Skip to main content

2017 Global Youth Service Day Projects Reach 15,000 People

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Juvenile Justice Department served as a lead agency in Texas for the twelfth consecutive year and convened a coalition of 23 partners for the 28th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). Youth Service America hosted the global event, held during April, and it is now the largest service event in the world and celebrated in over 100 countries. During GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.

Our state-operated facilities were joined by eleven county juvenile probation departments, and seven public school campuses across the state, to implement a total of 72 service-learning projects focusing on issues like kindness/tolerance, poverty, hunger and homelessness, bullying, violence and safety, public health, environment, pollution and beautification, literacy, and human rights. Nearly 1,200 youth logged a total of 5,246 hours of service during the month of April in observance of GYSD, benefitting an estimated 15,000 Texas citizens.

Through planning grants supplied by Youth Service America, the State Volunteer Resource Council for Texas Youth, the Texas Community Service Association, and Generation to Generation, mini-grants totaling $3,650 were disbursed to ten partners, enabling them to purchase equipment and supplies for their service projects. An additional $2,731 in cash and in-kind donations were contributed to projects. Twelve news articles were published calling attention to the good things our youth are doing for others. Fifteen governmental officials were involved in GYSD activities, by issuing proclamations, attending events, and recognizing youth at city council meetings.

The impact on youth is difficult to measure, but one program coordinater observed, “They saw compassion demonstrated for strangers without any expected monetary compensation. They commented how this was a really nice thing to do. It was an opportunity to see kindness and to be a part of it and know how wonderful it felt to be helpful and kind. They asked about going back and longed to be helpful towards others.”

The impact on the community was measured in a variety of ways, and each demonstrates the incredible potential our youth have to make the world a better place through community service.

HEALTH OUTCOMES:

  • Individuals engaged in physical activity - 4,367
  • Fitness events organized - 3
  • First aid kits prepared or distributed - 4
  • People certified in providing CPR or as first responders - 13
  • Sustainable agriculture classes organized - 1
  • Substance abuse, including tobacco, classes organized - 3
  • Sexual and reproductive health classes organized - 1
  • Roads or sidewalks improved to increase safety - 4


POVERTY & HUNGER OUTCOMES:

  • Pounds of food collected and donated - 326
  • Items of food collected and donated - 6,220
  • Food drives or fundraisers organized - 3
  • Community or school gardens planted or created - 3
  • Hours served at food bank, food pantry, or kitchen - 692
  • Meals prepared at kitchen, shelter, or other feeding location - 1,145
  • Individuals receiving emergency food from community kitchens, food banks, or nonprofit - 230
  • People educated about the issue of childhood hunger in the community - 552
  • Financial literacy classes organized for adults and/or youth - 2
  • Emergency housing or shelters improved - 822


ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES:

  • Native trees, shrubs, or other plants maintained - 6
  • Pounds of trash and debris removed - 55
  • Acres of harmful invasive vegetation removed - 1
  • Parks, public lands, habitats, or wilderness areas cleaned or improved, preserved, protected, or created - 5
  • Pounds of waste reduced, reused, recycled, or composted - 300
  • Buildings weatherized or made more energy-efficient - 1
  • Buildings or infrastructure prepared for extreme weather events caused by climate change - 1
  • Acres of land and soil restored that were degraded by desertification, drought, and
  • floods - 1


EDUCATION OUTCOMES:

  • Adults and youth mentored, tutored, or read to - 203
  • New adults and youth volunteer mentors, tutors, or readers recruited - 72
  • Books or school supplies collected, donated - 2,055
  • Classrooms or school spaces physically improved - 3
  • Job skills training’s (technical, vocational or tertiary) organized - 10
  • Girls gain access to school/education - 34
  • Students gain access to school/education - 99


COMMUNITY BUILDING & SAFETY OUTCOMES:

  • Playgrounds or play spaces improved or built - 6
  • Sites cleaned, beautified, and/or painted - 13
  • Murals painted or community artwork created - 2
  • Buildings or sites reconstructed, renovated, cleaned-up, or otherwise improved - 8


AWARENESS OUTCOMES:

  • Number of people educated/provided with information - 2,171
  • Number of people reporting increased knowledge - 1,166
  • Number of people reporting intention to change behavior - 364


ADVOCACY OUTCOMES:

  • Number of messages to or interactions with policymakers - 2
  • Number of people engaged as advocates - 3
  • Number of policymakers reached - 8


PHILANTHROPY OUTCOMES:

  • Number of dollars raised and donated - $3,955
  • Dollar value of goods/items collected and donated - $19,195
PHOTO: Gainesville State School youth paint messages of kindness on stone ladybugs for local public school third graders.

Popular posts from this blog

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer  McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack.    When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves),   and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said.   “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

IN MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April.  She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III.  She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010.  Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend.  Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic.  The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952.  She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.