Community Impact

20 Ways for Teenagers to Help Other People by Volunteering

This online chapter from The Teenager's Guide to the Real World presents a few of the benefits of volunteering ("beat boredom," "learn about an activity or organization that interests you," etc.), plus describes the types volunteer opportunities available to teens. Links to specific organizations in need of volunteers are also provided. Opportunities described include working for: food banks, the Special Olympics, state parks, hospitals, senior citizen centers, animal shelters, political campaigns, and much more. Peacefire If you strongly oppose internet censorship don't miss this teen-created site.

Action Without Borders

"Action Without Borders connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives." It sets as its goal to solve environmental and social problems outside of government, corporate, and religious life. This is a one-stop shop for finding volunteer and and career opportunities with non-profit organizations.

Do Something: Young People Changing Their World

Do Something was founded in 1993 by Andrew Shue and Michael Sanchez, childhood friends from New Jersey who wanted to make a difference. They had a very simple dream: what if making a difference became just as cool and important to American education as athletics? What if community service became like physical education during the day and team sports after school? Kids would develop not only their minds and bodies, but their souls. Every school might have a math teacher, football coach-and a Community Coach. American youth would learn leadership, citizenship, and character-and our democracy would be stronger for it.

Habitat for Humanity

The official site for the mostly volunteer non-profit organization that helps low-income families build their own homes. Though unabashedly Christian in ideology, the organization invites people of all ages, faiths, and political leanings to participate. Former President Jimmy Carter is perhaps its most visible volunteer/leader. In addition to "spring break" house-building trips geared to college students, there are a variety of youth programs described on the site. You'll also find an illustrated history of the organization, statistics and articles on the need for affordable housing, and a listing (searchable by state or zip code) of local affiliates.

The Hunger Site

Click on the "Donate Free Food" button and the site's sponsors will donate food to organizations that provide free food to the hungry. It's that easy! You'll also find statistics on donations made through this site, hunger statistics in various regions around the world, links to other world hunger sites on the Web, and more. Nice extras include the list of relevant quotations and a scary map that darkens in the appropriate country whenever death by starvation is reported to the site.

Network For Good

Network for Good is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the Web to help people get more involved in their communities -- from volunteering and donating money, to speaking out on issues you care about.

Skirball Cultural Center

The Center houses a major collection of Judaica as well as a "hands-on" Discovery Center and an Education Center. Volunteers are needed for the Information Desk and Discovery Center, as well as to docent.

UNICEF Voices of Youth Home Page

This Unicef-sponsored site gives voice to the young people of the world and the problems they face. There are stories of child abuse and exploitation, HIV spread, and other horrors. But there are also stories of progress and hope, and message boards where young people across the world can communicate on issues facing them in today's society.

WePrevent : Take a Bite Out of Crime

With an entire section focusing on how teens can work to prevent crime, this attractively designed site provides a wealth of info. and tips. "Everyone loves to trash teenagers, right?" the site complains. "Prove them wrong by doing something right." Suggestions range from setting up afterschool study space to painting murals as an alternative to graffiti. Though not geared specifically to teens, don't miss the section on school violence. A selection of links geared to teen activists rounds out the site.

Youth Noise

A perfect site for teens interested in the world around them. Read true stories from teens around the globe, get the latest information on issues that are important to you and make your voice heard in Washington D.C.

Environment

Rainforest Action Network

If you're interested in rainforest preservation, you'll find plenty here: fact sheets on topics ranging from endangered animals to medicines derived from rainforest flora and fauna, "Action Alerts" that allow you to send e-mails to government officials about current issues (sample text for each letter is included), news updates, a "What You Can Do" section, and more. If you want to see photos in glowing, leap-off-the- screen color of plants, animals, and peoples inhabiting the rainforests, check out the "Kids' Corner."

Hospitals

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest local hospitals in Los Angeles. Volunteers as young as 14 can apply to be a hospital volunteer.

Mount Sinai Hospital In New York City

Founded in 1852, The Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the country's oldest and largest voluntary teaching hospitals. Mount Sinai is internationally acclaimed for excellence in clinical care, education, and scientific research in nearly every aspect of medicine.

Israel

Honest Reporting

HonestReporting is one of the world's largest media watch groups. The story behind the story. Since October 2000, in addition to fighting an anti-terror war, Israel has been fighting a media war. In news outlets around the globe, journalists regularly misrepresent Israel as the aggressor and Palestinians as the victims. In response, HonestReporting was established to scrutinize the media for anti-Israel bias, then mobilize subscribers to respond directly to relevant news agencies.

How You Can Help Israel

The OU Israel Task Forces have compiled this clearinghouse of Israel-related programs, agencies, and resources as a public service.

Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's emergency medical, health, blood and disaster services, saves lives in Israel and around the world, regardless of race, religion, or culture.

Jewish Community

Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters provides parent-child counseling for Jewish children and volunteer "big brothers." Volunteer to staff major events such as a Passover seder or become a big brother/sister or Sports Mentor yourself.

Jewish Home for the Aging of Greater Los Angeles

A residential and nursing home for the Jewish elderly. Their residents would love to spend time with you. There are cultural, recreational and social activities that you can volunteer with. One-time visits are welcomed with a pre-planned activity.

Jewish Family Service

The agency offers special programs for seniors, a youth counseling referral program and a counseling intervention program at area schools. The Volunteer Friendly Visitors program is designed to provide company for seniors in their homes for one hour each week.

Just Tzedakah

Tzedakah, Inc.'s mission is to help raise the level and effectiveness of Jewish charitable giving by encouraging more informed giving and better managed, more open, and accountable charitable organizations.

Koreh LA

Jewish volunteers are needed to read with public school, elementary-age children to improve and promote literacy in the community.

Simon Wiesenthal Center Beit Hashoah/Museum of Tolerance

Experiential museum focusing on personal prejudice, group interolerance and the struggle for social equality, culminating with a major exhibit on the Nazi Holocaust. Volunteers are needed as museum guides and for the Multimedia Learning Center.

Politics

E-The People

The introduction reads "Welcome to America's Interactive Town Hall, where active citizens connect with their government--and with eachother!" You can search for an online petition to sign by entering keywords relevant to issues you feel strongly about, join online discussion groups, send messages to your state & federal representatives--even start your own online petition.

Freedom's Answer

Freedom's Answer is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign run by high school students. This site aims to get more students involved in politics and encourage young people to exercise their right to vote.

Project Vote Smart

Don't wait until you're old enough to vote to start learning about candidates, issues, and political parties. Calling itself "the last trusted source for political information," this site purports to offer non-biased info. on all of the above. Project Vote Smart includes the voting records of various candidates, youth surveys, and updates on hot issues. You can even take an online quiz that matches your own attitudes with those of particular candidates.

Rock the Vote

This site is dedicated to involving young people in the political process. Most of the focus is on voter registration, though the site also includes info. on volunteer opportunities, famous artists and muscians who are associated with voter registration efforts, and links to other political action websites.

Youth Vote Coalition

The country's largest, nonprofit campaign working to increase the political involvement of people from 18-30. At Youth Vote you can register to vote, get information on the candidates and learn about ways to make a difference even if you are to young to vote.