- Assist or visit children at a hospital or a school for the blind, deaf or developmentally disabled
- Run a youth carnival or crafts fair and consider having a special theme like safety, literacy or science
- Hold an Easter egg hunt for children at a local school or children’s home
- Playground building, repair and litter control
- Hold a teen dance, talent show or game night
- Cleanup projects at community centers, summer camps, and local parks, etc. Get children involved and teach them about important environmental issues
- Hold a children’s story time in conjunction with a local library, elementary school, etc.
- Teach younger children of the values of proper hand washing techniques and staying clean
- Hold an educational seminar for teens. Topics can include issues such as violence, drugs, fitness, etc.
- Organize a field day or sporting event to get children exercising
Alpha Phi Omega first made a commitment to become a part of Youth Service America’s National Youth Service Day in 2001 (now Global Youth Service Day). Our involvement helps us meet part of the commitment we make to America’s Promise, the “Network for Youth” founded by General Colin Powell (Ret).
Spring Youth Service Day is one of Alpha Phi Omega’s largest service events and is scheduled in conjunction with Global Youth Service Day, which is the world’s largest service event organized by Youth Service America. It’s an opportunity to provide service to the youth of all nations through projects for and with them.
Global Youth Service Day includes more than 100 countries and millions of young people worldwide. Projects are organized by communities, schools, and local organizations. Youth Service America’s Global Youth Service Day has given us a renewed resolve to fulfill Frank Reed Horton’s dream that Alpha Phi Omega would make the world a better place, particularly through service to “the youth of all nations.”
During SYSD 2018, 226 chapters completed nearly 16,000 hours of service. That’s an average of 70 hours of service conducted for and/or with youth per chapter IN ONE WEEKEND!
The next Spring Youth Service Day & Global Youth Service Day is April 17-19, 2020.
Though Spring Youth Service Day is optional, each chapter must submit a project report, whether a project was completed or not, by May 1 in order to meet the minimum reporting requirements of the Fraternity. To learn more about Spring Youth Service Day and how to plan, implement, and report a project, download the handbook below.
Project Ideas
- Coach or sponsor a youth athletic team (as permitted by your university and risk management plans)
- Create an after-school program for local children where they can get help with their studies or learn a new activity
- Collect diapers, toys or other baby essentials for needy families
- Sponsor a toy drive for a local organization or youth charity
- Make blankets, stuffed animals, etc., for seriously ill or needy children
- Help to provide leadership for a youth organization such as Scouting, 4-H, Campfire, etc.
- Collect food and funds and provide assistance for local food pantries and soup kitchens
- Sponsor a book drive for a local library, school or community center
- Help with child-care services at a shelter or day care center
- Record books for blind children
- Raise money for an organization that serves youth through walk-a-thons, rock-a-thons, etc.
- Organize a Merit Badge University or advancement event for Boy or Girl Scouts
- Work with Child Rescue Network or local police departments to create photo/fingerprint ID cards for children
- Hold a career/college fair at a local high school
- Develop or staff an event for a youth related organization, such as Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys/Girls Clubs, YMCA, child abuse centers, etc.
- Do a joint service project with a high school service club such as the JROTC, Key Club, etc.
- Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event