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Long summer days are just a few weeks away, and soon our weekends will be filled with swimming, picnicking, bicycle riding, amusement parks, and many more wonderful occasions to spend time with family and friends. School might be out but that doesn’t mean our kids can’t think about pressing social issues and become change makers, particularly against the backdrop of the global, humanitarian tragedies that have dominated the headlines for the past few months.
It’s never too early to introduce our children to the important role of youth in fostering positive change. Our children, who are among the leaders of tomorrow, have opportunities to play a part as partners for positive social change, taking control of issues which affect them, and working for the betterment of society as a whole. Therefore it’s important that they have a sense of social responsibility about what’s happening around them.
Perhaps your kids think that they’re too young to make a difference? Many students think that no one will listen to them. The truth is young people around the world are actively demonstrating their power to promote peace and global understanding. There are many ways they can raise awareness about important issues in their local community and there has never been a more pressing time to pitch in and assist in the well-being of poor children around the world by raising funds.
Five years ago I founded my organization Voices for Humanity to provide grassroots initiatives and resources for young people working on social change. I was motivated by my concerns for the world’s most vulnerable children and inspired by the compassion of the most privileged.
Voices for Humanity is an event production, fund-raising organization dedicated to fostering cross-cultural awareness and social responsibility among young people in NYC, while supporting communities in need. Our meaningful service projects have enable youth and their families to impact the world on a global scale by empowering them to be positive agents for change. My vision is to enrich the lives and minds of young people, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of social leaders while reducing poverty and inequity around the world. While all VFH events are fun, they are a catalyst to inspire and empower the youngest members of society to create meaningful and innovative ways to voice their opinions and take action for national and international causes. Many organizations exist that are truly transforming lives and the simplest ideas usually are the best.
Here are a few examples: Just selling $6 worth of lemonade in front of your apartment building or beach house can provide clean water for a community. If your budding philanthropist gets really motivated and earns $18 they can provide water jugs for three families.
We all know our kids like to talk on the phone – why not turn their chatting into phone time for soldiers oversees? By collecting used and old cell phones and sending them to Cell Phones for Soldiers, each donated phone provides an hour of talk time for soldiers abroad.
Need some ideas for your child’s allowance? Just 10 cents buys one school meal for a child in the developing world. Donate $20 and your child will provide one child with a school lunch for an entire year with the food for education program. Give up buying a new game boy cartridge and your $40 provides school uniforms as well as much-needed school books for four kids for a year.
If you are seeking resources, tools, and approaches that will educate your kids about global poverty and ways that they can take action in their community or in developing countries please feel free to check out Voices for Humanity or email me at ddolphin2@gmail.com.
Wishing all of you a wonderful summer.
Even the smallest light shines through in the darkness
