Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

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Why Should I Volunteer in Schools?

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

school volunteering

By now, school has started around the country, and while kids everywhere are heading back to classes, volunteers are heading back to school too!

Volunteering in schools can be beneficial for everyone involved: the students get to meet older students or adults from outside of the school, the school benefits from the skills and talent that the volunteer brings to the table, and the volunteer can grow their network and circle of friends!

Figuring out how to volunteer with a school is an important step in planning your volunteer role, but so is understanding the costs (mostly time) and benefits of volunteering.

Benefits for Students

volunteering in schools

Volunteers in schools can play an important role in the lives of students. They can be an important adult connection for students. Students who have involved adult volunteers in their school generally have better grades, better attendance, and higher graduation rates. Increased adult involvement also causes students to have more positive attitudes, more motivation, and higher self-esteem.

Volunteers may also help students by serving as a link between a school and a community. Students do better when schools, families, and communities work together, and involvement is strong.
Volunteers can be a strong advocate for the school they volunteer with. They can be a voice in the community for the school, helping to bring in needed resources or helping people to see the school as a positive force in their neighborhood.

Benefits for Schools

Schools can benefit from adult volunteers through:

  • Increased individual attention for students
  • Extra support on projects
  • Stronger ties to the community
  • Higher levels of parent-teacher communication
  • Increased capacity to better serve a wider variety of youth needs
  • Higher test/grade scores
  • Strengthened programs
  • Improved student behavior

Benefits for Volunteers

Volunteers benefit from volunteering, whether it’s from a closer peer-relationship with teachers and staff at the school or by building positive relationships with students. Volunteers benefit from their work with schools through:

  • Opportunities to meet new people
  • Improving communication, management, and interpersonal skills
  • Improving problem-solving skills
  • Increased self-confidence
  • A clearer understanding of school structure and curriculum
  • Gaining valuable job experience
  • The opportunity to serve as a role model for students
  • The chance to inspire, educate, and motivate future generations

Parents who are active in their child’s school can benefits at home, too. Parent volunteers can form tighter bonds with their children and often find themselves having more open discussions about life at, and outside of, school. Family members that volunteer aid their child’s transition from the home to school. By assisting in this transition, parents learn the structure and expectations of schools.

If you want to volunteer at your child’s school, get in touch with the school’s principal to find out where volunteers are needed in the school. If

Do you volunteer at a school? What benefits do you see from what you do? Let us know in the comments!

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Three General Functions Policies Serve in Volunteer Programs

Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

There are many reasons to write policies on voluntary action in nonprofit organizations. Such policies can be used to establish continuity, to ensure fairness and equity, to clarify values and beliefs, to communicate expectations, to specify standards, and to state rules. There is no more compelling reason for immediate policy development, however, than fear of the consequences of not doing so. Check out these three general functions policies serve in volunteer programs:

1. Policies as risk management

With this function, the volunteer manager look around the volunteer program, walk around the volunteer work site, observe hazards, and play the “What If?” game. These all fall under the first step in the risk management process called disaster imaging. This allows for the manager to determine where policies might prevent accidents and injuries, and to minimize the harm should an accident happen.  Make it a proactive to think in detail about policy development whenever a serious incident report arrives on your desk.

2. Policies as Values and Belief Statements
What do we hold as important? What do we value that volunteers need to know about? What is our philosophy about volunteers, about the work we do, about how we do business around here?Policy statements are a mechanism for both articulating and communicating values, beliefs, and positions. The technique to identify policies of this sort involves thinking through the values, beliefs, and positions held by the organization. Ask these questions:

  • What positions has the agency taken on issues, questions, or problems?
  • What does the organization believe regarding good and bad, right and wrong, proper and improper, ethical and unethical?


Finally, the organization must engage in a values sort, a process whereby values are prioritized, with those that emerge on top serving as the basis for policy development.

3. Policies as Rules

Policies can be employed as rules to specify expectations, regulations, and guides to action. A policy written to eliminate or reduce a specific risk might sound like a rule. However, a policy written because a rule is needed to guide a particular action may serve to reduce a specific hazard. To determine required policies of this sort, the manager might review existing rules, both written and unwritten. Also, think about advisements or directives issued verbally to volunteers that have never been written down anywhere, but reflect “how we do things around here.”

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Give Your Teachers More than Apples

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, the pool is becoming less refreshing, and the kids are starting to get antsy. It’s about that time of the year again… school time! The first day of school is just days away for many kids across the country. The start of school often means stress and instant panic for parents and teachers who scramble to get last minute things together for the new school year.

