More Than Half of Youths Plan to Volunteer

Two-thirds of young people say they are likely to get involved in nonprofit and other efforts to promote good works during the next year, according to new poll results.

Among the most-popular causes: fighting discrimination, building self-esteem, improving schools and other educational efforts, and helping teenagers who are depressed or contemplating suicide.

The Harris Interactive poll of 1,238 people age 12 to 17 was commissioned by the nonprofit service group Do Something, based in New York. It was paid for with a grant from the Levi Strauss Foundation.

When asked in what way they most saw themselves getting involved in local charitable efforts, 18 percent said they would organize their own projects. Many more, 35 percent, said they would join an existing group, while 37 percent said they would help if they were told what to do and given a specific time and place to do it. Only 4 percent said they would give money.

Just over half of the young people surveyed -- 56 percent -- said they volunteered last year. Most of those who volunteered or made other efforts to help people said they did so because it felt good (68 percent), was fun (67 percent), or was "the right thing to do" (65 percent).

Of the one-third of respondents who said they did not plan to get involved in local causes during the next year, top reasons given were lack of time (36 percent), laziness (36 percent), and confusion about what to do (33 percent).

Among the other findings:

• Teenagers who are most likely to get involved in charitable work next year said they would be most helped by a $500 grant for community projects, suggested project ideas, advice and support from an adult, and materials and information on how to get others involved.

• Boys and girls were equally likely to be involved in local charitable projects. But teenagers with higher grades were more likely than those with low grades to be involved in community-service efforts.

• About one of every four of the students surveyed attend schools that have a community-service requirement. Of those, about 75 percent said they were glad their schools had the requirement. Of the students whose schools do not require community service as a condition of graduation, opinions were almost evenly split about whether they would want to see such a requirement added.

• Nearly eight in 10 young people surveyed said they believe their generation can "create positive change" in their neighborhoods. Seventy-eight percent of survey respondents said young people their age can help improve their communities, and 68 percent said they believed that they could personally make a difference.

To encourage teenagers to get involved in service, Do Something and the Levi Strauss Foundation will award 25 grants of $500 each to help pay for charitable projects. The deadline for applying for the grants is October 17.

For more information on the grant program or the survey, contact Do Something at 423 West 55th Street, Eighth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10019; (212) 523-1175; http://www.dosomething.org.