Are you a teenager who wants to make a difference in the world? Do you feel strongly about an issue that others are oblivious to? Or do you want to lend a helping hand to others who are marginalized in society? You’re not alone! With the rise of internet advocacy and Gen-Z activism, many youths are actively stepping up to make a change.

Due to your age, you may think that you can’t make a large enough impact on your community. However, age is just a number, and right now, many teenagers around the world are creating change by volunteering for nonprofit or voluntary organizations. (I’m doing just that by writing this article!)

Why Should You Volunteer for Nonprofits?

One great way to initiate change is to volunteer and assist in the operations of a nonprofit, specifically a youth-led one. A youth-led nonprofit organization is an organization founded and run by people under the age of 25, such as students. These organizations are created to advocate for civil rights issues, such as the rights of a marginalized group, or provide services to people who need them. For example, Just Ask A Teen aims to provide a safe community for teenagers like you and me.

For these organizations to actually be effective in serving the community, they need the help of volunteers! Nonprofits have directors in charge of certain activities to keep them running smoothly. That doesn’t mean volunteering requires superb people skills and outstanding leadership abilities impossible to attain. There are many different ways people can volunteer. In a typical organization, there needs to be volunteers in charge of the organization's social media to create more awareness of the organization. There also needs to be members who reach out to other organizations and partner with them to promote the organization's work. If the organization creates content, they need the help of fabulous writers, artists and other creators.

That’s Cool! How Can I Volunteer?

You can start locally by searching for opportunities near you. For example, I heard of a local nonprofit I am currently volunteering for, Plastic-Lite SG, after it held an event that involved my school. Do a quick search on organization in your area, and check their websites for any open positions to apply for.

You can also volunteer remotely for international organizations. Join JAAT’s Discord server and check out the website’s Opportunities page. If an organization is seeking applications, read the requirements carefully and fill out the application to the best of your ability! Now, why don’t you take the first step to create a meaningful impact on the community today?

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