Global Youth Service Days
Floor Speech
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I wish to speak about a resolution designating April 23 through 25, 2010, as ``Global Youth Service Days.'' S. Res. 493 recognizes and commends the significant community service efforts that youth are making in communities across the country and around the world on the last weekend in April and every day. This resolution also encourages the citizens of the United States to acknowledge and support these volunteer efforts. S. Res. 493 passed the Senate by unanimous consent on April 20, 2010. This sends a very strong message of support to the thousands of youth across our great Nation who contribute positively to their communities--your efforts are recognized and appreciated.
Beginning this Friday, April 23, youth from across the United States and around the world will carry out community service projects in areas ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. Through this service, many will embark on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement.
This event is not isolated to one weekend a year. Global Youth Service Days is an annual public awareness and education campaign that highlights the valuable contributions that young people make to their communities throughout the year.
The participation of youth in community service provides an opportunity to identify and address the needs of their communities and make positive differences in the world around them, learn leadership, organizational skills, and gain insights into the problems of their fellow citizens.
High-quality service-learning activities help young people make important connections between the school curriculum and the challenges they see in their communities. Youth who are engaged in volunteer service and service-learning activities do better in school than their classmates who do not volunteer are also more likely to avoid risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse. Service within the community contributes positively to young people's character development, civic participation, and philanthropic activity as adults.
It is important, therefore, that the Senate encourage youth to engage in community service and to congratulate them for the service they provide.
In an effort to recognize and support youth volunteers in my State, I am proud to acknowledge some of the activities that will occur this year in Alaska in observance of National and Global Youth Service Days:
Anchorage's Promise, which works to mobilize all sectors of the community to build the character and competence of Anchorage's children and youth, has sponsored the annual KidsDay events in Anchorage again this year. Youth provided significant service to their peers and to adults who attended KidsDay activities:
The Spirit of Youth Teen Action Council's Herb Project provided youth with the task of building organic hanging gardens for local elders who are unable to get out and garden this year. The Alaska Botanical Garden also supported this project with important tips about the benefits of starting your own garden at home.
Operation Support Our Soldiers, SOS, made cards for our military deployed overseas to show support and appreciation for the sacrifice that these brave men and women make every day.
The Alaska Teen Media Institute also participated in the day interviewing youth and giving tips on media production.
Teen volunteers from Anchorage conducted surveys of youth attending the 2010 KidsDay and also surveyed vendor booths regarding volunteer and employment opportunities.
Chugiak High School Junior ROTC assisted Anchorage's Promise this year at KidsDay by providing security to protect children.
In addition to the KidsDay events, young people from every region of Alaska will serve their communities in the following ways:
The Juneau Alaska Youth for Environmental Action has been working with the Juneau-Douglas High School Food Services, to transition from plastic disposable silverware to reusable metal silverware.
SAGA Juneau will be working in coordination with the Juneau School District to provide volunteer opportunities to youth.
Members of the Chugiak Family Career and Community Leaders of America coordinated four activities to earn funds for the Malowi Children's Village. They raised $560 for mosquito bed nets which will buy 260 nets to protect children from deadly insect bites.
Anchorage Boy Scout troops teamed up with local supermarkets in order to collect food for the homeless.
The Music Canvas in Anchorage offered a free sing-a-long class for families with young children.
Shishmaref Village led a trip with skilled hunters to teach the youth traditional hunting and survival tactics.
An ongoing project from the students at the Alaska Teen Media Institute involves production of a public affairs radio show on KNBA 90.3 FM Anchorage. ``In Other News'' airs the last Saturday of the month and features news and views from the teen perspective.
Teens of Covenant House Alaska will be partnering with Abundant Life Generation to outreach to women and children in Nepal that have experienced sexual exploitation from human trafficking.
Homer residents helped clean the city. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three ``trash collectors,'' and over 650 bags of trash were collected.
Over 750 volunteers joined together in Soldotna to help rebuild the local playgrounds in the city.
Cadets from the North Pole High School Air Force Junior ROTC collected donations and helped out the Alaska Blood Bank in Fairbanks.
Teen volunteers in Anchorage helped prepare materials for the annual summer reading celebration.
Youth assisted Anchorage's Promise with getting the meaning behind the five promises out into the community.
The Alaska Food Bank offered a volunteer opportunity to help the Boy Scouts of America sort out their donations from this year's Scouting for Food Drive.
Thousands of youth volunteers gathered to help clean up the neighborhoods of Anchorage.
The Alaska High School Challenge sponsored by the Blood Bank of Alaska increases awareness in the community about the importance of donating blood and allows high schools to compete with one another for recognition of saving the most lives in Alaska.
The PANIC/Mountaineer Sports Program cleaned and painted the Mount View Community Center Boys and Girls Club.
Sterling Community Club youth helped to salvage road kill moose in order to feed hungry community members.
Boys and Girls Club youth were instructed on bike safety.
Eagle River Boys and Girls Club helped to show support for troops by making care packages during the holidays.
Port Graham School students partnered up with elders in the community to learn more about traditional knowledge and cultural importance.
Wrangell youth worked with the Women in Safe Homes project and AmeriCorps members to create artwork for the Wrangell Medical Center.
Youth Group of Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship made and distributed Easter baskets to homeless youth.
Students at Barry Craig Stewart Kassan School were involved in a week of activities that focused on building skills such as teamwork and communication.
Students at Tok School were given the opportunity to ``adopt'' a person whom they found to be a positive influence on their lives.
Eagle River Lion's Club teamed up with youth to provide an Easter egg hunt for the community.
The community of Dillingham joined together to celebrate the achievements of local youth and elders.
Students with the Yakutat High National Honor Society held a community health fair.
Meterviit Youth Action Group in New Stuyahok held an event to discuss
environmental issues the village should address for the future.
Tri-Valley Community Library and the After School Yearbook Club at Healy school celebrated the 40th anniversary of the local school.
Mr. President, I am so proud of all of these young people. I value their idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspectives as they volunteer to make their communities better and assist those in need.
Many similarly wonderful activities will be taking place all across the Nation. I encourage all of my colleagues to visit the Youth Service America Web site--www.ysa.org--to find out about the selfless and creative youth who are contributing in their own States this year.
I thank my colleagues--Senators Akaka, Bayh, Begich, Bingaman, Burr, Cardin, Cochran, Collins, Dodd, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Gregg, Hagan, Isakson, Klobuchar, Landrieu, Lautenberg, LeMieux, Lieberman, Lincoln, Menendez, Mikulski, Murray, Ben Nelson, Stabenow, and Mark Udall--for standing with me as original cosponsors of this worthwhile resolution which will ensure that youth across the country and the world know that all of their hard work is greatly appreciated.
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