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mmaah
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 27th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 05:03 pm |
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My 16 y.o. junior daughter and a friend would like to do a trip this summer that involves 2-3 weeks of service. Obviously, they could do plenty of service in local settings, but there is an appeal (and some learning advanage I think) to also being "away from home." I have scoured the internet and found lots of very expensive trips and many that seem to be mostly "touring" for advantaged teens with minimal genuine "service" (An afternoon in a homeless shelter is more of an experience than true service I think). There are also "mission" trips but you seem to need to already belong to a given denomination or sign on to evangelize which isn't exactly what they had in mind. (working in an orphanage is the idea that got them going on this so it is direct service to kids in need that they most want.)
It seems very hard to find a program with real work opportunities that also has some organized adult supervision/oversight. I think liability concerns mean many organizations just don't offer the kind of thing I'm looking for--except in exotic places like India or Fiji? The kids are ecumenically minded and so could join up with some kind of youth group, I suppose, but there doesn't seem to be any clearinghouse for that except with very evangelical groups. Does anyone have links to organizations nationally or regionally, that would welcome two responsible, hardworking kids for 2-3 weeks or service in July? Thanks.
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mominva
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | DC Suburbs |
| Posts: | 334 |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 06:21 pm |
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Look at the Habitat for Humanity website.
I think they do teen summer programs, but I am not sure if they are for individuals or groups only.
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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Mar 16th, 2008 10:51 pm |
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Try the website, http://www.volunteermatch.org They have a searchable database, that lets you specify location and age, and then gives you a list of volunteer opportunities. While a trip is nice, I tend to think that the real growth comes not from travel, but from making a real difference. There are plenty of opportunities to do that close to home.
Another thought, although not a "trip" per se, would be to look into volunteering at summer camps that serve disadvantaged and disabled youth -- start with the YMCA, or the local Cancer Association, for leads.
However, if a trip to an exotic place is the important component, then you might try this organization:
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/who_volunteers/teens/default.asp
I'm not sure what the costs of the above programs are, but there are probably not going to be many "free" trips abroad for teen volunteers, due to liability and other issues.
And, not sure if you've seen this site, but if you search for volunteer programs open to high school students, some lower cost programs may turn up:
http://www.highschoolprogramsabroad.com/search.cfm
Last edited on Sun Mar 16th, 2008 11:38 pm by CarolynLawrence
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mmaah
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Posted: Mon Mar 17th, 2008 10:02 pm |
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Thanks Carolyn et al. I had actually found each of these. And I agree you don't have to leave home to do service. I 'd be fine with that---but I also understand the kids desire to see a different part of country and meet other youngsters with a similar interest. I was surprised how hard it IS to find organized service programs that did not explicitly require missionary work and were open to kids not already affiliated with a church/temple group. (I'm fine with a religious orientation and actually looking for a social justice bent.) I guess the liability issue makes anything domestic unappealing for many organizations. There are lots of opportunities if you are 18--but even lots of summer day camps make it hard for under-18s to serve as counselors. Anyway, thanks for the effort and if anyone knows some organizations out there, I"m still looking. I will try some of the local agencies that work with kids.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Tue Mar 18th, 2008 02:24 am |
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| I think you're right - it boils down to the liability issue. Have your daughter and her friend considered some other sort of teen travel opportunity that doesn't combine service? Maybe they could do both - something adventurous far from home, and something useful closer to home. I can't remember who but we had a mother here last year who raved about her son's experiences with outward bound trips.
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mom61
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| Joined: | Fri Jun 23rd, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Mar 19th, 2008 02:08 am |
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Where there be Dragons- they aren't community service trips but they it is a component of their trips. Their trips are not teen tours. The travel and conditions are beyond rough. They really live at the level of the country they are visiting. Language study, cultural exchange through home stays, religious study. The trips aren't for everyone but they are amazing in terms of seeing the world from a different perspective. Read some of the Yaks to get an idea.
Another thing one of my kids did was an African American church rebuilding trip to the south. It was arranged through the United Methodist Church but a component of the group from our town has always been jewish. No religion involved. Hard work. Community fellowship. I don't have a link but I will see if I can find out more information. They are usually 1 week long. All ages. The trip my D and husband went on was a succession of groups each spending a week doing different parts of the building.
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mmaah
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Posted: Thu Mar 20th, 2008 03:22 pm |
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Dear Mom 61: This is so synchronous! Where There Be Dragons just did a presentation at my daughter's school and she came home intent to do their kind of trip--if not now, in a Gap year. I was impressed with all I've read and it is great to have your endorsement. The price is high, but consistent with comparable kinds of travel led by others and seems to be much more intensively focused on service and really immersing yourself in education and finding new limits. So at the moment we are definitely exploring that path and I value your perspective.
The other option also sounds great. Summer is too short!
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