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April 21, 2008

Challenging Youth To Change The World

McGuinty Government Issues Youth Volunteer Challenge

ChangeTheWorld: Students at All Saints Catholic Elementary School in Markham chat with Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan at the launch of the new Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.

ChangeTheWorld: Students at All Saints Catholic Elementary School in Markham chat with Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan at the launch of the new Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.

Jumping right in: All Saint Catholic Elementary School students enthusiastically accept Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan's challenge to "Volunteer and ChangeTheWorld"

Jumping right in: All Saint Catholic Elementary School students enthusiastically accept Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan's challenge to "Volunteer and ChangeTheWorld".

Student volunteers at All Saints Catholic Elementary School in Markham help Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Michael Chan launch ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.  The launch is a preview to National Volunteer Week -- April 27th to May 3.

Student volunteers at All Saints Catholic Elementary School in Markham help Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Michael Chan launch ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.  The launch is a preview to National Volunteer Week -- April 27th to May 3.

NEWS

Young Ontarians are being challenged to change the world and volunteer in their local communities.

ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth volunteer events are being organized in seven communities during National Volunteer Week, which runs from April 27 to May 3.

The seven communities include:

  • Timmins
  • Kingston
  • Ottawa
  • Markham
  • Hamilton
  • Guelph and
  • Kitchener-Waterloo

 
Youth will also be able to share their experiences on a Facebook group called ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge.
 
National Volunteer Week will also highlight Ontario’s volunteer tradition with activities and ceremonies, including:

  • the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers
  • the June Callwood Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voluntarism
  • Ontario Volunteer Service Awards ceremonies recognizing youth and adults for up to 60 years of service to a community organization (ongoing from April 2 to June 30).

QUOTES

“Volunteering is the best way to create the world you want,” says Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, with responsibility for volunteerism.  “During National Volunteer Week, take a step and build your communities: volunteer.”

 “Young volunteers add so much to our communities: energy, hope, talent and passion,” says Ann Coburn, chair, Ontario Volunteer Centre Network.

QUICK FACTS

  • Over 5 million Ontarians volunteer yearly contributing over 800 million annual volunteer hours – equivalent to over 400,000 full-time jobs.
  • 63% of Ontario’s youth aged 15-24 volunteer.

LEARN MORE

To get involved and volunteer in your local community visit www.ontario.ca/changetheworld for more information about ChangeTheWorld.

Visit Ontario’s National Volunteer Week webpage for a calendar of volunteer events across Ontario and the Volunteer Service Awards schedule.

View the Facebook group: ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge for volunteers’ photos and discussion.

For information on volunteering opportunities, visit Ontario Volunteer Centre Network.

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Contacts:
Coralie D’Souza,  Minister’s Office, (416) 325-6204
Michel Payen-Dumont, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7010

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