Argentina’s Youth Create Tech Solutions to Community Needs
The 2016 GE Global Month of Service connects employees worldwide around a commitment to serve, with thousands of GE employees volunteering their time and talent to build stronger communities where they live and work. This month of service, in partnership with Points of Light, demonstrates the power of individuals to create change in their communities.
After several years of political and economic unrest, including a recession beginning in mid-2015 that pushed the unemployment rate to 9.3 percent, Argentina’s new president, Mauricio Macri recently declared the country “open for business” as part of a campaign to restore economic viability.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to being successful in the new Argentinian workplace. Low wages and a convenient time zone make Argentina an attractive international partner for businesses in the United States – in fact, Globant, an Argentinian software development firm, recently became the first Latin American company to go public on the NYSE.
As Argentina seeks to re-enter the global marketplace, GE volunteers are making sure that the next generation has the skills they need to contribute to this new growing economy.
In collaboration with Junior Achievement, GE hosted a Youth Innovation Camp at their Argentina headquarters in Buenos Aires that challenged 40 students from four local schools to find innovative solutions to problems faced by the modern city.
GE volunteers first gave the students, ages 16 to 18, examples of real-life solutions GE has developed in response to community issues in the areas of healthcare, energy and technology. The students were then broken into teams and, using GE innovation as a model, challenged to brainstorm ideas for smartphone applications that address challenges facing the city. Finally, the students presented their app solutions to a panel of GE employees.
The goal of this program is to help students “understand that they can promote an idea to solve problems in the city,” said Florencia Montoreros, manager of GE global parts and repair solutions for the Caribbean and Latin America, who helped organize the event. The students also gained valuable presentation experience as they explained their ideas to the panel, Florencia added.
Some ideas that the students came up with included an application called Basurin, which would alert citizens when their trash truck was arriving so that they could bring their trash directly to the truck and help cut down on the amount of litter in the city streets.
Another app, called Quisque, would help resolve parking problems in Buenos Aires by sending users real-time updates about parking availability on city streets and even allow users to pay through the app.
The winning proposal, an application called Techno Save, would send users a notification if they left a light on in their house and allow them to turn it off from the app’s interface.
By encouraging students to develop innovative solutions to everyday problems, GE is helping Argentinian youth build valuable research and critical problem-solving skills they can apply to future careers in business and technology. This will not only have a positive effect on the students’ lives but also on the ability of Brazilian communities to meet the needs of their citizens and compete in the global economy.
The Joy Maker Challenge Inspires Kids to Give Back for the Holidays
The holidays are a great time to get kids and teens involved in spreading joy and giving back! Finding a cause they’re passionate about and doing a service project to contribute to that cause helps them develop compassion for others, be kind and support their community.
That’s why generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, and Hasbro have partnered for the seventh annual Joy Maker Challenge. The campaign encourages youth to engage in meaningful, hands-on service projects, and spread joy and kindness through volunteerism during the holiday season. For every kid or teen who engages in service, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots, up to $1 million worth.
generationOn has also selected 100 Kindness Ambassadors spread throughout the country, who will each be equipped with 100 Hasbro toys and games to bring holiday joy to children in need through a range of projects, including:
Violet Humble of Spokane Valley, Washington, is hosting a party for children from local transition homes, foster homes and shelters who often are not included and don’t get to attend parties. In addition to getting to spend time together and play games and enjoy food, she’ll be surprising them with gifts for attending, as well as goodie bags.
Xolo Maridueña will host a service project with kids on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Children will come to a fun holiday event where they will write letters to seniors in local senior centers. After completing the project, the kids will be able to pick out a wrapped toy to go home with.
Renee Lynn Scott of Eastport, New York, will work with youth volunteers to make special cards for children of cancer patients. They will then work with Survivor’s Little Helper to deliver Christmas trees, toys and cards to families to help alleviate the emotional and financial burden holidays can have when parents are battling cancer.
There are so many ways for kids to show they care! From Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, teens, teachers, parents and youth development professionals can register, find service project ideas, and share their stories of service on The Joy Maker Challenge website. The challenge is a part of Hasbro’s ongoing Be Fearless Be Kind initiative, which inspires and empowers kids to have the compassion, empathy and courage to stand up for others and be inclusive throughout their lives.
