During 17 years as an Extension professional in East Feliciana, the author has come to believe that volunteerism has never been strong in the parish 4-H program. Some individuals and clubs have, from time to time, conducted commendable community service activities, such as visiting nursing homes or collecting trash along one of the highways. But they all were one-time attempts or they didn't last beyond a year. There were no long-term plans for continued service.

The author has arrived at a point in his career and life where volunteerism has become a priority. If he can identify what motivates teens to volunteer, he can work the information into a program of change.

A study was designed to identify factors influencing teens to volunteer. The study was conducted (a) to provide demographic data on the respondents, and (b) to describe the effects selected factors had on high school teens' decisions to volunteer.

The literature on volunteers and volunteering is overwhelming. Information on teen volunteering is more recent and continuing to be gathered. However, a 1996 study conducted for the Independent Sector by the Gallup Organization (1996) does shed some light on the volunteering behavior of American teenagers. From that study, the most important reasons teens sited for volunteering were (a) compassion toward people in need (84%); (b) can do something for a cause that is important to me (84%); (c) volunteering allows me to gain a new perspective on things (74%); (d) if I help others, then someone will help me (73%); and (e) volunteering is important to the people that I respect (73%).

Two high school 4-H clubs (the only two in the parish) with a total of 65 youth were selected as the study group. A survey instrument, using information from the Independent Sector Survey, was administered on separate occasions to the young people. Youth were asked to respond to nine demographic questions and to the level of effect 35 individual factors had on their decision to volunteer.

Education Level

Age

Sex

Ethnic Group

Occupation of Father

Occupation of Mother

Previous Volunteer Work

Kinds of Volunteer Work

Perceived Influence of Selected Factors on the Decision of High School 4-H Youth to Volunteer

All of the selected factors were in the moderate effect category (3.00 - 5.99). The five highest factors influencing respondents to volunteer included (1) challenge of something new (mean = 5.52, sd = 1.62); (2) to learn respect for others (mean = 5.50, sd = 2.05); (3) to learn to be helpful and kind (mean = 5.43, sd = 1.72); (4) to improve school grades/do better in school (mean = 5.36, sd = 2.28); and (5) to develop new career goals (mean = 5.31, sd =2.04). The factor having the least importance was racial/cultural composition of community (mean = 4.02), sd = 2.23).

The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing teens to volunteer. The study was conducted to provide demographic data on the respondents and to describe the effects selected factors had on high school teens' decisions to volunteer.

Sixty-five youth, enrolled in two high school 4-H clubs, were asked to respond to nine demographic questions and to the level of effect 35 individual factors had on their decision to volunteer. The highest factors influencing respondents to volunteer included (a) challenge of something new; (b) to learn respect for others; (c) to learn to be helpful and kind; (d) improve school grades/do better in school; and (e) to develop new career goals.

4-H has always emphasized community service. The ideas of stewardship and leadership are emphasized in 4-H literature and thought. This study proves useful to the 4-H program in East Feliciana because it identifies factors that influence teens to volunteer, and when youth volunteer, they will hopefully embrace the ideas of stewardship and leadership.

Findings from this study show that high school 4-H youth in East Feliciana parish do volunteer. These findings, the author feels, also parallel findings from the Independent Sector Survey (1996). For example, the challenge of something new corresponds to gaining a new perspective on things. To learn respect for others relates to learned respect for others, a benefit gained from volunteering, reported by the Independent Sector. To learn to be helpful and kind corresponds to learned to be helpful and kind, another benefit reported by the Independent Sector. To improve school grades/do better in school, is similar to "I did better in school/grades improved", a third benefit reported. And to develop new career goals relates to developed new career goals, again another benefit reported.

Based on the findings, conclusions, and implications of this study, the author recommends that the factors identified in this study be incorporated in a plan that will motivate youth and clubs in the East Feliciana 4-H program or any other youth program to volunteer in a continuing manner. He also recommends further research in teen volunteerism that will identify additional factors influencing youth to volunteer or will make comparisons between demographic characteristics and factors influencing teens to volunteer.

Independent Sector (1996). Research on Teens Volunteering and Philanthropy. Available on Internet: www.IndependentSector.org

This article is online at http://joe.org/joe/1999october/comm2.html.

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