Young People to Take Action and Make an Impact on Big Issues this Weekend for the 27th Annual Global Youth Service Day

Large-scale volunteering projects are to take place in more than 100 countries on April 17-19.

Youth around the world will serve and celebrate this weekend as part of the 27th annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 17 to 19. As the largest service event in the world, GYSD recognizes the contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year. Youth-led community projects are taking place in all 50 U.S. states and DC, and in over 100 countries across 6 continents.

All around the world, youth are making their communities healthier, greener, smarter, fairer, cleaner, and safer. Projects include: 

• An 11-year-old from Florida is creating a mobile app to stop cyberbullying.
• Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana are promoting girls rights and gender equality.  
• A New Jersey teenager is taking a stand against human trafficking.
• College students in the Dominican Republic are mentoring high school students.
• High school students in Ohio are using photojournalism to raise awareness about the needs of homeless veterans.
• Students in Kyrgyzstan are teaching others about healthy eating, cooking, and living.  
• An 8-year-old dressed as a superhero in Detroit is feeding the homeless.
• Young leaders in Benin, Africa are training their peers for careers in agriculture.

These and other stories are at www.GYSD.org/stories

“With half the world’s population under the age of 25, our future depends on helping young people to find their voice, take action, and make a positive impact in their communities. We know that young people are uniquely suited to help solve problems – if given the opportunity,” said Steven A. Culbertson, President & CEO of YSA, the leader of GYSD. “Today’s social and environmental problems are immense; we need youth to be leaders and problem solvers today, not just the leaders of a distant tomorrow. Global Youth Service Day is about shining a bright light on the incredible power of youth to change the world.”

GYSD activities and highlights include:

• First Lady Michelle Obama is the Honorary Chair for the 5^th consecutive year.
• With support from State Farm, Disney, Sodexo Foundation, and American Express, YSA awarded 425 worth a total of $445,000 grants to youth, schools, and community organizations to support GYSD projects. A map of grantees is available atwww.YSA.org/grantees.
• Thousands of projects are registered on the GYSD Map (www.GYSD.org/map). The state with the most projects is Arizona. The city with the most projects is Toledo, Ohio. The country with the most projects other than the U.S. is Kyrgyzstan.
• Educators are using GYSD to create a culture of service in schools and to challenge their students to use what they’re learning in the classroom to solve community problems. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called on students to “seize the opportunity to improve the world around you through service” by serving on GYSD.
• 456 NGOs in 87 countries have signed on as official GYSD Community Partners and are organizing youth-led activities in their local communities.
• Everyone is encouraged to help recognize youth who are making a difference using #EverydayYoungHero on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• The 2015 Harris Wofford Awards will be presented at The Service Shindig in Washington, DC on Friday, April 17 to Charles Orgbon III, youth founder of Greening Forward; United Way Worldwide; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Robbie Meldau, a teacher at Espiritu Charter School in Phoenix, AZ; and Kathy Payne of State Farm.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories) announced a new partnership with YSA to engage youth in India to improve road safety through two new Safer Roads, Safer India programs.

Official Global Youth Service Day Partners include some of the largest organizations in the world, such as 4-H, BBYO, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire, Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, iEARN, People to People International, Rotary, Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry, United Way Worldwide, the U.S. Department of State, and The Y (YMCA of the USA). Additionally, thousands of individual young people, schools, and local organizations plan service and celebration events for Global Youth Service Day.

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As a campaign of YSA and the largest service event in the world, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service. For more information, visit www.GYSD.org.

YSA (Youth Service America) helps young people find their voice, take action, and make an impact on vital community issues. YSA activates, funds, trains, and recognizes young people ages 5-25 and their adult partners. Our vision is a global culture of engaged children and youth committed to a lifetime of meaningful service, learning, and leadership. For more information, visit www.YSA.org.

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State Farm® is the Presenting Sponsor of Global Youth Service Day in the United States.

Learn more and browse service activities around the world on the GYSD Map at www.GYSD.org. Follow Global Youth Service Day activities on Twitter @YouthService and #GYSD and on Facebook @YouthServiceAmerica and #GYSD.