Give Thanks by Giving Back
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we look for ways to demonstrate gratitude to the people closest to us. The holiday season is a good time to give back, but also serves as a reminder about the importance of giving back year round. One excellent way to show gratitude is to look for opportunities to give back to the people or organizations that have given something to you over the years. To get you into the holiday spirit while also tapping into your spirit of service, here are some ways you can give thanks by giving back.
At school:
For many, some of life’s best experiences have taken place at school. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to show your gratitude to all the teachers who have invested in your life and education.
Host a school supplies drive
Help students succeed by making sure they have all the supplies they need to learn. You can arrange a school supplies drive using this guide, which also includes donation ideas. You can also contact your school district or school of choice directly to find out how to make the most effective donation.
Help out at an afterschool program
Help make sure children have the best possible educational opportunities by supporting afterschool programming and tutoring groups. Get in touch with your local school to find out what kind of programs they host, offer to start and lead your own club, or volunteer with organizations like Reading Partners or the Boys & Girls Clubs to help students unlock their true academic potential.
In your community:
In addition to volunteering at local food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters, there are many ways to get involved in your community around the Thanksgiving holiday. Many people have a reason to be thankful for community groups or recreational programming offered at a local community center. Maybe you’ve participated in a club, took swimming or art lessons, or you stop by the rec center every weekend to get some exercise in. There are lots of opportunities in your community to give back by helping others enjoy the same programs and facilities.
Lead programs in your community The programming offered at your local community center is often organized by your town’s parks and recreation department. To get involved, contact them directly and see what volunteer opportunities they have. Most cities put out a program guide so you can have a better idea what you might get involved in and find something you’re excited about.
Support an organization If, as a child, you took part in organizations like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, consider giving back to them by volunteering a couple hours a week as a leader. Or, if you want to get the whole family involved, Doing Good Together helps connect families who want to give back with local nonprofits that need help.
If none of these ideas work for you, there are lots of other ways to show thankfulness with service! You can volunteer at other places that are important to you, like your local hospital, food bank, or your place of worship. You can show gratitude to veterans, your elderly neighbor, or even your cat or dog. Think about who you’re thankful for and brighten that person’s day!
Looking for more ways to give back? Check out All for Good for opportunities to give back in your area!
, revealed that veterans are more likely than non-veterans to volunteer with their neighbors to fix problems in their communities.
Last year veterans volunteered an average of 169 hours of their time compared to an average of 126 hours spent volunteering by non-veterans. More than 10 percent of veterans worked with their neighbors to fix problems in their community compared to just under 8 percent of non-veterans.
“The military teaches us the value of purpose and the importance of principles,” said Bill Rausch, executive director of Got Your Six, during a panel discussion on the findings of the report.
Janaia Deshields, vice president of veterans and military programs at Points of Light, joined Rausch and Sec. Bob McDonald, Department of Veterans Affairs, on the
.
“There are tons of issues in our communities right now and our country where we should be uniting to come up with solutions. … Our veterans are going to be leaders in those communities,” said Deshields, who is also a U.S. Army veteran.
Volunteering is a two-way street, and while there are many ways the veterans benefit from the work of volunteers, communities nationwide benefit greatly from the dedicated, ongoing service of veterans and military families.
Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jose Martinez found his calling with
, an organization that evokes veterans’ inner call to service and engages them in projects that will improve their communities. Through a platoon-like structure, meant to resemble the internal structure of the military, The Mission Continues helps veterans reconnect with both their communities and themselves.
“When you leave the military, you’re starting all over. And you lose that – whatever it was in the military that you were – sergeant first class, a private, even your name because in the military we go by last name or nickname. You’re no longer that person anymore,” Jose explained.
This sentiment is echoed by many other veterans who find that volunteer service gives them renewed purpose as they transition back to civilian life. “All of us have this sense of wanting to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” said Sec. McDonald, during the Got Your 6 panel discussion.
In addition to connecting with their community, veterans are able to connect with other veterans through volunteer service.