Being a volunteer for your community’s school is one of the best ways that you can combat school year stress; after all volunteering is proven to make us happier! Whether you are a parent who wants to become more involved in your child’s education or you are an individual just looking to make a difference. Check out our ideas to serve your community’s schools this upcoming year!

  1. Volunteer at the library: Many schools fall short when it comes to keeping up with their library and ensuring proper staffing. Volunteer at your child’s library to help with book donations, shelf organization, checking out books, or reading to children. It is a great way to meet your child’s teachers and remain visible at the school.
  2. Time to take a trip: Volunteer to chaperone for your child’s field trips. Teachers often lack the necessary funding to rent transportation for field trips. Volunteering your time to chaperone or drive will ensure that your child gets an enriching and fun education!
  3. Clean up on the school aisle: Have you noticed that your child’s school grounds could use some beautification? Put together a volunteer cleaning crew who will help clean up the school grounds and restore routine maintenance. Often schools need new paint jobs and other beautification projects. Volunteers can be a great asset to this need.
  4. Teach kids about the work force: Volunteer your workplace as a field trip. If you work somewhere that could be particularly educating to a group of youngsters. Suggest that your child’s teacher bring his or her class for a day of learning!
  5. Share your time and talents: Are you crafty or do you have a green thumb? Volunteer to a classroom volunteer. Teachers often need assistance with small classroom projects. Volunteer to teach children an arts and crafts skill or about gardening.
  6. Hold a donation drive: If you know a school that could benefit from some extra supplies; hold a drive at your workplace. Often teachers have to purchase their own classroom supplies. Help ease the burden on these teachers, by donating things that they need!
  7. Join the club: Volunteer your time with the PTA, planning committees, or school board. You will help make a difference on your community’s education system by being part of the decision making process.
  8. Tutor or mentor: Many kids are forced to go into after school or daycare programs when the school day is over because parents have to work. Volunteer to mentor a child after school. Present a mentoring program to your school, if they do not already have one. It is great way to get kids more motivated about school!

There are so many ways that you can volunteer in your community’s schools throughout the year, these are by no means your only options! Check out your local volunteer centers or speak with your school’s principal to see how your talents can be of use at your local school.

Have your volunteered at a school? We would love to hear about your experience or tips in our comments section below!

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Action Heroes Needed!

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

Today is a BIG day for youth service! “Why?” you ask. July 2nd is the beginning of generationOn’s summer youth service campaign, Community Action Heroes. In partnership with Hasbro, generationOn wants parents to teach their kids or teens the importance of serving their communities.

Summer is the perfect time to get kids involved in volunteerism with all the extra time they have on their hands! GenerationOn will rally thousands of youth volunteers to become active heroes within their community.

How does it work? Interested parents and youth can access the Community Action Hero application through the generationOn website. Kids can choose a challenge team and project ideas. Once a pledge is made, kids can also challenge their friends to be heroes through the use of social media. Once the challenge is met, kids can share their projects through video, essays, or pictures to inspire other youth. All participants will receive a certificate of completion after the project as well!

What issues can your kid pledge to volunteer for?

  • Animals: Five to seven million animals are rescued by shelters annually. Your child can help animals in the community by donating cat or dog food, bathing and playing with shelter animals, cleaning a dog park, raising money for guide dog training, creating emergency preparedness packs for pets, raising money for animal shelters, etc.
  • Literacy: Although summer is a great time to catch up on a new book, many kids do not have access to reading materials in their community. Kids can make a big difference for their neighbors by writing letters to policy makers asking to make education a priority, reading to other children, holding a book drive, organizing a book fair benefit, etc.
  • Health: Summer is a great time to be active outside, but unfortunately not all kids are healthy enough to play outside. Your child or teen can be a hero for sick children by making a lemonade stand, making books to make a smile, bingo at a senior home, anti-bullying posters, toy drives, etc.
  • Environment: No matter your age or size, we all have the power to improve our environment. Your child or teen can learn the value of helping the environment by getting his or her household to use eco-friendly cleaner, cleaning up a park or nature walk, hosting a green thumb party, cleaning up a lake or river, starting a recycling program, etc.
  • Homelessness: 770,000 homeless children are currently enrolled in United States public schools; the summer time is even harder because they do not have the safety of a school. Your child or teen can get involved in solving this important problem by making a work of art for a shelter, making a pillow buddy, hosting a princess party to collect fairytale books, making health kits, collecting school supplies boxes, advocating for the homeless, etc.
  • Hunger: Although summer is a special time for certain seasonal meal favorites, many kids do not receive their proper nutrients because they do not get school lunches in the summer. Your child or teen can be a hero for hungry children by participating in meals on wheels, making lunches, sharing extra food from their garden, hosting a fundraiser event to tackle hunger, etc.
  • Military: Our military men and women volunteer their lives daily to better our country, Your child or teen can show his or her gratitude to military servicemen  and veterans by making care packages, sending letters, sending them fun items to bring a smile, hosting a veterans’ dinner, interviewing and sharing a veteran’s story with the Library or Congress, etc.
  • Emergency prep: Summer is a time to relax, but is also a time for many heat related disasters and emergencies. Be a hero in your community and get others prepared by providing hurricane victims with essential items, collecting smoke detector batteries, making and delivering first aid kits, raise awareness about summer emergencies, providing homeless shelters with evacuation plans, etc.

