Girls Helping Girls

Join TeensGive And Participate in International Volunteer Month

Join TeensGive And Participate in International Volunteer Month

By Olivia Giagni

Because April is International Volunteer month, I wanted to highlight a great, award winning organization called TeensGive that has enabled teenagers to give back to their community in the most meaningful ways.  In 2016, Helena Zimmerman and Max Mindich, two freshman from Westchester, New York, created TeensGive to take advantage of teenager’s skills and put them to good use. Their work has received national recognition as finalists in the Kidbacker Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Hatchpad competitions. Volunteer opportunities for high schoolers are very difficult to find and are usually age restricted. TeensGive presents easy and fun ways for teenagers to connect with children who are less privileged and also get credit for volunteer work. The program offers three options to participating teenagers; in person tutoring at TeensGive network of after school programs, virtual volunteering (which includes tutoring children from Title 1 schools online) or teaching at TeensGive entrepreneurship curriculum, Counting Cupcakes, a program that teaches children business and math skills in a super fun way. TeensGive also connects high school students with volunteer programs to match their hobbies, allowing teenagers to actually enjoy the time they spend volunteering. I have had the privilege to help out co founder Helena Zimmerman with two of my close friends at one of her volunteering events. While Helena worked in the computer lab with young girls, teaching them the fundamentals and importance of entrepreneurship, I was able to aid another group of girls who were designing cake pops and aprons for an upcoming charity event. I was able to connect with the young girls I was working with, and it was a really touching and unforgettable experience for me. I am extremely fond of this organization, and I can guarantee based off personal experience that it is not only effective and meaningful, but also a lot of fun. I really recommend this organization to anyone who is looking to log volunteer hours and make a difference in his or her community. It is easy to sign up for TeensGive – just go to the company’s website and click “Get Involved” in the top right corner and follow the consecutive steps to become a member of this fantastic organization.

http://www.teensgive.org/join-us/

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