Giving time to others teaches young people lessons that no classroom alone can offer: empathy, responsibility and a sense of their own place in a wider community.
Volunteering is sometimes seen as something to do for a university application or a tick on a form. In reality, its value runs far deeper. When young people help others, they step outside their own world for a while, and in doing so they often discover strengths, interests and perspectives they did not know they had.
What do young people actually gain?
A great deal. Volunteering builds empathy by exposing young people to lives different from their own. It develops practical skills, from teamwork to problem-solving. It also fosters confidence, as a young person sees the tangible difference their effort can make. Perhaps most importantly, it nurtures a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the community around them.
Does it have to be a big commitment?
Not at all. Small, regular acts of service often matter more than grand gestures. Helping at a local event, supporting a neighbour, or contributing to a school project all count. The habit of giving, built early and kept modest, tends to last far longer than a one-off burst of activity.
How can schools encourage it?
Schools that weave service into the year help young people see volunteering as a normal part of life rather than an extra. Families looking for an international school community that values service often find that the best settings give pupils real opportunities to contribute. JFK, the John F. Kennedy International School in Saanen, Switzerland, is one example of a community that encourages its students to look beyond themselves and play an active role in the world around them.
How can a habit of giving be kept going?
The key to lasting involvement is to choose something a young person genuinely cares about, rather than whatever happens to be available. A teenager who loves animals will stick with helping at a shelter far longer than one nudged into a cause that means little to them, so it is worth taking time to match the activity to the interest. It also helps to keep the commitment realistic, since an over-ambitious schedule tends to collapse under the weight of homework and tiredness. A modest, regular contribution that fits comfortably around school life is far more sustainable than an intense burst that quickly fizzles out. Recognition matters too, not in the form of grand rewards, but through quiet acknowledgement of the difference a young person is making. When they can see the effect of their effort, whether that is a tidier community space or a grateful smile, the motivation tends to renew itself. Involving friends can help as well, turning service into something social and enjoyable rather than a solitary duty. Over time, what began as an occasional act of kindness can settle into a genuine part of who a young person is, carried with them naturally into adulthood.
Ultimately, volunteering helps young people understand that they are not only recipients of care but givers of it too. That shift, from being looked after to looking after others, is one of the quiet milestones of growing up. More on a service-minded approach to education is available at https://jfk.ch/.