For example, Daily Point of Light Award honoree Krystol Stinson, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, works with returning vets who struggle with mental health and finding employment. Her work with
, which unites veterans facing physical and mental disabilities with service dogs. Since he started this program in 2007, Stovroff has helped more than 250 veterans recover from physical and psychological challenges.
15-year Marine veteran and Daily Point of Light Sean Gobin founded
, a nonprofit therapy program that takes veterans on scenic nature hikes to aid their transition and help fight PTSD. Gobin has hiked with more than 71 veterans.
To engage veterans interested in volunteer service, some nonprofits and other volunteer organizations are leveraging the hard work ethics and tactical organization skills gained through their military service. Veterans can become service leaders in their communities through programs like Points of Light’s
Engaging with veterans through volunteer service can be one of the best ways to thank them for their service, provide much-needed support and recognize the important role they play in our communities. Veteran reintegration is not a challenge but an opportunity to partner with and support them as they transition. Here are some ideas for giving back and celebrating their service on Veterans Day and all year round:
provides an excellent opportunity to give back to veterans locally by helping them with everyday tasks like grocery shopping, yard work, or running errands. It’s a great way to build relationships with veterans in your community and help them remain independent.
2. Serve alongside veterans
Many veterans get involved in community service as a way of finding purpose and connecting with their neighbors upon their return to civilian life. Through organizations like
, you can support service projects led by veterans and partner with them to create change in your community.
3. Volunteer at a hospital
Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, nursing homes and clinics can always use volunteers to support patients and staff by performing various duties. To get involved,
Get creative and organize your own DIY service project to benefit veterans in your community. Some ideas include building a community garden, hosting a resume preparation workshop for returning vets or organizing a welcome home project, or collecting and archiving a veteran’s story through the Veterans Oral History Project.
Learn about Points of Light’s Military Initiatives, and the importance of engaging with veterans and the military community through service. And, find more opportunities to get involved at www.allforgood.org.
The Joys of Giving Back in High School
Completing high school volunteer hours can sometimes be an arduous activity. Your busy schedule filled with sports practices, extracurricular activities, college applications, and spending quality time with friends does not always lend a spare moment to volunteer service. Did you know that volunteer experiences are excellent resume builders and can even help decide what career to pursue in college? To ease your search for the perfect project, here are some of the best ways to make volunteering a fun, easy, and social task while beating the time crunch.
Busy after school?
Organize a one day service project with friendsEnjoy the outdoors with friends and participate in a river clean-up through American Rivers. You can also host a care package assembly party with organizations like Operation Gratitude or Give2TheTroops to help out deployed troops, veterans, or wounded soldiers. Or, you can make blankets for the homeless and distribute them to your local homeless shelter
Collect lightly used toys or non-perishable food items to donateCharities are always appreciative of food and toy donations, especially during the holiday months. Use this guide to decide where to send toy donations, or look up your local food bank for food donations.
Want to flex your tech knowledge?
Teach computer skills to the elderlyYour computer skills are not only valuable for writing college essays, they are a valuable asset that you can share with the elderly or disadvantaged in your community. Net Literacy has a collection of free teaching guides to help you teach any group of people.
Offer your social media skills to a nonprofitYour experience with social media can be an invaluable resource to nonprofits or other organizations in your area. Read about how technology has become a lever for social change or peruse this list of organizations that will help you find opportunities to put your skills to work.
Looking to get hands on?
Organize a bake sale to raise money for your favorite charityBecome a culinary volunteer and show off your baking skills while supporting a good cause. You could get involved with an organization like Great American Bake Sale that uses grassroots fundraising and passionate youth volunteers to help fight childhood hunger.
Create your own service projectHave a unique idea to help improve your community? generationOn, Points of Light’s youth service division, has a number of great resources to help you get your project started.
Have an active social life?
Bring food to those who cannot leave their homeIf you have a driver’s license and access to a car, consider volunteering with an organization like Meals on Wheels to bring food to seniors and disabled community members who are not able to leave their homes.
Discover a cause you are passionate about on DoSomething.org’s campaign pageYou can specify how much time you have available and find out how you and your friends can get involved in your limited free time.
Didn’t find your ideal service project listed here? Search for even more opportunities to have fun while giving back at allforgood.org.
