The Y Teen Volunteer Council is designed to empower Jewish teens with the leadership qualities and social skills necessary to positively impact their communities. Through experiential learning, mentorship, and community engagement projects, participants develop a deeper connection to their cultural identity while cultivating essential social skills such as communication, teamwork, and empathy.

The Y Teen Volunteer Council is divided into two small but impactful groups of dedicated students.  The Junior Council is grades 7&8 students, and the Senior Council is grades 9-11 students.  Each cohort of ~10 comes together monthly during the school year to give their time to various projects.  They also develop their own fundraising initiative each year, selecting a worthy organization and planning a fundraising event to support it.  Y Teen Volunteer Council meetings and volunteer projects are designed to help teens explore and sharpen their skills in decision-making, conflict resolution and team-building, as well as their public speaking skills. 

Volunteer opportunities include helping out at monthly Jewish family programs, collecting new socks to help the homeless, mentoring at Jewish tween events, making sandwiches for homeless shelters, etc.  Y Teen Volunteer Council fundraising initiatives could include planning and staffing a bake sale, coordinating and selling tickets to a fundraising event, planning a bring-your-pet day to benefit the SPCA, etc.  Worthy organizations might include MADA, the JGH’s Auxiliary Tiny Miracles Fund, the SPCA, PJ Library, etc.

Volunteering is a great way to give back time and skills to your community.  It’s a great way to have fun and explore different kinds of projects and activities than you might experience in school or at home.  By volunteering, you connect with new people outside your usual circles, expanding your network and going outside your comfort zone.

Through volunteering, teens develop their leadership skills.  They learn how rewarding it can be to leave the technology at home and get involved in meaningful projects.  They can practice their organization and planning skills, as well as community development and public speaking.  Importantly, teens also learn responsibility and accountability.  Organizations come to rely on good volunteers to carry out their mission, and the teens come to realize that positive impact they can have when they show up, and the gaps that are left when they don’t.  Each person matters!

Volunteering can also give you valuable experience to help you build a resume and find your career.  Volunteering in different organizations and areas exposes you to different environments and projects, giving you real-world skills that you can put on your CV.  It can also give you helpful contacts.  When it comes time to apply for academic programs or jobs, your volunteer supervisors might write reference letters for you.  The relationships you forge as a volunteer could be fulfilling and also help you into your future.

Monday October 28 – launch meeting: ice breakers, share overview, learn about fundraising options

Monday December 2 – ice breakers, select organization & fundraising activity

Monday February 3 – ice breakers, plan fundraiser

Monday March 24 (or TBD) – conduct fundraiser

Monday May 12 – debrief on fundraiser & closing

MADA soup kitchen – fall 2024

Sandwich-making for homeless shelters – winter 2025

Friendship Circle – spring 2025

Passover Camp – April 15-17

ZikkaRun – April 30

Pickleball Tournament & Family Fun Day – May 2025

For further information or to sign up for the Y Teen Volunteer Councils at the Sylvan Adams YMYWHA, please contact Keren Ludvig kludvig@ymywha.com.