With summer approaching, it's time to figure out ways to keep mixing it up, even after the school year ends!
Who: Nonprofit organizations -- and students -- throughout the United States
What: Sparking interest and generating commitment to service
When: This summer and year round
Websites: Youth Venture [1], Break Away [2], Do Something.org [3]
Did you know...
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics and Break Away [2]
Student Voices
Someone had posted a message on my high school's underground student website saying all mentally retarded people should be killed. In language reminiscent of the days of Hitler, the posting called mentally retarded people useless, and even a "plague."
Until I saw those words, I had never worried about what might happen when my little brother, who has autism, gets to high school. That one classmate's ignorance and intolerance nauseated me.
Although most people aren't hateful, I have noticed that a lot of people aren't aware of the issues faced by people with disabilities. In fact, many people don't even know what autism is. So, I decided to do something about it.
After recruiting my friend Rachel to help me brainstorm, we came up with a plan.
First, in order to promote awareness and tolerance of autism and other neurological disorders, we wanted to write and publish a series of educational, illustrated children's books about mental disabilities. We would present and donate these books to elementary schools in our area and give copies to the local library.
I saw a newspaper article about Youth Venture, which provides funding to teenagers who want to organize community service projects or start a business, I sent in an application and the organization accepted our idea!
Now, many months later, Rachel and I, along with several other friends, are able to achieve our goal.
-- Excerpted from Jessica Leving's essay, "Teen Launches Autism Awareness Project"
Discussion Questions
Activity Ideas
Books in the Mix
Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers ($30) offers information about community service projects as well as other learning experiences for summer vacation.
(All Grades) Peterson's Guides; ISBN# 0-768-91891-X
It's Your World -- If You Don't Like It, Change It: Activism for Teenagers ($8.99) invites students to change the world. Chapters include fighting racism, environmentalism, ending war, stopping HIV/AIDS and defending women's rights.
(Grades 7-12) Simon Pulse; ISBN# 0-689-87448-0
Links:
[1] http://www.youthventure.org
[2] http://alternativebreaks.org
[3] http://www.dosomething.org