skills and improve community-youth relationships
- Build ownership and pride in the community
- Decrease negative behavior
- Gain leadership, organizational, and personal development skills
- Gain community development skills and learn fund development
- Enhance skills in conflict resolution, teambuilding, and communication
- Become role models for other youth
- Learn community assets and youth needs
- Gain credibility as valuable community resources
- Meet new people, network with adult leaders, and gain future contacts
- Gain knowledge of organizations and running boards
- Learn to work with and leverage limited resources
- Recognizing talents and abilities, increasing self-esteem
- Work as partners with adults as allies
- HAVE FUN!
Benefits to Community
- Build awareness and understanding of youth problems and strategies for dealing with them
- Gain valuable new leadership skills and energies from young people
- Create a sense of community, encountering fewer limits to the growth and strength of the community
- Improve community-youth relationships
- Build awareness of youth potential and perspective
- Raise pride in the community
- Encounter fewer problems such as gang activity, alcohol and drug abuse, teen pregnancy, violence, and vandalism
- Develop skills to work with a variety of people
- Encourage committed, caring contributors
- Experience an increase in community participation
- Make an investment in the community, accomplishing important work
- Involve youth in planning and implementation, not just as recipients of services
Also, giving young people the opportunity to contribute to community decisions allows them to recognize the impact every individual has upon building an effective community - now and in the future. All too often, young people do not feel they can make a difference, so they don't try. But, youth philanthropy demonstrates just how essential they can be to the community. The experience increases volunteerism and awareness of community needs, often triggering dedication to other arenas and issues. Once youth learn of their importance to the community, they are eager to get involved and share their views and expertise.
For more information, please refer to this link which outlines an already successful program by which we are modeling our own. The first meeting will be held in September 2008.