Throughout the year many youths and parents contact us about faith-based service projects. To complete a Confirmation or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah a youth may be asked to complete a certain amount of service hours or a service project.
This is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the positive impact you have had on others and how best to continue on this path. By participating in a service project, you are given the chance to select a cause that is important to you. You can give back to your community or the world at large in any number of ways including volunteering, doing a service project at your party, fundraising, giveaways, raising awareness about a cause or agency and philanthropic funds . . . the list is endless.
Here are some tips on how to choose a project:
· Consider what becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah/Completing your Confirmation means to you.
· Think about challenges in the world that you would like your Service Project to address.
· Think about Service Projects your friends and relatives have done. What did you like about them?
· Contact organizations with whom you can partner for your project.
· Learn more about the problem you are addressing.
· Include information about your Service Project in your invitation, at the service or party.
Here are some examples of projects other students have chosen:
While in Israel, Alex Kalb of New Rochelle donated school supplies to a youth center and packaged food for families of sick children. He also contacted a local hospital and donated board games that had been used as centerpieces at his party to their pediatric ward.
Benjamin Claar of Scarsdale volunteered at Sunday Fun Day, a program at his local Jewish Community Center that helps children with special needs with art, music, theater, and computers.
Alex Meisels of New Rochelle hosted a Mitzvah Clown training attended by over 25 classmates and friends. At the training participants learned the importance of Mitzvah Clowning, how to make balloon animals, apply clown make-up and put into action what they had learned by visiting a local senior center.
Having difficulty choosing a project? Volunteer New York! has a full listing of local nonprofits and volunteer projects at www.volunteernewyork.org, or call 914-227-9301 to start a discussion about starting your Service Project!
