While all high school students are required to complete 40 volunteer hours in order to graduate, volunteering has lots of positive benefits for youth as well. From building self-esteem and confidence to gaining real-world experiences, volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact in your community.
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Volunteer with us!
We believe that youth are co-creators of their community and need to be empowered to fulfill that role. Healthy Youth Network can provide your teen with volunteer hours in a number of ways, as new volunteer opportunities may become available throughout the year:
- HEART – Our Healthy Education About Relationships Team has student groups at Waterdown District High School and Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School. HEART envisions school environments that are safe for those of all genders, where everyone feels heard, supported and treated with equity.
- What’s Your Path – Your young person can join one of the teams that guides our What’s Your Path program, helping youth refine their skills, passions and interests in order to develop a path for the future based on their priorities and goals.
- Youth Portal & Parent Place – Our student advisory teams help shape our portals with the information that’s important to you. The Youth Portal works to promote health and wellbeing while the Parent Place supports the adults in young people’s lives support them.
- Do they have their own ideas? We will work with them to create an event or program. Reach out to us here.
Local Volunteer Opportunities
Flamborough Volunteers is your source for local volunteer opportunities. Not-for-profit and charitable organizations (service clubs, festivals, faith groups, community events, community service agencies, etc.) submit volunteer opportunities, which are reviewed and posted on the Volunteer Opportunities page.
Eagles Nest Association of Waterdown provides active, ongoing help to families in our community and by volunteering you can be a part of this process. Volunteer roles are available at The HOPE Centre and Rescued and Restored.
Waterdown’s OH Canada Ribfest requires the strong support of volunteers across the community. This annual ribfest is their most successful fundraiser, supporting projects in our local community and around the world. As they organize for the next event, visit their site for opportunities and sign up for as many shifts as you would like.
Green Venture, Hamilton’s environmental education non-profit organization, offers a variety of ways for students to earn volunteer hours. Explore YouthQuake, an environmental conversations series, or the Youth Stewardship & Professional Skills program to learn more.
McQuesten Urban Farm, in partnership with Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, offers volunteer opportunities for people of all backgrounds, abilities and levels of gardening skill and experience to help run their organic greenhouse and prepare for their weekly Fresh Produce Market each summer. Learn about farming, harvesting and planting while earning volunteer hours!
Niwasa‘s community food bank is a member of the Hamilton Food Share network. With a continuously increasing number of users, volunteers are needed more than ever. Volunteers play a crucial role in assembling the food packages distributed to families in need, ensuring their access to fresh produce.
Arts for All is a charitable organization of the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts. It delivers innovative arts education and community-based arts programming, training and volunteer opportunities that foster civic engagement by making arts accessible in Hamilton.
Welcome Inn Community Centre operates in the North End of Hamilton to alleviate poverty and marginalization by improving the wellness of its community members. A number of volunteer opportunities are posted directly on the Welcome Inn website. Get involved in children/ youth, seniors or food bank programming.
Interested in being a referee or scorekeeper for flag football, basketball or volleyball? The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is calling on those seeking real-life experience in these fields who are also interested in gaining volunteer hours.
