New Year is approaching and while only 12%* of us manage to uphold resolutions to live better lives, youth development charity, Lattitude Global Volunteering claims it can help young people to achieve even the most ambitious of New Year goals.
According to Wikipedia, the most common New Year resolution goals include volunteering to help others, taking a trip, becoming more independent, improving education and job prospects and learning something new, such as a language.
Most people struggle to make such big changes in their lives, but with the support of not for profit organisation, Lattitude Global Volunteering, 17 to 25 year olds can achieve all of these resolutions.
Lattitude offers volunteering placements in 17 different countries, enabling young people to live and work in a community that differs entirely from their own, making a positive difference to the area, as well as changing their own lives for the better.
“Lattitude Global Volunteering projects are as much about benefiting the volunteers as about benefiting the communities in which they work, so signing up to a Lattitude placement could be the best resolution for a young person to make” says CEO of the charity, Paul Rompani. “Youth development is an important aspect of what we do and whilst volunteering is the chief focus of the placement, it can often be what the volunteers take away from the experience that makes the biggest difference”.
Making resolutions is about making changes to positively affect your life. By volunteering overseas with Lattitude young people give something back, learn new skills, (which can include a new language) and they often develop confidence and independence, which are vital life skills. A productive year out can also improve employability on the volunteer’s return, as many companies look favourably upon the experience.
The changes that Lattitude volunteers undergo during their volunteering experience are permanent, unlike the reality of most New Year’s resolutions, which often don’t last beyond January.
Volunteering, for example, is an honourable resolution to make, but not always easy to maintain. Many of Lattitude’s young volunteers make a conscious effort to continue their good deeds on their return, having been immersed in volunteer work for anything from three months up to a year. Some volunteers even set up charities or arrange fundraising events as a legacy to continue their work after they leave the placement.
“Lattitude Global Volunteering placements help to develop young people to become aware of their roles as global citizens” Paul continues. “It also helps to build relationships between people of varying backgrounds and cultures, while accomplishing goals and developing personal and social skills that cannot necessarily be taught or learnt in schools”.
Lattitude Global Volunteering offers a number of bursary and funding schemes for young people who would otherwise struggle to raise the required fee themselves, enabling people from all backgrounds to take part in a Lattitude placement, give something back, and to develop new skills.
For further information about Lattitude’s work, please visit http://www.lattitude.org.uk
* According to Wikipedia statistics
Ends
PR enquiries to Molokini Marketing Ltd:
Jude Mitcham
T: +44 (0) 1903 207408
Podium House, 61 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1HR, UK
jude@molokini.co.uk | http://www.molokini.co.uk
