Whereas Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign
that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve
their communities each day of the year through community service and
service-learning;
Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Day are
to—
(1)mobilize and
support youth to address the needs of their communities, their countries, and
the world through community service and service-learning;
(2)mobilize and
support schools and organizations to provide meaningful opportunities for youth
engagement;
(3)educate the
public, the media, and policy makers about the year-round contributions of
young people as community leaders;
(4)recognize and
celebrate youth as community assets, resources, leaders, and problem-solvers;
and
(5)inspire and
sustain a lifelong commitment to service and civic engagement;
Whereas Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth
Service America, is the largest service event in the world, and the only day of
service dedicated to engaging youth ages 5 to 25;
Whereas in 2011, Global Youth Service Day is being
observed for the 23rd consecutive year in the United States and for the 12th
year globally in more than 100 countries;
Whereas Global Youth Service Day provides an opportunity
for children and youth to position themselves as assets, resources, active
citizens, and community leaders as they apply their knowledge, idealism,
energy, creativity, and unique perspectives in order to improve their
communities by addressing a myriad of critical issues, such as childhood
obesity, illiteracy, hunger, environmental degradation, public safety, and
disaster preparedness;
Whereas thousands of participants in schools and
community-based organizations are planning Global Youth Service Day activities
as part of a Semester of Service, an extended service-learning campaign
launched on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service, in which young people
spend the semester addressing a meaningful community need connected to
intentional learning goals and academic standards over the course of at least
70 hours;
Whereas Global Youth Service Day engages millions of young
people worldwide with the support of Youth Service America’s Global Youth
Service Network, including more than 200 National and Global Partners, 100
State and local Lead Agencies, and thousands of local schools, after-school
programs, youth development organizations, community organizations, faith-based
organizations, government agencies, businesses, neighborhood associations, and
families;
Whereas Youth Service America will distribute over
$1,000,000 in grants to over 800 youth-led projects, including State Farm
Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency and Good Neighbor grants, UnitedHealth
Heroes grants, Sodexo Youth and Lead Organizer grants, Disney Friends for
Change grants, Learn and Serve America STEMester of Service grants, NEA Youth
Leaders for Literacy grants, and MLK Semester of Service Lead Organizer
Grants;
Whereas high-quality community service and
service-learning programs increase young people’s academic engagement and
achievement, workforce readiness and 21st century skills, civic knowledge and
engagement, intercultural understanding and global citizenship, and
connectedness and commitment to their communities; and
Whereas section 198(g) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653(g)) recognizes Global Youth Service Day as
a national day of service and calls on the Corporation for National and
Community Service, other Federal agencies and departments, and the President of
the United States to recognize and support youth-led activities on that day:
Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)recognizes and commends the significant
contributions of youth of the United States and encourages the continued
engagement and support of young people dedicated to serving their neighbors,
their communities, and the Nation;
(2)supports the goals
and ideals of Global Youth Service Days; and
(3)calls on the
people of the United States to observe Global Youth Service Day by—
(A)encouraging youth
to participate in community service and service-learning projects and joining
their peers in such projects;
(B)recognizing the
volunteer efforts of the young people of the United States throughout the year;
and
(C)supporting the
volunteer efforts of young people and engaging them in meaningful community
service, service-learning, and decisionmaking opportunities, as an investment
in the future of the United States.