Civic 50 Honorees AT&T and Hasbro Made a Difference by Mentoring Youth
Maya Angelou. Quincy Jones. Sting. Tom Brokaw. President Bill Clinton. What do all of these
sector leaders AT&T and Hasbro Inc. recognize the importance of mentorship – especially in the lives of underserved youth who may lack the resources or individuals in their lives to guide them through tough decisions such as college, career, and more. While leaders in their respective sectors, these companies have also taken the lead on aligning purpose with profit and giving back to the community, and in these examples, through youth mentoring.
With the introduction of their innovative community and talent development program, Transforming Talent,
– the consumer discretionary sector leader for the 2016 Civic 50 – stands by their purpose to make the world a better place for children and their families. In partnership with
, a leading workforce development and higher education nonprofit, Hasbro provides college classes, corporate internships, educational stipends, and mentoring to youth that simply need a chance. This strategic partnership with Year Up allows integration between Hasbro’s community engagement program and its business interests.
Transforming Talent provides a platform for Hasbro to work toward their employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion goals, but more importantly, generates a pipeline of full-time, diverse talent from young adults who would otherwise not have access to the corporate workforce. The success of Hasbro’s Transforming Talent program is evident through the statistics alone: 75 percent of the Transforming Talent graduates
, the company’s signature philanthropic initiative focused on helping students succeed in high school and beyond, launched an expanded mentoring program. Through Aspire, AT&T collaborates with leading education nonprofits to match employees with students who will benefit the most from mentoring. The program is a flexible resource for both employees and students as mentoring events take place in the classroom, at AT&T locations, within the local community and even online.
This school year, AT&T is contributing more than $1.3 million to innovative organizations such as
to help even more students explore their potential through online and in-person mentoring. They are also providing funding to bring careers to classrooms through an innovative program called
that matches professionals with classrooms virtually to help connect what students are learning at school to their future careers. As of January 2016, more than 160,000 students had been mentored in 336 cities for a total of 1 million employee volunteer hours. AT&T has demonstrated a profound impact on the communities they serve by helping underserved youth connect with their passions and potential.
AT&T and Hasbro demonstrate what can be accomplished when companies use their internal strengths and resources to improve the communities where they live and work. As sector leaders of the Civic 50, they scored the highest in the annual Civic 50 survey, a benchmarking effort to recognize and honor the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation. Hasbro and AT&T are just two examples of the many companies that are translating good intentions into sound business practices and best using their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.
Do you work with a community-minded corporation that is a champion of corporate engagement and exemplifies the ideals of the Civic 50? Follow the Civic 50 on LinkedIn or Twitter or email [email protected] to receive updates on the 2017 survey, which will launch Tuesday, November 15 and close on March 1, 2017. For more information and a full list of the 2016 Civic 50 winners, visit www.civic50.org or sign up for our technical assistance webinar “2017 Civic 50: What You Need to Know” which will take place on Friday, November 18 from 1 – 2 PM ET.
3 Ways to Volunteer for Election Day
Election Day is just around the corner! Not only is this day an exciting opportunity to take part in our democracy, it’s also a day with many volunteer needs. By taking advantage of service opportunities at the polls, you’ll help give others the chance to exercise their rights and have their voice heard. As you prepare to cast your vote, here are some ways you can help others make the most of their Election Day:
1. Become an Election Worker
One of the most prominent ways you can give back on Election Day is to partner with the Election Assistance Committee and sign up to be an election worker. You’ll find yourself on the front lines of democracy, providing assistance to voters, helping with location logistics, and supervising the voting process. Review worker requirements and get in touch with your local election official.
2. Shuttle people to and from the polls
One reason some people don’t vote is a lack of reliable transportation to get to a polling location. Whether they don’t have a car, are elderly or disabled and can’t drive themselves, or don’t have access to public transportation, you can help them out with your vehicle. Many local and national campaign offices, as well as some senior communities, look for volunteers to shuttle voters to and from the polls on Election Day. Contact your local organizations to learn about available opportunities, and find the closest polling location.
