Leadership and Volunteerism:Harnessing the Potential of the Youth Volunteers

Definition: VolunteerismWhat is Volunteerism?

Volunteerism is a group of people known as VOLUNTEERS who participates in non-profitable activities and do not expect something in return. They are willing to give up their time, energy, and resources for community service and help people in need.

Volunteer Management Cycle

Planning

Induction &

Training

Recruitment

Recognition

Supervision & Evaluation

Review

DEVELOPING A PROGRAM FRAMEWORK

Planning

Changing standard practices and routines.

Funds must be acquired and budgeted

Relationships must be formed to link the volunteer program into the organization

job descriptions and working relationships must be modified

Policies must be created

Questions to ask before conducting a needs assessment

Needs Assessment

Your Logo

What is your organizational vision and mission?

How do volunteers fit into the program’s mission, strategies and goals?

What is the program’s purpose?

What are you trying to accomplish in your community?

How could volunteers serve more people and make a greater difference in the community?

How can volunteers help meet program goals?

✓

6

5

4

3

2

1

Catalogue of Project DatabaseSAMPLE

Build stronger neighborhoods

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Fight HIV/AIDS, and other common illnesses

Build strong schools

Promote the equality between genders and the empowerment of women

Guarantee the sustainability of the environment

Support for people with special needs

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Finalizing the Program Elements

Create a project database that catalogues the specific leadership roles you have available.

Develop a volunteer leader application to capture important information about volunteers’ interests, availability and skills.

Make sure that your program has a privacy policy in effect to protectvolunteers’ personal information to the same degree as that of staffmembers.

Database

Develop agreements that clearly outline the responsibilities of your organization and what is expected of the volunteer leaders.

Develop corresponding agreements for volunteer leaders and each projectpartner.

Be sure the agreements are consistent with any volunteer leader position descriptions.

Agreements

1 2

Defining Meaning Roles

Title Purpose/objective Location Key responsibilities Qualifications Time commitment Training/support provided Benefits Volunteer supervisor and

contact information

Volunteer PositionDescription

RECRUITING VOLUNTEER LEADERS

Ways to recruit volunteers

The personal “ask” is always the most compelling!

Strategically post flyers or brochures in the community.

Use local media to spread the word about your volunteer opportunities.

Post your volunteer opportunity on the web.

Partner with volunteers from a school, community center, faith-based group or other nonprofit.

Network with community groups and leaders.

✓

6

5

4

3

2

1

Use online forums and/or blogs to spread the word.

Post your leadership opportunities on the web sites of local businesses and community organizations.

Develop a “perks” package, such as free meals, workouts or other goodies for outstanding leaders.

Host information booths at job fairs, colleges, churches, stores, restaurants or other gathering spots.

Try “snowball” tactics.

11

10

9

8

7

Selecting a volunteer leader

Takes charge of a project by coordinating it and takingaccountability for its successful completion.

Organizes, leads and inspires a group of volunteers before, during and after the project.

Represents your organization to other volunteers and to thecommunity.

Communicates the details of the project and serves as a resource for other volunteers.

May initiate new projects.

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

1

2

3

4

5

A volunteer leader is a volunteer who:

EQUIPPING VOLUNTEERS TO LEAD

Orienting and Training Volunteers

Help volunteers better understand your organization and/or the organization where they will be serving

Discuss ways volunteers can impact the community, as well as the benefits to the volunteers.

Provide a document for conducting site visits/developing work plans.

Highlight the basic ingredients of your civic engagement philosophy.

Ensure leaders understand the importance of their roles in developing and managing projects.

Ensure volunteer leaders understand the procedures and their role in reporting.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Project Checklist

• Orienting volunteers• Assigning volunteers to

project tasks• Managing volunteers and

tasks• Facilitating service

learning during project

During the projectBefore the project

• Evaluating impact• Overseeing project site

clean up• Returning tools and

materials• Following up with

volunteers and project partners

After the project

• Making site visits and building relationships with the agency or other project partners

• Identifying project tasks• Identifying service

learning opportunities, such as orientation by project partners, ways for volunteers to get involved beyond the project, etc.

• Developing safety and contingency plans

• Creating project supply lists

• Recruiting volunteers, ensuring that any specialized tasks are covered

• Responding to inquiries from volunteers and project partners

• Securing tools, materials, refreshments and other supplies

321

How to Create a Service Project

2 Identify what we know

3 Find out more

1 Prepare for service

7 Assess and reflect

8 Celebrate and demonstrate

6 Implement the service activity

4 Plan of Action

9 Wrap up and follow-up

5 Mobilize your community

Plan of Action

1. Determine what the group would like to do in order to bring about changeGo ahead and replace it with your own text. This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it with your own text

2. Set Goals; identify what they are going to do in order to bring about their visionGo ahead and replace it with your own text. This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it with your own text

3. Identify the steps that need to happenGo ahead and replace it with your own text. This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it with your own text

4. Determine how the group will define success for its service projectGo ahead and replace it with your own text. This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it with your own text

5. Identify learning or participant growth goals, if appropriateGo ahead and replace it with your own text. This is an example text. Go ahead and replace it with your own text

Who Will do what toachieve the goal

How will it get done and by when?

