Happy Valentine's Day to our YOUTH!!

10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Global Youth Service Day

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is April 15-17, 2016! If you haven't already begun making GYSD plans, here are ten reasons to fall in love with GYSD:

1. Have Fun - GYSD is a chance to have fun with friends and peers while making meaningful impact in the areas of health, environment, education, human rights, poverty and hunger, and community building.
2. Develop Career Readiness Skills - Youth volunteers develop vital college and career readiness skills, including Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication.
3. Combine Interests & Issues for Impact - What are your passions and strengths? GYSD is a way to apply your interests to the issues you care about to make a difference.
4. Apply Learning in a Practical Way - Starting or participating in a GYSD project is a great way to integrate classroom learning in a hands-on, practical approach. The YSA Learning Center  offers tools and resources to help you get started.
5. Spend Quality Family Time Together - GYSD is a chance for families to spend quality time while helping others. Volunteering provides an opportunity to learn new things together, and for kids to take a lead in planning and executing family projects.
6. Fulfill Volunteer Hours - With thousands of projects taking place during GYSD weekend, opportunities abound. GYSD is a great way to fulfill volunteer hours or community service requirements.
7. No project? No problem! - Browse the GYSD map  to see what service opportunities are happening near you. Whether organizing a service project or celebration event, or joining an existing project, there are so many ways to be involved in GYSD.
8. Collaborate in Your Community - Whether you are an educator, community partner, parent, or young person age 5-25, there is a GYSD opportunity for you! GYSD is a collaborative effort that brings everyone in the community together.
9. Be Part of a Global Movement - When you participate in GYSD, you're not just cleaning up a local park in Atlanta or feeding the homeless at a soup kitchen in Baltimore. You are part of a global movement that is the world's largest service event.
10. Celebrate!- It's not all work - GYSD is also a celebration of the year-round contributions of young people, youth service programs, and partner organizations.

Pick, plan, post, and promote your GYSD 2016 project at www.GYSD.org