3. Get involved with a campaign to help get out the vote
If there’s a candidate or campaign that you feel very strongly about, get in touch with the local campaign office to see how you can help out by making calls, going door to door, or distributing signs. Many local groups are still actively recruiting volunteers to help get out the vote—they’re sure to appreciate the last minute push. Or, strike out on your own and start conversations with your friends, family, and neighbors encouraging them to vote and talking about the issues you care about. Find out who’s on your local ballot.
4 Ways to Volunteer with Cats
October 29 is National Cat Day! For those hoping to celebrate this day by giving back to our feline friends, here are some ways to get involved:
A great way to help kittens and cats in need is volunteering at a local animal shelter or cat rescue. Shelters are always looking for committed volunteers to help feed, socialize and care for the animals, and you can have lots of fun helping cats find their forever homes. Contact your local animal rescue organization to learn more about their needs, or search for opportunities on All For Good.
Shelters often run under tight budget restrictions, and welcome donations for their feline residents. Food, litter, treats, blankets, and towels are on most shelters’ wish lists, but it’s best to contact your local organization directly to find out what they need most.
If you’re not ready to become a full-time pet owner but still want to help cats in need, many shelters and rescue organizations are in need of short-term foster parents—a commitment usually ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Because of their age or their health, some kittens need more attention than what the shelter can provide, making foster homes key to a healthy start. Foster programs are usually based locally, so a good way to get connected is by contacting your local shelter.
What better way to celebrate National Cat Day than to bring home a kitty companion of your own? There are thousands of cats in shelters that need forever homes, so if you’re ready to become a cat owner this is the perfect time to take the plunge! When you adopt from local shelters and rescue groups, you give a homeless animal a second chance. Find out how to best prepare for cat ownership, learn how to evaluate where to adopt your cat, and find an adoptable cat in your area.
Find more opportunities to volunteer with animals in your community using All For Good.
How Ruach Tova is Tapping into the Global Power of Good Deeds
Ten years ago Ruach Tova, or “Good Spirit” in Hebrew, set out to change the culture of service by encouraging and facilitating volunteer opportunities in Israel.
Ruach Tova, a global affiliate of Points of Light, founded Good Deeds Day on the basic premise that “every person can do a good deed and create positive impact.” In 2016, more than 1.5 million volunteers completed 14,000 projects in over 75 countries. Now in its 11th year, the day is an engaging way for individuals to create change in their community by addressing local needs, educating young people and distributing health resources. Through the global Good Deeds Day, Ruach Tova emphasizes that there are countless ways to dig deep and positively impact the community.
At the 2016 Conference on Volunteering and Service, Ruach Tova received the Points of Light Affiliate George W. Romney Excellence Award for their extraordinary work with Good Deeds Day. The award was established in 1996 to honor Governor Romney and his personal commitment to volunteer service and each year highlights various elements of volunteering and service. Governor Romney was chairman and CEO of American Motors, three-term governor of Michigan and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was also founding chairman of the National Volunteer Center and a founding member of the board and executive committee of Points of Light. The theme of the 2016 Excellence Award was Changemakers in Local Communities, and it was presented to Ruach Tova in recognition of its “excellence in leveraging, engaging and managing local changemakers … to collectively create change to address community needs.”
Ruach Tova is the leading volunteer placement organization in Israel, matching volunteers with organizations that need assistance in a variety of positions and industries. Ruach Tova also operates a volunteer management system with a searchable database comprised of more than 5,000 organizations and 10,000 volunteering projects in Israel. The volunteer search is embedded in many websites, including the leading Israeli newspaper, Ynet, Israeli Volunteer Portal, Jewish Agency, and many others. The system enables Ruach Tova to match volunteers, according to their preferences, interests and geographical location, with individuals and organizations in need of help.
With eyes toward the future and bigger impact, Ruach Tova is organizing their first Good Deeds Day Conference this year in Mexico City, Nov. 5-7, 2016, just prior to the International Association for Volunteer Effort World Conference. The IAVE World Conference promotes, strengthens and celebrates global volunteering with members in more than 70 countries that share a belief in the power of volunteers to solve the world’s most pressing problems. It is the goal of Ruach Tova to position Good Deeds Day as a way to unify people of all backgrounds and cultures, to strengthen organizations and communities, and provide companies with a way to provide positive impact.
