Volunteering isn’t just about giving your time—it’s about stepping up, taking responsibility, and creating meaningful change in places and issues that matter to you. For aspiring young leaders who are seeking platforms for change and leadership development, volunteering is a great start. It is not just about engagement but also about character development, honing skills, and bringing positive change.

At Global Peace Foundation, youth volunteerism is at the heart of youth leadership development. Over the years, Global Peace Foundation and its chapters have hosted various youth volunteering programs, providing young people with opportunities to develop their skills while serving their community.

As we look forward to International Youth Day on August 12, this blog explores youth volunteerism and how young leaders can kickstart their volunteering journey locally with practical, actionable steps.

Youth volunteers, across continents, have been engaged in service projects ranging from environmental cleanups to peacebuilding dialogues. Taking inspiration from their narratives, here is how you can embark on your volunteering journey for greater impact. But first, let’s examine some reasons why one should volunteer:

1. Make a Difference: Volunteering for a social cause brings change, no matter how small, and it creates a lasting impression. You can address real needs in their community- whether in education, health, environment, or inclusion.
2. Personal Development: When volunteering, you meet like-minded people. The breadth of the people one interacts with increases. When interaction increases, you gain lots of skills that are crucial for your personal development, from teamwork to communication to problem-solving.
3. Community Building: Volunteering brings people together. Sometimes, volunteering brings people from diverse backgrounds together and helps them create social bonds. These bonds eventually break barriers and nurture social cohesion.
4. Inspire Others: When you volunteer, you have a specific goal. A goal with the intention of bringing change not only develops ownership within you but also sets you apart as an example. Your initiative might inspire others to take on change through active efforts.

Steps to Starting Your Volunteering Journey:

1. Identify Local Community Need: Look around your neighborhood or town. What issues stand out to you? Are there public spaces that need cleaning? Do students need help with schoolwork? Are there elderly neighbors who need assistance? Look around, identify issues, and pick one that is close to your heart and that which you strongly believe in.
2. Start Small and Local: You don’t need a big budget or big organizations to start. What you need is unwavering motivation to see it through to the project’s end. Once you identify and pick an issue in your community, brainstorm on how you can address it. The solution doesn’t need to be a big one. It can be something as small as organizing a cleanup in your neighborhood or a food donation drive for the homeless. Small initiatives can have a lasting impact and are a great way to start volunteering projects.
3. Build a Team: Talk with your friends, classmates, or any local groups about your volunteering initiative. Gather like-minded people whom you think would be interested in your project. When you bring people together around a cause, the impact multiplies and creates a ripple effect that eventually helps the community in the long run.
4. Plan and Act: Once you have like-minded people who support your initiative, it is time to develop an organized plan. Set clear goals for your initiative, define roles for your team members, and have timetables. Plan ahead on the location, time, beneficiaries, and resources needed. Spread the word on your initiative through social media. Keep things simple and flexible.
5. Reflect and Share: Once you conduct your volunteering activity, take time to celebrate. First, take a pat on your back because you and your team deserve it. Then gather around and take some time to reflect. What went well? What could improve? What were the challenges? Share your experience with each other and share your story through photos, posts, or at schools. You could be inspiring others to start their own volunteering journey.

Here are some volunteering project ideas that you can start. Brainstorm and choose a simple project that you can manage within the next month:

1. Organizing a neighborhood cleanup day
2. Creating a tutoring or reading group for younger students
3. Running a food or clothing donation drive
4. Hosting a community dialogue on a local issue

These small initiatives, when rooted in service and dedication, can grow into powerful movements.

Volunteering isn’t just about doing good—it is about taking ownership of a cause that you believe in. It is about practicing leadership and bringing change. Every action you take builds a stronger community and strengthens your leadership and character.

Ready to begin your volunteering journey?

It begins with you taking the first step!