WHAT: Get Off Your Apathy is a campaign with three goals:

- Celebrate youth volunteerism and all the good that youth volunteers do.

- Raise awareness of the importance and benefits of youth volunteerism.

- Challenge youth to do more, especially during our volunteering blitz this coming October.

Part one is a conversation we would like to have with the youth of Ottawa. Do you volunteer? Why? Have you ever thought about the benefits of volunteering to you, your community and the world at large?

Part two will be a volunteering blitz. October 14 – November 3 we’ll be challenging the youth of Ottawa to get out there and volunteer.

WHEN: Starting now and culminating in the volunteering blitz October 2012

WHERE: Anywhere there are volunteer opportunities or events happening!

WHO: Youth who are no longer in high school but are under the age of 25

HOW: There are two easy steps:

Step 1. Volunteer. Where? Here are some suggestions:

  1. Create your own project: Do you have a cause that you care about? Do something about it. Organize a fundraiser/ awareness raiser, plant trees, do a clean up, organize a flash mob – whatever. Get a group of volunteers together, execute your project and let us know how many volunteer hours were generated. Check out this article on youth led volunteer projects.
  2. Participate in an existing event: Volunteer for an event and get others to join you. The campaign is perfect motivation for you and others to get involved. Perhaps you have always meant to start volunteering. Why  not now? Search our website (see Go:Volunteer!) for an opportunity that speaks to you.
  3. Keep participating in ongoing volunteer opportunities: Are you already volunteering on a regular basis? Great! Keep doing that. The purpose of the campaign is to get more people to volunteer and to celebrate those who already do.  Just let us know about the volunteering you do.

Step 2: Tell us about it.

  • enter your hours in our form
  • share your stories and photos through Facebook or
  • email Damien at youth@volunteerottawa.ca.

WHY: Here are some great reasons to take on the Challenge

  • Get involved in the community and see what volunteer opportunities there are out there
  • Feel empowered by mentoring a child, helping a senior or raising awareness for a good cause
  • Develop your communication, leadership and other resume-friendly skills
  • Build up your social connections and make new friends
  • Finally put to rest the stereotype of the apathetic youth.