Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
Most of us have dedicated time volunteering inside community centres, libraries, and other facilities. Some difficulties I find, as a youth especially, is transportation and time management during my full time school life. However, these difficulties are never an excuse to abstain from giving back to our communities. So, what are some easy and convenient ways I can volunteer from inside my home? What are some individual initiatives I can take on during my own time?
1. Make Winter Accessories for your Local Shelters
Last year, I took Fashion Studies 10 in school. It was my first time sewing, and let’s put it this way- I’m not the best. I’m impatient and make too many mistakes. However, the easiest, cheapest, and most fun and productive thing I learnt during the class was how to knit with a knitting loom. Using the loom, it takes a beginner about a couple of hours to knit a hat or scarf. After making my first, I bought my own supplies (approx $15) and I’ve made many hats in my spare time so far. It’s a good way to relax and wind down while being productive at the same time. After knitting a box full of hats, I plan to visit the local shelter and donate them next Autumn.
You can buy your own knitting loom from Michaels (approx $12 including instructions), and medium weight yarn from Walmart, Michaels, or Fabricland. ($2-$6 range approx.) to initiate a project of your own!
Next time you’re inviting your friends for a party or get together, tell them to leave the gifts behind and bring 3 or more non-perishable food items instead. Through this, you’re not only collecting food donations, you’re also bringing awareness to the cause and engaging your friends and relatives in a fun and unique way. The next step: drop by a food bank or a shelter and donate all the goodies you’ve collected. Easy? I think so!
Dogs are brave, helpful, and fluffy friends. If you’re a puppy lover, you have an exciting initiative awaiting! Raising a service dog, a dog that assists people with disabilities, is typically a puppy training commitment of a year or two. Here is a partial list of organizations that offer this program in Canada. This is not only an opportunity to care for a puppy, it is also an amazing opportunity to contribute to a safer and brighter future for the disabled.
Blogging is a volunteer act? Whaaaat? Yes, you heard (or read) me right. Along with voicing your opinions, blogging is a chance to bring awareness to important issues, bring forth helpful advice for peers, support local and global initiatives, and so much more. It’s a way to integrate society and share new ideas, perspectives, knowledge, and wisdom with others. You can simply hop on to Voices of Youth and share your blog post with them. There are many more blogging websites that you can volunteer with (including Youth Are Awesome!*).
Media, in this age and generation, has enormous potential and can be used to reach people globally. Make good use of the power you have. Use your facebook, instagram, twitter, snapchat, and other social media accounts to spread good words.
*Note: The Youth Central steering committee application deadline for the 2015-2016 year has passed.
War is a scary topic to discuss for most of us. More importantly, war is incredibly scarring and unforgettable for those who have seen the bloodshed in person. Soldiers that have seen their friends die in front of their own eyes, knowing that there was nothing they could do to save them. Most of us cannot imagine these situations, nevertheless live through them.
Sending letters overseas to soldiers is an act to show your appreciation and extend support, especially to those that may not receive many letters from their own loved ones. It is likely that these soldiers are suffering from stress, trauma, homesickness, and/or depression. Your kind words are ought to bring smiles to their faces and motivate them to keep going. As Terrie Odd said “… after spending up to two years with the same group of soldiers, with the same stories and the same personalities, your letter can give them something new to talk about, complain about, worry about and laugh about. Stay positive. Enough negativity goes around as it is.”
Visit the National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces page here and look under the “Canadians sending letters for Any Canadian Armed Forces member” title to learn how you can send your own letter.
For tips on writing your letter, visit Terrie Odd’s post here.
Happy letter writing! A quick, heart-felt thank you to all the Canadian soldiers serving our country and people.
Your ordinary cat lover, biology enthusiast, and advocate for social issues.
The type of person to stress, yet procrastinate, make goals and schedules but forget, and the type to sleep late at night for no reason at all. Regardless of a few bad habits, I put 105% effort in everything I do. I tend to get excited over little things, like color-coded outfits and stationary, and I find pleasure in serving my parents and others. I often find myself wanting to make a difference in the world, however I realize that by striving to understand myself and others and by expressing my voice, I already am. And you are too.
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
Hafsah Syed • Muslim • Grade 11 Student, Crescent Heights High School