The world needs more action heroes, are you up to the challenge? We hope that your children will make the pledge to accept one of these eight hero challenges to better his or her community!

Check out generationOn, the youth volunteer enterprise of Point of Light, to learn more about the Community Action Hero Challenge.

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Posted in Education, Emergency Preparedness, Environment, Events, Family Volunteering, Kids, Military, Service Learning, Volunteering, Volunteerism | No Comments »

Boost that Resume, Volunteer!

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Are you a recent graduate looking for a new job? Maybe you are someone who is looking a for a new career path to develop some skills? Volunteering is the best outlet possible to do all of these things!

Why? Volunteer work benefits your professional goals because it allows you to acquire new skills that your professional degree may not allow you to develop otherwise. Volunteer work is also a great way to cram the gaps in your work history.

Win-win situation, right? Not only do you help your community, but you also boost your personal life! Check out how volunteering can help boost your professional skills below!

Assertiveness: You can develop your assertive skills by serving as a fundraiser soliciting pledges or support. Recruit others to support an organization or cause.

Budget management: Plan or chair events with a budget. Volunteer for a board position with financial responsibility. Volunteering to be in charge of an organization’s budget will greatly help you in the financial world!

Change management/ strategic awareness: To develop this professional skill participate on an organization’s board or advisory council, participate in a focus group, or help write a group’s vision.

Computer skills: Computer skills are a necessity for most professional jobs. To increase your skill set develop an organization’s database or provide data entry for a group or project.

Conflict resolution: To hone in your conflict resolution skills serve on a board, manage a function or event, or serve as a subcommittee chairman.

Cultural awareness: To become more culturally aware, become a tutor or mentor, or volunteer in an activity that works closely with people unlike yourself. IT is important to expose yourself to all types of people to better develop this skill. Make this a habit and not a one time occurrence.

Creativity: In order to develop your creative skills you will need to step out of the box a little bit. Try volunteering at a children’s arts and crafts project or volunteer to paint a school mural.

Delegating: Want to get better at delegating tasks? Try chairing a committee or assuming a leadership role within an organization such as becoming a volunteer manager.

Event planning: You can become a bigger pro at event planning by coordinating volunteers or sitting on a committee for a big event.

Leadership: Leadership skills are big eye catchers on a resume. To develop your skills serve on a chairman board, be a spokesperson for an event or organization, or volunteer as a mentor to a young community member.

Organizational skills: Need to get more organized in the workplace? Volunteer to sort donations, provide clerical services, or plan an event.

Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills are a must! Better engage your skills by being an on-site manager for a big event or be a project leader.

By adding volunteer experience to your resume you will start building up that skill section in no time! Whether you are unemployed or looking to start down a new career path, it is always great to volunteer in your free time!

How has volunteering boosted your resume? We would love to hear your stories in the comments section below!

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Volunteer to help a recent college grad!

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

With the plethora of graduation ceremonies I’ve attended recently, I began to think about how myself and others can hopefully help college graduates find jobs. I’ve compiled a list of five ways you or someone you know can volunteer your time to help recent graduates secure employment.

