TEEN VOLUNTEER SHOWS THE YOUTH’S WILL TO HELP OTHERS

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jin Park. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jin Park’s summer vacation turned into so much more.

As a high school student, Jin was looking for opportunities to perform volunteer work during his summer break. Knowing that several of his friends were also looking for service opportunities, Jin wanted to take the obstacles out of finding volunteer work. In 2023, he formed Voluntas Juvenium, an organization that addresses critical needs in the community while helping young people grow into compassionate and engaged citizens. Functioning like a Craigslist platform for volunteering, Voluntas Juvenium, which means “will of the youth” in Latin, posts volunteer opportunities, which can then be picked up by interested volunteers. The organization became an official 501(c)(3) in 2024, and Jin hasn’t looked back.

The youth-led organization has spread like wildfire, becoming a network of 600 active volunteers across 17 countries on six continents. Last year, they had 700 volunteers who managed tasks like removing 10,000 pounds of waste, tutoring students for more than 2,500 hours and supporting 15 senior centers. In total, the Voluntas Juvenium network has contributed over 10,000 hours of volunteer work to worthy causes ranging from food banks and senior centers to cleanup campaigns and event organizations. Through every volunteer opportunity, the mission has been the same: to help the young people of the community address the needs of those around them.

Jin is a busy high school student navigating everything from pop quizzes to final exams. However, he still manages to get in volunteer hours every weekend, while simultaneously coordinating opportunities for other young people to take hold of their potential and serve others. A visionary for youth-led change, Jin believes that it’s the responsibility of young people like him who want to see a better future to start engaging with their community today. His work shows that through the power of volunteerism, the potential for a better future is possible.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I was planning to volunteer, and I realized that it’s hard for students to find a volunteer opportunity over the summer. I thought it would be helpful if we got rid of the boundaries by providing students with volunteer opportunities and organizations we have already partnered with. The thing that I realized was that it’s hard for the organizations to trust the volunteers that are coming in because they’re revealing their vulnerable parts. I thought that by going there together as a group, and saying that we’re all friends and we know each other, we can give a sense of comfortability and provide the students with access to volunteer opportunities.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Voluntas Juvenium.

In the beginning, this was a community of New York City-based high school students who felt very passionate about volunteering but couldn’t find opportunities. I would call around and ask if they wanted to volunteer over the weekend. Since it was during the summer, I would volunteer every day. Now that we have expanded the chapter into 17 different countries, my role is mostly to communicate with the local chapter leaders so that they can lead the volunteer events effectively. I also take care of training the new chapter leaders.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I think the most rewarding part is seeing the youth be happy after volunteering. Also, the sense of building a culture of service is a valuable and rewarding part. Our initiative has let the future generation be involved on a personal level. They aren’t just volunteers, but architects of a better future. Seeing that change happen to the volunteers is the most important part to me.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I think our impact on the community and the fact that the community requires our service and attention for it to be a positive and equitable society. We must engage with our community to be the changemakers of the future.

With a busy high school career, how do you balance running an organization?

I think that’s the toughest part. There are some days when I get a lot of homework. For the most part, I communicate with my teachers and see if any assignments are coming up. Based on that, I manage my shifts effectively. I think of it as having two-hour micro shifts every day while engaging with the community.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

At the end of the day, it’s the world that they live in. If they want to make a positive change in their community, they have to work on it. We believe that building a sense of community and having this impact on our community is the most crucial part of our organization, along with supporting youth voices.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I want them to truly care and enjoy what they’re doing, and be part of society and the community.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I think adults often see us as future leaders, and our organization has proved that we are ready now. Our organization’s value doesn’t only lie in our volunteer work. We care about our society and community, and we continue to prove that the youth aren’t tomorrow’s promise, but a powerful force for today.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Jin? Find local volunteer opportunities.