Many high school students wonder how they can “make a difference” on a large scale. Attending workshops and seminars can go a long way in motivating students to do so, but it's easy for “motivation” to remain nothing more than a temporary good feeling. Creating a Community Service Project is a chance to cause real results out of what you've learned at the NSLC , and additionally, have a system of communication, support, and incentives in place while doing so.
It is a cooperative system by which Alumni Scholars can combine their abilities as leaders with new and innovative ideas for causing positive change and sharing information. The overall purpose of this opportunity is for you to recognize a need in your community, and then find a way to fulfill that need. You have a vast network of people who you can share ideas with and seek support to find the resources necessary to fill a specific need. Success in these types of projects doesn't usually happen without the hard work and dedication of several or many people. Part of your role as a Member of the Alumni Network is to get others involved in any Community Service Project that you organize. You will be adding as much to their lives as you will your own.
Toys for Tots – A program designed to gather new and used toys from various sources and disperse them among children's hospitals and some of the poorer neighborhoods where children don't have many toys. This is a popular type of program during the holidays.
Kids Helping Kids – The need for this type of program exists year round. It involves collecting essential supplies (i.e. computers, household appliances, and shoes) from various local businesses and community institutions and distributing them to needy families and/or children in the local schools and in the community.
Tutoring Programs for Students – This can be done individually or with a group of students from your high school. Simply visit a local elementary or middle school and set up an after-school tutoring program for the students identified as having any type of educational need. It usually works best to do this on a consistent time schedule (i.e. every Tuesday and Thursday).
Registering Community Residents to Vote – This would require contacting the local voters' registration office and determining which areas of the community have the largest number of non-voters, then hitting the pavement and enrolling people in the value of voting.
Some of the better-known community related programs include:
Habitat for Humanity – Joining a team to build homes for less fortunate families.
Special Olympics – Volunteering to support the mentally and physically handicapped.