Ontario is challenging youth in the province to volunteer five hours during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25.

The 2009 ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge offers high school age youth the opportunity to change the world through voluntary action. The goal is to have 10,000 students aged 14-18 volunteer across the province during the week. 

The Ontario government is partnering with the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network in 19 communities to create local volunteer opportunities for youth.  Young people can use these hours toward their 40 hours required to graduate from high school.

Personalities such as singer Fefe Dobson, SkateforCancer’s Rob Dyer, environmentalist David Suzuki, and Olympian Adam van Koeverden are lending their support to the Challenge.

 

QUOTES
“My message to young people is you can make a difference.  Volunteer.  Be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Michael Chan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

“Civic engagement contributes to creating healthy and prosperous communities.  For anyone who’s looking for a volunteer opportunity, all they need to do is contact their local volunteer centre.”
-Cathy Taylor, Co-Chair, Ontario Volunteer Centre Network

 “The Challenge is an opportunity for students to spend quality time with their friends and to meet new friends, while giving back to their community.   It is through the power of service that youth can change the world.”
-Carine Strong, Director, Volunteer MBC.

 

QUICK FACTS

1. The volunteer rate of youth in Ontario between the ages of 15 and 24 is 63 per cent.
2. High school students are required to volunteer 40 hours as part of their graduation requirement.
3. More than 5 million people in Ontario annually donate 800 million hours of their time to volunteer activities. Their volunteer contributions help make communities better places in which to live.

 

LEARN MORE
Youth can sign up online at ontario.ca/changetheworld  - as well as on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Visit the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network www.ovcn.ca

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Contacts:

Coralie D’Souza,  Minister’s Office, 416-325-6204
Michel Payen-Dumont, Communications, 416-314-7010

• Backgrounder: 2009 ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge