What Kind of Youth Volunteer are You?

Now that you have decided to volunteer, here is a great quiz to lead you in the right direction of what kind of volunteer organization would work best for your. {hopefully its the Polished Girlz all the way!}
Thanks to YouthNoise for this awesome head start.


What causes or issues matter most to me? Education? Health? Homelessness?

• What organizations address this issue?
• Are these organizations in my community?
• Where can I find more information about these organizations? (The magical Internet is usually a good place to start.)

1. Am I concerned about a cause for which there is no organization?
   • Would I like to learn how to tackle a new issue?
   • Do I know other people who would be interested in taking this on with me?
   • What's the best way to do this? Should we start an online campaign or a school club or perhaps a secret society?
2. What types of things am I good at doing? (Writing, working with kids, construction work, art, interpretive dance)
   • Can my skills from a hobby or recreational activity benefit others?
   • Do I want to use my talents as a volunteer?
   • Do I want to learn a new set of skills?
3. What would I most like to learn by volunteering?
4. What DON'T I want to do as a volunteer?
5. Do I want an ongoing, short-term or one-time assignment? Do I want to start a serious relationship, or would I prefer to keep things casual?
6. How much time do I really have to spare?
7. Do I want my volunteer work to start immediately?
8. Do I want to work alone, with a group or with family and friends?
   • What kind of people do I want to work with? What kind of people do I NOT want to work with? (Fear of clowns should be noted)
9. Do I want to take a training course if the agency or organization offers it?

Enjoy Girlz!

What Makes a Good Youth Volunteer?

We get lots of questions wondering how we choose our young volunteers for this organization. We believe that you are never too young to share your gifts of love with others although for safety and privacy reasons we do need to make sure that our young leaders are ready to work directly with our clients. Here is an amazing example of what makes a great volunteer from www.pbskids.org :

Be selfless. Selfless is the opposite of selfish. Don’t think about what you can do to help yourself. Think about what you can do to help others.

Be well-trained. Know what you’re doing as a volunteer. If you need some time to learn your job, take that time. If you need training or need someone to show you what you’re supposed to do, speak up. If you’re good at your job, it will be much easier to help others (plus you’ll have a lot more fun).
 
Be dependable. Do what you say you’ll do, and do your best. Don’t show up late, and always keep your promises. People will be relying on you so you don’t want to let them down.
 
Be enthusiastic. Don’t moan and groan your way through your volunteer work. If you really don’t like what you’re doing, find something else. Always have a positive attitude and show others that you’re doing this because you WANT to.
 
Be open-minded. One of the really great things about being a volunteer is the chance to learn and experience new things. Keep your mind open to new possibilities, and you’ll probably grow as a person.
 
Be respectful. Always remember to show respect for other people and other cultures. Keep in mind that your way of thinking or living is not the only way there is.
 
Be cooperative. Don’t be a “hot shot” or a loner. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Work as part of a team to make sure everyone gets a chance to participate and do his or her fair share of work. If someone asks for help, be willing to lend a hand. If you need some help, ask politely for it.
 
Be understanding. Try to see things through other people’s eyes. Try your best to understand what other people are going through, even if it’s something you’ve never dealt with yourself.
 
Be humble. Humble people don’t brag or go around telling everyone about all the good things they’ve done just to get some attention or feel superior. They’re happy knowing that they’re making a difference, and don’t need to shout about it.
 
Be friendly. Treat others like friends, and they’ll do the same for you. Many people who volunteer meet new people with whom they want to stay friends. You might just meet someone who becomes a buddy for the rest of your life!

Enjoy-