Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

10 Ways To Make A Difference This Summer- Without the Trip to Africa

If “make a difference” is listed somewhere between getting a tan and road tripping on your summer bucket list, you might have considered going on an “overseas volunteer project”. These projects might seem like life-changing ways to make an impact in a “third world” country, but these projects can be pricey- and not to mention kind of useless and redundant, as well as often perpetuating the concept of White Saviourism.

But fear not- you don’t need to pack your bags and fly to the sub-Saharan desert to make a positive impact this summer- in fact, we’ve compiled a list of ten fun, effective ways to give back, all while staying within your own community.

  1. Volunteer- Right Here

There’s definitely no shortage of good causes out there- and you can definitely invest your time volunteering and giving back without making an expensive and likely redundant and unhelpful trip to Africa or another “third-world” area. There is, without a doubt, an organization within driving distance of your home that could benefit from volunteer work. Here are just some ideas:

–          Consider helping out at your local animal shelter- not only are you surrounded by cute pets all day, but having volunteers can help previously abused animals adjust to being around people, and cut costs for the shelter- meaning more room and time for animals between homes.

–          Go to a local retirement home or senior’s centre- elderly people will often appreciate the company, and you may even be able to make a strong impact in their lives- for example, many senior’s centres have programs where young people teach the elderly about computers and other technology.

–          Organizations like food banks and Habitat For Humanity are always looking for helping hands- even if you spend your days sorting through canned food and used clothing, you’re ultimately helping to give low-income people access to necessary products in a faster, more efficient way.

–          If there are organizations you want to help but they don’t have space for you, or you aren’t qualified (like domestic violence shelters or camps for children with disabilities, which may only want trained professionals) consider helping out in the fundraising aspect. Fundraising can be a lot of fun and a great way to meet people- consider going door to door canvassing (I do it for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, it’s lot less anxiety-inducing than it seems), phone banking for a political candidate or helping out at a fundraising event like a car wash.

Volunteering obviously helps your local community- but it also has the added benefit of helping improve your resume and gain glowing references that can help you in future endeavors.

  1. Consider Fundraising Activities

Okay, obviously I mentioned fundraising above, but there are plenty of fun, unique ways to help raise money for important organizations without the traditional knocking on doors or selling raffle tickets for your high school. Look into marathons, walk-a-thons and so-called “fun runs” in your area. Fun runs are typically only 5 kilometres, and have a general theme- some will be mud runs with military-like obstacles courses, others will be decked out with neon lights and EDM music, and some will involve leis and tiki torches. Often times, marathons and fun runs will either have an upfront price where some or all of the proceeds will go to a charity, or you can collect pledges from others.

Whether you want to sign up for an event you have to train for weeks in advance, or do a casual walk-a-thon where you can catch up with some friends, there are plenty of events out there that are so much fun, you’ll forget you’re doing it for a cause.

But athletic events aren’t the only fun ways you can raise money- in your area there may be carnivals, jump rope events, or even concerts that donate profits to charity. You can easily find these events with a quick Google search- so don’t hesitate to get together with your squad and raise some money while ticking off fun activities to do over the summer break.

  1. Find A Protest or A Rally

If you’re all about sending a message, consider looking out for protests or rallies in your area. Are you down for a political rally? Wanna be a part of Black Lives Matter? Or walk in a Pride Parade? Maybe there are other protests happening around you- whether supporting local strike workers or standing up against national legislation, going out to protest with some friends can be a great way to educate yourselves, meet interesting people and send a strong message. But be careful- the sad reality is that a rally for any issue can quickly turn chaotic or violent due to the passion and frustration of those involved, and even at peaceful protests, police can get involved- and it isn’t particularly rare to see those who were non-violently protesting get arrested.

  1. Donate Blood

If you’re eighteen- or seventeen and have parents who understand the importance of giving blood- you might be interested in going to your local blood drive and rolling up your sleeves for a cause. Yes, needles are kinda scary, and yes, you might get kinda faint- but think about how important and limited blood donations are. You never know, as much as you don’t want to think about, it may be you or a loved one who needs a blood donation one day, if that hasn’t already been the case. Also think about what you’re getting in return- as in, unlimited juice and cookies (and I’m told in the United States, money???????)

