ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge is a three-week campaign with one goal: get high school teens to volunteer in their community. Bonus: Teens get the community involvement hours they need to graduate high school.

This year, we're asking 10,000 Ontario youth to volunteer for at least three hours during the campaign: April 10 - May 1, 2011. 21 volunteer centres are participating, representing more than 265 communities across the province.

Find the one closest to you: www.ontario.ca/changetheworld

Despite being a graduation requirement, youth in Ontario love to volunteer. According to Statistics Canada, fifty-five per cent of Ontarians aged 15 to 24 support different causes and participate in volunteering activities.*

When asked why they volunteer, the top 3 reasons identified by youth are:

1. To improve their job opportunities
2. To explore their own strengths
3. Because their friends volunteer

Interested in volunteering?

Here are a few places that could help you get started:

• Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Volunteerism Section — volunteering fact sheets and resources
• YouthConnect — how to get started
• Volunteer Canada — lists volunteer centres where opportunities are posted
• 211Ontario.ca — directory of community services
• Charity Village — lists volunteer opportunities
• Summer Company — Create your own summer job

Source: Statistics Canada, 2004