Encouraging your teen to volunteer is not such an easy task because he/she is more likely to say that they really haven't got the time amidst all the work and studies they have, while the less confident, more shy teen, would say they wouldn't know what to do. But volunteering is not just helping others. It is guaranteed to help the teen too, emotionally and physically, in ways he/she probably wouldn't expect. The main challenge for the parent is to get the teen seeing the possibilities and understanding what is involved, as well as the possible rewards, for themselves, and there are five steps to this.
First step is to try to establish what your teen is interested in. What are their hobbies? What do they spend their spare time involved in? What things do they talk of doing, or wish they could do? This is the time to have some good chats to identify their interests and to help them assess how they could use those interests to help others while building their own skills in the process. For example, many teens might see voluntary work as hands-on in every respect. But sometimes, simply handing out leaflets that raise awareness of health issues like AIDS can raise awareness among the general public of useful ways they can prevent it. That's a detached kind of help which might not need regular commitment but is extremely useful in keeping people informed. The more confident teen can take the next step and actually give talks in schools on this issue, or others, which would improve their own interactive and presentation skills.
Second step, mention the possible benefits of volunteering. What the teen actually learns or take away from their experience is up to them, but there are eight main ones they could enjoy:
a. Increased self esteem, much greater confidence and feeling of value.
b. Alleviate boredom and helps teen to structure his/her time constructively and in more manageable ways.
c. Empowers the teen when he/she is able to see the effect, and results, of what they can help to achieve or inspire.
d. Opportunity to learn useful new skills that can be of value in the workplace, new problem solving ideas and greater awareness of themselves and others.
e. Improve personal teamwork skills by having to work with others in structured and directed ways.
f. Opportunity to meet new people and to make new friends, to build social and networking skills. In effect, volunteering removes the focus on the self by helping the teen to relate to peers more positively, and give him/her new perspectives on life.
g. Excellent for including on college and job applications because it shows the teen was active on behalf of others, which would have exposed him/her to diverse experiences. Above all, it demonstrates their caring attitude, using their initiative and working in teams: very good attributes for leadership roles.
h. Developing wonderful memories for the future, especially if teens volunteer out of their habitat, by widening their positive experiences to be part of the bigger picture of life.
The overwhelming benefit to the teen will be one of value, reinforcement of their skills and ideas and, though their efforts, helping to affect the lives of others, either in their community, country or the world. That is often very motivating and fulfilling.
The third step is to help the teen to start in very small motivating ways that they can manage and will also fill into their schedule. Local volunteering opportunities are excellent when the teen isn't really sure that's what they want to do and isn't quite sure how to begin. It would slowly build their confidence to become more involved. Best places to begin are places of worship: the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. They will have lots of opportunities to help and to serve. Next in line are the local places that serve the community like libraries, hospitals, parks, recreation, museums, senior citizens, children's and leisure centres, or even sending packages to our troops abroad. Another popular one could be reading for the blind, simply visiting a sick person in a hospice and reading to them, or keeping someone's company for an hour. The ideas are endless and there are tons of activities to choose from. The Internet or local directory is a great place to search but word of mouth, especially from others already involved, or from one's school, is even better. There are activities one can even do from home, if the teen is a self-motivating type. By starting locally, and working outward, the teen would be involved in their own neighbourhood and for a small amount of time, until they get the confidence and knowledge to work out how they wish to progress it.
Fourth step is to encourage the teen to have a trial of anything that they like. It could be just one afternoon, or one day, or even a couple of hours. By trying out two or three in the first instance they could eventually settle on one and give full commitment that. The advantage of a trial is that, initially, there could be unexpected teething problems when the teen gets involved: perhaps personality clashes, the unexpected and feeling overwhelmed, challenges that are likely to emerge as the teen settles in. Volunteering as a trial will help to resolve some of those issues and to steer the teen towards the kind of activity that suits their personality, needs and talents.
A teen should not for forced into continuing with any programme they are unhappy with but they should be reminded of the importance of their responsibilities and obligations whenever they seem like flagging or are being inconsistent with their assistance. They should be encouraged to trial various activities but once they have selected one or two, their commitment becomes paramount because their help will be indispensable.
Final step: Once they become involved, keep encouraging them and noting their progress. Then a few weeks or months into their projects, review their experience with them to find out how they feel. A good talking point could be the eight benefits above and which ones they believe they might have tapped into the most. It should be interesting, and fun, to hear it from the teen's perspective. Listen to concerns and any obstacles they might have found, but try to help them identify and celebrate their successes. Emphasise the difference their presence would have made to the activity and the people on the receiving end.
When teenagers learn to serve others, they become far more empowered, and less egocentric and selfish, because they gradually learn that, in their own small and unique way, they can make a difference to their world which gives them the respect, esteem and personal value they seek.