  1. Donate

While you’re spending your summer grinding away as a barista or camp counsellor trying to get some money for college, think about setting aside a bit of your summer job money to help a charity. This is especially important if helping the development of the third-world was big on your priority list- the reality is that giving your money to an NGO is ultimately much more effective than spending a couple weeks playing soccer with orphans and getting cute pics for Instagram. That said, the number of organizations out there worthy of your dollar are plentiful- from disease research to local anti-poverty efforts to international NGOs like UNICEF and Amnesty, there are plenty of places worth donating to.

But, if you’re truly strapped for cash, there are a number of other ways you can donate. Finally get around to that spring cleaning you’ve been putting off since March and give away the boxes of stuff you don’t need any more away to places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Take a walk down memory lane by going through your bookshelf (oh my god, remember when Percy Jackson was such a thing?) and give what you haven’t actually gotten around to re-reading in oh, three years, to a local library. You can even give away all the old electronics you no longer use away to organizations like ERA who will use them to reduce our need for oil.

  1. Welcome Home A Furry New Friend

If you’ve been thinking about making a new furry friend, consider adopting from a shelter rather than buying. Far too often, pets that have been abused or neglected- or simply no longer wanted by owners or breeders- end up in shelters that lack the resources to keep all of these animals long-term. As a result, many shelters end up euthanizing animals that have gone too long without being adopted or don’t fulfill a certain standard of appearance or behaviour that deems them adoptable. Adopting an animal can bring so much joy and cuteness into your life, all while changing your new pet’s life forever, freeing up resources for the next animal in need, and lowering the demand for pet stores and puppy mills, who have long track records of mistreating animals.

  1. Take A Summer Course

If you’re looking to boost your GPA or ease your course load for next year, you might want to consider enrolling in an online or in-class summer course- or attend seminars, lectures or other educational aides.

What exactly does this have to do with making a difference- well, education is power. There are plenty of fun, informative classes you can take that will leave you educated and empowered- some subjects you can study at many high schools, colleges and universities include journalism, political sciences, psychology, global development, gender studies and economics. Spending a few weeks this summer getting educated might make you a more informed voter, a passionate advocate for a certain cause, a smarter shopper or just inspire you to take steps to make a difference.

  1. Go On a Shopping Spree

Yeah, that’s right, you can make an impact by doing exactly what you would have done anyways! When you go out shopping with your friends for summer outfits or stuff for your dorm room, consider investing in high-quality, ethical products. Here are some ideas to make your next trip to the mall a lot more socially and environmentally friendly:

–          When shopping for cosmetics and skin care, it’s definitely best to look out for cruelty-free brands- meaning companies that refuse to test on animals. But don’t stop there- consider buying products that you know were free trade and are environmentally friendly- I’m a personal fan of The Body Shop.

–          Consider buying fair trade anything- coffee, cosmetics, chocolate, even clothing. Fair trade products don’t use child labour or forced labour, and give workers fair pay and safe working standards.

–          Buy local. This usually goes for food, but a simple visit to a farmer’s market and you’ll see that you can buy all sorts of things from local workers- jewelry, clothing, toys. Consider giving money back to your community and help to strengthen the local economy.

–          Shop thrift! There’s a misconception that secondhand finds are often dirty or out of the style- the truth is that many thrift stores will sort through all donations and only sell products in the best condition. Shopping thrift can save you money, give back to local organizations (the thrift store I worked for was partnered with the Canadian Diabetes Association) and reduce the need for more new clothes to be made- which is a boon for the environment.

–          Buy eco-friendly products- obviously no single person can completely eliminate our global climate crisis BUT, it could make a small difference. Recycled fabric clothes and shopping bags, reusable water bottles, solar powered patio speakers- if you want a fuller list, check out this site: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/25-green-eco-friendly-products.php

 

  1. Get Off the Grid

Considering going on a weekend retreat with your buds this summer? Think about getting off the grid- either going to a campground or renting a power-free trailer or cottage. Not only will a rustic, back-to-basics trip reduce your carbon footprint, but it will likely save money compared to excursions to cities and hotels. Going a few days living with bugs and no Wi-Fi might be hard to swallow- but trust me, you’ll be won over the hiking trails, late night dips and starry nights (and don’t worry, most campgrounds have bathrooms and showers).

Just remember to carpool.

  1. Apply To Write For Affinity Magazine

As said before, education is power- and at Affinity, we believe that educating young people can lead to real change. If writing is your thing, you might want to send in your politically or socially themed articles to Affinity- or apply as a staff writer! We’re accepting new writers all year round, but there’s no better time than your summer vacation to let out your inner journalist, and help other teens become more informed about the issues that you care about.

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