  1. Mentor a graduate student. Mentoring a college grad can include suggesting job openings, submitting a resume to someone in your organization with a job opening that your mentee may be interested in, reviewing and editing a resume, or simply providing encouragement. While college grads are excited about their recent accomplishment, the quest for employment can be daunting. Encouragement from a mentor can mean a lot to someone who has loss motivation and hope while searching a job. 
  2. Review and Edit Resume. While, there is no right or wrong way to write a resume, a college grad may need some assistance with adding their newly acquired education, formatting their resume, or help with the content for their qualifications and responsibilities of past jobs and activities.
  3. See a job opening? Since you’re mentoring an awesome college grad, they’re always on your mind. So, if you happen to come across a job posting that is applicable to your mentee, send it to them, whether it’s an email, pigeon, or the actual mail, get the word out to him or her. They may not have seen the posting or felt unqualified for the position. Additionally, remind them to keep their options open and to not discount jobs that may appear unqualified for.
  4. Help with the Cover Letter. Since, the cover letter is just as or maybe even more important as the resume; your awesome college student will be hopefully waving you down with all flags and flashing lights seeking your help with their cover letter. So, here’s what you can do: Set up a meeting or make edits with additional suggestions for their cover letter; provide cover letter samples.
  5. Advise your mentee to volunteer! Volunteerism is an excellent addition to a student’s resume. Since a college grad may lack work experience, they can make up for it with volunteering. We’re HandsOn Network are (surprise!) strong advocates for volunteering. And as a mentor, you can join them! Volunteering can be a rewarding experience for both you and your mentor, and an edition you can also make to your resume ;-)

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Summer is here! Volunteer at a Museum!

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Now that Memorial Day has marked the beginning of the summer, get out and volunteer at a Museum! Volunteering at a museum can be quite rewarding. Whether it’s the tourists, employees, or fellow volunteers, you’re able to interact with people who are all interested in the similar thing. In society, museums play the role of collecting and caring for objects of scientific, artistic or historical importance and making them available to the public. With more than 17,500 museums in the United States, there’s bound to be one that serves your interests.

1. If you’re interested in finding out more about your own heritage, you may consider volunteering somewhere like the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Chicago, Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena or the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle.

There are also museums dedicated to specific artists, such as the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts or the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. And if you’re a little bit country, or a little bit rock ‘n roll, don’t forget the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee or the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

2. When it comes to finding a job, it’s all about who you know and what you can do. And a museum can be the perfect training ground for launching your career.

Working at a museum can help sharpen professional skills like working with the public, organizing programs, raising

money and working with computers. It can also beef up your resume and help facilitate a move from one industry to another — such as a banker who transitions into becoming a history teacher by volunteering at a historical museum.

3. Job searching aside, studies have shown that volunteering leads to greater life satisfaction, lower rates of depression and better mental and physical health, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service.

It’s not just about getting out of the house and finding something to do. Volunteering at a museum expands your network and puts you in contact with patrons, fellow volunteers and museum administrators. If you’re looking for regular employment beyond your volunteer work, this could lead you to the next big thing.

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May is Mental Health Month!

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

1 in 4 Americans-nearly 60 million people-live with common and treatable mental health disorders. Check out these 5 easy ways you can volunteer during mental health month.

  1. Help with teen screening. Become a trained community volunteer and administer questionnaires to teens. Teen Screen was developed by researchers and health professionals at and has been used in school districts around the country. Mental health screening can identify teens with mental, emotional or behavioral problems early, before they develop into full-blown disorders. Screening in­creases the likelihood that struggling teens get the help they need and minimizes the impact of mental disorders on teens’ lives.
  2. Support Someone Close to You. If you have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, you are probably wondering what you can do to help.  As in any relationship, emotional and practical support is always needed. Occasionally, family and friends participate in someone’s recovery by offering transportation, financial and housing assistance. Whatever form it takes, your support, compassion and respect matter.
  3. Fight the Stigma: Become A StigmaBuster! The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) StigmaBusters is a network of dedicated advocates across the country and around the world who seek to fight inaccurate and hurtful representations of mental illness. Whether these images are found in TV, film, print, or other media, StigmaBusters speak out and challenge stereotypes. They seek to educate society about the reality of mental illness and the courageous struggles faced by consumers and families every day. StigmaBusters’ goal is to break down the barriers of ignorance, prejudice, or unfair discrimination by promoting education, understanding, and respect.  Numbers do count, so let your voice be heard!
  4.   Share your story. We all know how empowering human connections are to those seeking wellness and recovery. By speaking out about your experiences, you help give a voice to millions of American adults who have a mental health disorder. Your story will help bust the stigma that keeps people from getting care and perpetuates misunderstanding about those affected by mental health disorders.Tell your story and give a real voice to a great cause. Your story can change a life, and even save one.
  5. Research! Although mental illness affects 1 in 4 Americans, mental illness remains a stigmatized issue that many people choose to ignore; however, with research and understanding, we can all remove the stigma and encourage people to seek support and treatment without feeling ashamed. So please take the time out to research mental illness, so that if you notice someone with symptoms of mental illness, you can potentially encourage them to seek help.
How do you plan on honoring Mental Health Month?

