Local High School Students exceed Volunteer Challenge goals once again
KINGSTON, Ont. (June 10, 2015) – Local high school students have exceeded local targets of 2,500 students and 7,500 volunteer hours for a fourth year in a row. This year 3,690 students volunteered for an impressive 20,424 hours during the Change the World: Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.
This year’s total numbers represent an 8% increase in youth volunteers and a 33% increase in volunteer hours over 2014. In 2014 3,364 youth volunteered for 15,326 hours.
United Way Volunteer Centre administered the challenge in KFL&A, encouraging students to log the hours they volunteered between April 12 and May 24. “This is the fourth year in a row that the students have surpassed the set goals by a wide margin,” says United Way President and CEO Bhavana Varma. “It is very impressive and shows that young people of KFL&A are committed to making an impact on their community. This speaks well to the future of volunteer engagement and youth leadership in KFL&A.”
Youth from Limestone District School Board, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, École secondaire-publique Milles-Îles, École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier, Pathways to Education, Boys and Girls Club of Kingston & Area and Youth 2 Kingston Collaborative Action Steering Team participated in this challenge.
Some examples of the student volunteer activities include:
• Bayridge Secondary School students participated in a 24 hour Vow of Silence to bring awareness to issues in the community.
• Napanee District Secondary School students participated in a walk and flash mob in the downtown to raise money and bring awareness to their Vice Principal who is battling cancer.
• Students from the Pathways to Education program, along with 21 youth on an exchange from the Yukon and Northwest Territories, organized and held a Youth Connecting Cultures dinner to celebrate National Youth Week.
• Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute students held volunteer events to raise money and awareness for Ryandale Shelter for the Homeless.
• Students from Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute pitched in to help clean up the school grounds and surrounding neighbourhood.
• Students from Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School volunteered to go door to door to collect food for the Hotel Dieu Hospital Food Blitz for the Partners In Mission Food Bank.
• École secondaire-publique Milles-Îles students sold waffles to raise awareness against bullying and to help buy clothes and school supplies for girls in need in the community.
• Students from Granite Ridge Education Centre volunteered to organize a volleyball tournament and other events to get people active and engage them with youth in community.
The challenge gives students the opportunity to develop new skills and broaden their awareness of community service organizations. To see some photos of these amazing students in action volunteering please visit http://www.facebook.com/unitedwaykfla. This initiative is made possible with funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade.
About United Way Volunteer Centre
The United Way Volunteer Centre promotes volunteerism in the KFL&A region, enabling any non-profit organization to access a pool of volunteers. It matches these opportunities with volunteers who wish to lend their skills and expertise to local organizations. Visit www.unitedwaykfla.ca for more information.
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Media Contact:
Bhavana Varma, CEO, United Way KFL&A
613-542-2674, ext. 1101 bvarma@unitedwaykfla.ca
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