What is Global Youth Service Day?
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world, and the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. GYSD is celebrated each year in over 100 countries.

Each year, millions of children and youth around the world work together with schools, youth organizations, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, volunteer and national service programs, government agencies, faith communities, and other individuals to address the world’s most critical issues and change their communities on Global Youth Service Day.
    -- Source: www.gysd.org

When is GYSD?
GYSD takes place over a weekend in April of each year. Next Global Youth Service Day is from April 26-28, 2013.
Projects can BEGIN, TAKE PLACE ON, or CULMINATE on GYSD. GYSD is flexible with your schedule!

What happens on GYSD?
In Hanover, non-profits, schools, government agencies, community groups and individuals plan projects that benefit the community. Those groups and individuals register their projects with The Department of Community Resources to recruit volunteers to work with them on their project, help to promote the project to the public and to be officially counted as part of this international effort.
Volunteers then sign up online or contact the individual organization to make arrangements to help out. 

Young people tackle issues they care about, such as:

• Hunger & Homelessness
• Human & Animal Rights
• Environmental Issues
• Education  
• Arts & Culture
• …or whatever they care about or think is important

How do young people address such big issues?

• Young people use their creativity to develop unique service projects that inspire other youth work with them to make a difference.
• Young people use their enthusiasm, energy and intelligence to work within organizations to which they already belong, like Scouts, 4-H, school or their local youth group to make all their smaller contributions add up to make a big impact. 
• Young people use their knowledge of technology and social networking options to inform others about community issues and to coordinate their projects.
• Young people are action-oriented and think positively about what they CAN do. They believe in themselves, each other and see possibility rather than improbability.

GYSD sounds really great!!! How can I get involved?

Check back in mid-August for more details or contact Laura Robertson at 804-365-4180 or email gysd@co.hanover.va.us