What help or resources will we

need?

How will we know if we are

successful?Everyone in the group Present a proposal of

our idea to the director of the youth center

Work together the next two meetings (in one week)

The Volunteers help to write out our ideas and proposal! We needbasic supplies (paper,pencils, and markers)

The youth center supportsour plan

Member A Interview the mayor,members of the council

We will get an appointment after school (in two weeks)

Interview questions, paper, pencils

We will be able to arrange the meeting and have a good interview

Member B Develop a short surveyto ask people on thestreet about how they feel about trash

Work together during next week’s meetings (one week to design, one week to implement it)

Paper, pencils; help indesigning the survey;permission from ourparents

People will be willing to answer our questions andwill provide us with useful Information

Member C Talk to the teachers and students who did the last cleanup to learn about what worked and what didn’t

Ask teachers to meetwith them after school;find and meet with theleaders of the school club (in one week)

Paper, pencils andinterview questions

People will be willing to answer our questions andthey will provide us with useful information

Group planning tableSAMPLE

Who Will do what toachieve the goal

How will it get done and by when?

What help or resources will we

need?

How will we know if we are

successful?All group members Plan a community trash

cleanup day with anongoing awarenessraising activity

Recruit other volunteers. We will get leaders, and other community membersinvolved (in 2 months)

Volunteer andleaders; flyers, trash bags, gloves, permission fromour parents

30 volunteers will come to help us, the streets will be clean and new trash cans will be in place

Member A & C Get mayor and leaders to get trash cans on corners picked up regularly

Initial meeting with mayor, then submit to him our findings and a request (in 2 months)

Trash cans; workers and trucks to empty cans

We will have trash cansthat are emptied regularly

Member D Ask business ownersto help maintain cleanstreets afterwards

Meet with them, showthem our proposal andrequest their help (in two months)

Proposal and the findings from our survey

The business owners will commit to keeping their part of the street clean

Member C Ask local newspaperand radio to come tocleanup day and askmayor or principal torecognize the efforts

Write a press release and include the information from our research (in one month)

Develop the talking points for what we want people to learn about the hazardsof trash and the findings of our investigation

The radio and newspaper will announce and coverthe event

Group planning table (con’t)SAMPLE

Personal growth or life skills Leadership skills, such as the ability to make decisions, communicate effectively, be motivational and persuasive, work with diverse groups, demonstrate honesty, creativity, and patience

Academic skills (school-based standards): mathematical skills, (managing finances, budgeting, presenting data) language arts, (journaling, writing persuasive pieces, reporting, speaking), social studies, history or science

Work or career skills Computer literacy (using basic software, Internet search techniques); communication skills (interviewing and making presentations, writing press releases, letters to the editor, or brochures)

Civic engagement skills Assessment and investigative skills, motivational skills, the ability to work effectively with teams, interviewing and analytical skills, communication and design skills, project design and implementation, proposal writing, public speaking, and monitoring and evaluation skills

Technical skills Environmental competence such as investigative and observational skills; how to analyze and present information related to findings of plant, water, or environmental health; indigenous practices related to protecting and preserving their environment; newer technologies related to efficient stoves, water purification or generating energy

Personality Skills Development

SUPPORTING VOLUNTEER LEADERS

Coaching and Mentoring Leaders

Successful coaching include the following:• A trusting, honest,

respectful relationship between the coach and coachee.

• Time for preparation and reflection.

• Clearly defined roles, responsibilities and expectations

• Effective listening skills.• Strategic questions that

promote thinking.• Data collection and

thoughtful feedback.

Your goal is to help leaders develop their thinking and capacity. Provide clear guidelines, due dates, reminders and clarification of requirements.

Know your leaders’ strengths, as well as the areas that need more development, so that you can better help them develop their skills.

Recognizing Leaders

Recognizing Ideas

Everyday Ways Large Scale• Send thank you

letters/messages via e-mail.• Send postcards or thank-you

cards to volunteers after they attend a project.

• Send birthday cards.• Submit pictures of

volunteers for your organization’s newsletter.

• Post pictures of volunteers on a bulletin board at your organization.

• Give volunteers organizational goodies—hats, shirts, pins, magnets, water bottles, etc.

• Invite them for coffee or lunch.

• Hold annual recognition events

• Recognize long-term volunteers with service awards: plaques, trophies, certificates, etc.

• Put up a banner celebrating major accomplishments.

• Enlist them in training staff and other volunteers.

• Involve them in the annual planning process.

• Organize an outing at a zoo, amusement park, sporting event, etc., where volunteers get in for free.

1

Intermediate Ways• Nominate a volunteer “Star

of the Month.”• Sponsor happy hours and

social events.• Recognize volunteers on

local radio or television stations.

• Nominate volunteers for local or national volunteerism awards.

• Write articles about them in newsletters or newspapers.

• Write a letter to their employers, highlighting their accomplishments

• Create a photo collage or slide show of volunteer activities

2 3

Your own footer Your Logo

THANK YOU!