Youth are constantly told that they are the hope of tomorrow … we believe that youth are the hope of today. They have amazing energy, commitment, idealism, and creativity. There is every reason for them to address the problems facing their communities today, not tomorrow. — Steven A. Culbertson, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Youth Service America.

Today’s youth are the people who can change the world, as well as the people that are changing it. Every day, stories about youth everywhere are told around the world, from boys using sports to raise money to fight poverty, to girls giving away their own hair to cancer patients, to entire groups of teenagers taking on genocide or child soldiers within their own communities. It is a global movement of youth action!

But statistics show that adults often believe that youth cannot truly make a difference. Though they are wrong in that belief, their behavior does make youths feel less empowered, and definitely less like leaders. How can the youth of the world become true leaders if they cannot find someone to believe in them?

The first step is to believe in yourself. It is true that anyone can be a leader, and it is true that leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. Just by serving as a positive role model you can be a leader. Have you ever taught a sibling to read or write? How about picked up litter in front of someone? These are both good examples of leadership in action. When someone said something you know was wrong or harmful, and you stood up against it,  you have been a leader!

Anyone can become a leader. In this section, you can learn how. There are many tips, guides, and tools available to youth who wish to create a positive impact on the world. Young people definitely want to create change; the majority of them volunteer every year. Use the pages in this section, For Youth, as your starting point to learn more about leadership, or even to become a leader yourself.

Remember, a leader is someone who guides or influences others. The world is always in need of good, positive leaders to pave the way for a sustainable future and peace for all beings. Are you ready to lead? Read on!

Young people volunteer almost twice as often as adults do.

15.5 million youth ages 12 to 24 volunteered more than 1.3 billion hours of their time in 2004 alone! And they did it because they wanted to; only 5% do so because of  school or other requirements.

Youth mainly volunteer because they want to make a difference, but they also do so because they have learned about specific action they want to take, they have talked about issues with their parents, or for other reasons.

While 29% of adults volunteer, a whopping 55% of youth do.

39% of teens volunteer regularly, while 35% do so sometimes.

Young people who do volunteer work usually do better in school.

Teens who volunteer are more likely to engage in positive activities rather than risky activities or behaviors.

Becoming a leader helps youths take on more roles and more responsibilities, which help develop their character and valuable skills.

Just 37% of American adults believe that young people can make a positive impact on the world, and only 20% of youth believe that adults value them.

72% of youth report having donated money, clothing, or other items to charity.

The value of volunteer time is almost US$18 per hour. That is valuable work!

Youth leaders learn how to work together with many different kinds of people. That is a much more fun way to learn collaborative (cooperative) skills than group reports at school!

Volunteering generally makes youths feel more connected to their communities.

Being a leader helps youths learn to work toward a specific goal, which provides them with valuable insight and experience, especially when setting and working toward their own personal goals.

There are many benefits to volunteering, including self-discovery, acquiring new skills, making friends and networking, increasing self-esteem, learning about the world, and feeling good knowing that you helped someone.

70% of youth have participated in some sort of event or activity to help better their community.

Most youths start volunteering because they were approached at school, or by a particular organization — or simply because someone asked them to help out.

If a teen has a parent who volunteers, he or she is three times more likely to volunteer, too.

Youth leaders can often gain good job experience through volunteer work. Volunteering in particular can lead to helpful contacts and even job opportunities.

Student leaders are often engaged in multiple roles, such as clubs, jobs, sports, and academics; it is important that they also create a balance in their activities and obligations, and some form of healthy stress management.

Young adults who participate in service-learning are more likely to be socially and politically active, as well as more satisfied with their lives.

78% of youths who participate in service-learning say that it helps them learn to be better citizens.

Volunteering for 1 hour each week makes teens less likely to use drugs or engage in other destructive activities.

Dozens of organizations have been started by youths of all ages. Do not ever think you are too young; "Alex’s Lemonade Stand" was founded by a 4-year-old!

The Internet has made it easier to be a youth leader. There are many online tools to available, and leadership is no longer limited to a local community, but can be expanded to the global community.