There are many ways youth can volunteer in DC. You can serve at food banks, soup kitchens, tutor little kids (or kids your age), become a peer educator, or help to restore a landmark. To find out where you can help, visit
Greater DC Cares.
Serve DC helps organize a huge event each April called
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD)—a weekend dedicated to youth and their involvement in their communities. It is also the largest service event in the world, proving that youth really do care about their communities. In April 2008, Serve DC engaged 17,000 DC youth and their families in over 100 service projects for GYSD.
Does that sound like fun to you, yet? Well after you've added your two cents to help change the world—or at least this city—you can be recognized for lots of awards, like the Monthly Mayor's Community Service Award, the President's Volunteer Service Award, the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, or even the Points of Light Daily Service Award. Hey, think about that resume! Schools and employers love to see community service experience. It makes them say "When can you start?!"
Still want to know more? Take a look at some things kids your age had to say about service.
"There are lots of service opportunities out there that I didn't know about until now and I have met a lot of cool people while doing these projects. Plus, it's actually a lot fun and amazing to see the results when you're done."—Lisa Antoine, Mayor's Community Service Award winner
"As Youth Mayor of the District of Columbia, I believe that in order to have a vibrant, thriving city that reflects all of its residents we must all commit to serve our fellow Washingtonians and ensure that the dream of a thriving, inclusive, and progressive city becomes a reality. I also believe that youth play a special part in making that dream a reality by participating in community service and becoming stakeholders in the future of our city."
—Michael D. Clark, Former Youth Mayor of the District of Columbia
"I got to know the city I grew up in, in a very different way from any way that I had ever experienced it before. Part of it was just being in Barry Farm for the first time, really being in Southeast for the first time ... to be immersed in a part of the culture as a POSITIVE thing was an important thing for me ... spending time with you all this summer was an important part of the eternal project I am working on called 'Laura'."
—Laura Shiffrin, FLY Summer Camp Volunteer
To learn more about how you can join a youth service organization or create your own service project check out these websites:
