Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Conclusion
In summary, civic engagement has the potential to boost young adults’ self-confidence and motivation, and prepare them for the workforce. For example, according to a recent study, students who performed voluntary community service were 19 percent more likely to graduate from college than those who did not (Dávila & Mora, 2007). Civic engagement early in life was also found to be related to how involved youth are in volunteering and community service later in life. Two-thirds of the 44 percent of adults who volunteered began volunteering while they were young, and adults who volunteered at a young age, regardless of income, donated to and volunteered more at charitable organizations than adults who did not volunteer (Troppe & Michel, 2002). After his experience in AmeriCorps, Zach planned to continue his work in non-profit communications and motivate others to get involved in community service.
Learn more about transition age youth, service-learning and civic engagement and volunteering.