Young People Around the World Stand Up and Take Action for the 18th Annual National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23

20 April 2006

From New Orleans to Mexico, from Iraq to California, from Hawaii to Sierra Leone, millions of youth in the U.S. and in more than 100 countries are planning community service projects and special events this weekend to celebrate the 18th annual National and Global Youth Service Day. As the largest service event in the world National and Global Youth Service Day mobilizes young people to identify and address community needs, supports youth on a life-long path of civic engagement, and educates the public about the role of youth as leaders and assets.

The event is organized by Youth Service America (YSA) with the support of State Farm Companies Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor of National and Global Youth Service Day. Additional financial support is provided by: GM Foundation, DisneyHand, Capital One Foundation, and the Department of Justice/Office of Juvenile Justice Programs.

"Youth are volunteering at records rates - more than any other generation in history," said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. "With 24-hour Internet and news shows, young people are exposed to global coverage, and they are reacting to it now - not waiting until they are adults to make a difference in the world."

Examples of projects include:

State Farm National and Global Youth Service Day iChat

On April 21 youth will gather in New York City, Ohio, West Virginia, and Washington, DC for an interactive forum between young people ad political leaders. Using the Apple interactive iChat video technology, young people in four communities, two urban and two rural, will discuss common and unique challenges of young people in diverse parts of the country with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns (DC), Congressman Ted Strickland (OH), Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV (NY), Councilman Eric Gioia (NY), and Councilwoman Inez Dickens (NY).

Iraqi School Clean-up to Bring Hope and Beyond

On Friday, April 21, the Iraqi Democratic Coalition for Youth will host a service event in Baghdad involving 100 youth, ages six through 14. The event will focus on improving the physical conditions of three schools in the Iraqi capitol of Baghdad. The project positions young people to improve local conditions and gives hope to the youth of Iraq. Other young people around the world will realize that the young Iraqis have capabilities and creative powers that may allow them to achieve miracles despite their complex situation. For adults in the war-torn country, the project represents a new step towards a free and democratic country.

Texas Youth Commission Service

On April 21 to 23, more then 3,000 juvenile offenders across the state of Texas who are adjudicated to the Texas Youth Commission will participate in 130 local community service events. In addition to the service they provide, these young men and women will also be practicing the skills they are learning in their Resocialization(c) treatment program. "Doing community service is one of the ways these young people begin making their transition home, helping them get in the mindset of people who want to be contributing members of their communities."

Interfaith Habitat for Humanity Build

On Sunday, April 23, the Muslim Public Affairs Council will bring together 100 Muslims, Jews, and Christians to work together at a Habitat for Humanity build site in Gardena, Calif. The project is designed to expose young people of different religious faiths to one another and to show them how the themes of social justice are shared in common by each religion.

Youth Service America is an international nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, Youth Service America's mission is to expand the impact of the youth service movement with communities, schools, corporations, and governments. Youth Service America envisions a global culture of engaged youth who are committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership, and achievement. For more information: http://www.YSA.org

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Source: usnewswire

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