Hey! Today I will continue the teenage saga. Throughout my career I learnt one major thing about young people – that they have incredible energy, passion, and innovative thinking that can be easily used to make a positive change within communities. Unfortunately in the era of social media and TikTok influencers who rather advertise a shampoo than doing something good – do young people still see the need and purpose to help others? From the bottom of my heart I can answer with a YES!
I believe that teenagers are way more aware about the issues that today’s world is facing than we ever were back in the days. Look at Greta Thunberg – a young activist who struggles with her own limitations of autism but still could move masses and has made significant contributions to raising awareness about climate change and advocating for urgent action to address this global crisis. She is a brilliant example of how a young soul can actually make a difference. She has the passion, drive and perseverance of a conscious resident of this planet –a thing we can say about very few adults. Perhaps one of Greta’s most significant impacts is her role in inspiring a new generation of climate activists. If you want to – you can even check her book! Greta’s book is a truly useful handbook on how to change the world. Young people worldwide have been motivated by her example to take action on climate change, organizing protests, lobbying policymakers, and demanding systemic change. Greta’s activism has empowered youth to speak up and advocate for their future, fostering a sense of solidarity and collective action across borders.And she is only one example in millions of other young people who daily work on creating a better world for the future generations.
No matter how much we complain about the youngsters being selfish and invested only in themselves, we can still see groups of teens coming together to volunteer on a festival, helping their younger friends, aiding the elders or simply being dependable, kind and caring. I’ve known multiple teen educators for many years and most of them encourage and motivate their proteges to help their communities. I’ve seen youngsters volunteering at multiple events, gathering products for the Red Cross fund-raisers or taking care of local people in need. They work at animal shelters, collect money in charity events or work for local non profit organizations.
I believe it all comes from the home where a young heart grows up. It is either watered properly but its parents with love, care and empathy towards others or it’s neglected and withers. Not only their family background is essential though. Engaging today’s teenagers in community service requires thoughtful strategies and approaches but I know they can be encouraged. To motivate young people to get involved in community work, it’s essential to help them understand the purpose and impact of their contributions. We will explore here some actionable steps to inspire and empower young people to become active contributors to their communities so let me first talk to you teenagers.As a teenager you might wonder why helping your community is worth your time and effort, especially when you’ve got school, friends, and hobbies to juggle. Let me explain to you why.
When you help your community, whether it’s by volunteering at a local shelter, cleaning up a park, or tutoring younger kids, you’re making a real difference. You have the power to positively impact the lives of others, and that’s pretty amazing.Getting involved in your community allows you to meet new people from all walks of life. You’ll form connections with neighbors, fellow volunteers, and community leaders. These relationships can open doors to new opportunities, friendships, and perspectives.Helping others can be incredibly rewarding on a personal level tool. It helps you develop empathy, compassion, and leadership skills. You’ll gain confidence in your abilities and learn valuable life lessons along the way.By contributing to your community, you’re helping to create a better future for everyone. Whether you’re advocating for environmental sustainability, promoting social justice, or supporting local businesses, your actions have the power to shape the world around you. Aren’t you convinced yet that it’s worth your effort? I hope I’ve managed to motivate you enough so you actually move from the couch and take action.And if I haven’t please check out this book: Positively Teenage. The author of this fantastic read gives you a lot of truly easy strategies to develop a positive attitude and become a proud, motivated teenager.
And what can you do as an adult you may ask. Well…. Why don’t you start organizing workshops or seminars and invite young people to participate? Talk to them openly about the advantages of being an active community member. EXPLAIN to them the importance of living in a healthy community and how their efforts can actually make the difference. INSPIRE them with your own example of being a helpful person and show them how good it feels to help other people. EMPOWER young people to take ownership of community projects by involving them in decision-making processes and leadership role,TEACH them how to organize events, how to find ways to help or where to look for people in need in their own communities, and finally ENCOURAGE them to be creative, innovative and hard working by showing them all the skills they can acquire whilst helping others. Use social media to connect with young people and promote community involvement. Just like I’m doing now. They spend so much time online that creating safe spaces for them to share ideas and build their own skill is something we can do as adults. You should not forget about recognizing and celebrating the achievements of young people all over the globe. They’re after all our greatest power and future world leaders. If we teach them now to spread good they will continue to do so as future presidents, politicians, teachers, doctors and in whatever job they will be doing. Provide mentorship and guidance for them instead of bashing their overuse of social media. If they don’t have a place to learn the good things of course they will look for the bad ones.
Set a positive example by actively engaging in community service yourself. Demonstrate the values of empathy and compassion in your actions and interactions with young people. By leading by example, you inspire them to follow suit and become role models for future generations.Together, let’s invest in the next generation of community leaders and changemakers. Young people are the force you mustn’t undermine.. just help direct their energy into doing good.
And remember, helping your community isn’t just about racking up good karma points—though we hear those are worth their weight in pizza! So grab a friend, pick up a shovel, or just lend an ear. After all, the world can always use more heroes in hoodies. Now get out there and make the world a better place, one awkward high-five at a time!
Catch you later, Community Crusaders!
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