 

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You Could Live the Life of a Zoo Keeper for a Day!

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

This week one of our favorite Points of Lighters will be visiting Washington, D.C! So that got us to thinking about how, if we also had the opportunity, we would spend our time volunteering in the Nation’s Capitol!

1. Become a Smithsonian Volunteer! The first thing everyone thinks about doing when they find out that they’re going to D.C. is to visit the Smithsonian! According to its website, volunteers are an integral part of the success of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. There are a number of ways to volunteer at American Art, either interacting with the public or working behind-the-scenes on special projects. Volunteer opportunities include being a tour guide, working behind the

scenes in the archives and laboratories, and much more! Whatever you just to do, if you love art we’re sure you’ll enjoy it!

2.Volunteer with DCPS! Visiting on a school day? D.C. Public Schools welcomes volunteers who want to use their skills and resources to help our students succeed. They’ve got a wide range of volunteer opportunities for you to choose from. DCPS volunteer opportunities include tutoring students in math and reading, mentor high school students, helping with administrative tasks, or beautifying one of the DCPS campuses (including one immediate need right now for an artist to paint a mural in a school!

3. Volunteer at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WMMC) with the Red Cross!  By volunteering with WMMC, you will be part of an important support network for all areas – clinic, hospital, and administration. Here you will find an outlet for your available time, interests, and talents! Your preferences and the

Medical Center’s needs are considered in assigning you a position. Training by the Red Cross office as well as “on-the-job” will help you feel comfortable in your new role!

4. Be a Volunteer at the National Zoo! Volunteers offer invaluable support to the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.  Volunteers are needed at the zoo to act as interpreters, guides, keeper aides, office support, and much more!

As you can see there are endless fun and exciting volunteer activities for you to do while in Washington, D.C. Check our affiliates HandsOn Greater D.C. Cares for more information!

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Kevin’s Story: Music is his Motivation

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Today’s blog post comes from MusicianCorps, a nonprofit organization sector of The Center for Music National Service. MusicianCorps trains and places musicians to serve full-time as teachers and mentors in low-performing public schools, youth centers, and other high-need community settings. MusicianCorps uses music to reengage youth in their academic and civic lives, and provide them skills to succeed in the 21st century economy.

“I play guitar in Mr. H’s class. He teaches me a lot of things about music—how to listen to it, how to make the music sound good—he’s helped me out a lot. Mr. H corrects us if we’re doing something wrong or if we’re off track. He’s an awesome teacher. Music is like my safe haven – if I’m mad or feeling bad about anything, I just go straight to my guitar and start playing. It makes me feel better.”

— Kevin, MusicianCorps student

As a freshman at June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco’s Excelsior District, Kevin was having trouble fitting into his new surroundings. Kevin struggled with core academic subjects and was becoming discouraged by his poor grades.But no matter how frustrated Kevin would get with his math or English, he loved to play guitar. Realizing this, the school guidance counselor placed him in class twice a week with MusicianCorps Mentor Hernando Buitrago, or as Kevin liked to call him, “Mr. H.” MusicianCorps quickly became a big part of Kevin’s in-school and afterschool experience – he even became a regular fixture during lunch period drop-in jam sessions.

For weeks, Kevin and other students were preparing a performance for an upcoming school assembly. However, due to his poor grades in other classes, Kevin was not allowed to perform with the group. While he was disappointed, Kevin knew he would have to work harder so that he would never miss another opportunity to perform. Mr. H worked with him throughout the week to make sure he was getting his work done and keeping the right priorities.

In time, Kevin’s grades began to improve. Recognizing his commitment, Mr. H invited Kevin and other students to perform for Veteran’s Day at the Palo Alto VA center. Kevin seized the opportunity. On a day off from school when most of his classmates were still sleeping, Kevin was awake at 7:30am with his guitar in hand ready to be picked up for the performance. “It was cool to play for the Veterans,” Kevin said. “They seemed to enjoy it and some of them came up and played with us.”

With music as his motivation, Kevin continued to work hard and improve his grades. “MusicianCorps is the reason I want to keep coming back to school,” Kevin said. “I need music. It makes me feel a lot better about myself. It makes me feel like I have something to do.”

For Kevin, music provides motivation to succeed in school.

March is Music in Our Schools Month. Check out MusicianCorps and find out how you can promote the importance of music in our children’s schools today!

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