Our company, Humanity In Practice, has designed a volunteer program for children under 12. HIPkids, http://www.behip.ca/, is a unique way for school children, Guide/Scout groups and families to make a difference from anywhere. This program runs ten months a year and comes to the volunteer in the form of a fun project that they can do in their own time which helps the agency! We promote these projects on a colored poster given to each coordinator so they can choose which projects they wish to do. For example, an agency we just supported has an annual fundraising gala that requires a lot of time and effort from the staff. One of the tasks the staff needs to do is to create table centerpieces each year to reflect the theme. This year, HIPkids made the table centerpieces which will be proudly sitting at the tables and throughout the gala. The children made a difference by helping the agency with a time consuming task so that the staff could focus on other things!
Our program is popular because it is simple and flexible—and, since starting this 4 years ago, we have had youth and senior groups ask us to become HIPkids! The agencies enjoy this program too as it costs nothing to participate and there are no risk management issues, recruiting, training or supervision involved!