How to Help Students Find Volunteer Work

Students who do volunteer work in the community may have an edge when it comes to obtaining college acceptances and scholarships. School administrators and teachers may help students find suitable volunteer activities by encouraging them to volunteer at hospitals and local and national charities; the school may also develop programs to help students volunteer in the school building. Teachers may also want to start a peer mentoring program to help students obtain volunteer experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet connection

1. Help students find volunteer work by encouraging them to apply as a volunteer at local hospitals and soup kitchens.
2. Start a program at the school to help students volunteer in the office or library. Begin a teen mentoring program to give students additional volunteer opportunities.
3. Help students research volunteer opportunities at local and national charities by bringing in newspapers and providing lists of helpful websites (see Resources below). Guide students to volunteer opportunities that mesh well with their stated career goals.
4. Ask the Guidance Department to speak to students about summer volunteer programs or vacations. Many colleges have programs for high school students to get some volunteer experience over the summer. Some programs even offer volunteer abroad programs during the summer for high school students.
5. Explain to students how volunteer work listed on their resume may give them an edge in obtaining college acceptances and scholarships. Colleges expect students to be involved in community service. The regard volunteer work as an important aspect of a high school student's achievements.

Tips & Warnings

• Be proactive about helping students obtain volunteer work that relates to their career goals.
• Bring in applications for college scholarships that require volunteer experience to show students that volunteer work is crucial to obtaining some scholarships.
• Do not participate in every volunteer project students create.
• Do not overextend yourself.