A DoSomething member hanging fliers to get the word out. Join today!
DoSomething.org is one of the first charity organizations set up especially for teens. The founders of DoSomething know that teenagers have a lot of built up energy and passion that if they were led in the direction of doing good, the results would be extraordinary. And their idea has really paid off. With all of their success, DoSomething is on the right track to meeting their goal of 5 million active members by 2015.
There are many different types of causes that DoSomething works for including; homelessness, bullying, the environment, music education, education inequality, cancer, arts education, hunger, and senior citizens. So no matter what draws you in, there is a cause for it. It is easy to get teens involved in these programs because there is something for everyone to relate to. With a new project every week, teens flock to these opportunities. Teenagers are usually co-dependent on their parents. This is because they do not have resources to travel, or money to spend on experiences. DoSomething changes this; the experiences that are offered do not require money, adults, or cars. DoSomething comes straight to you and gives teens the independence that they crave.
One interesting project I found that really caught my eye was “Pregnancy Text.” It is a program aimed at teen boys where upon entering the phone number of a male friend he is automatically signed up to receive a virtual baby. The baby cries, poops, and needs to be fed, and it is their job to take care of it. Experiencing how difficult it is to take care of a baby for just one day invokes the seriousness of teen pregnancy.
The programs of DoSomething are cleverly created to directly impact and relate to teens. Some other campaigns include, I ♥ Dad, which encourages teens to take their dads to get their blood pressure checked for a healthier lifestyle. Staples for Students encourages teens to collect extra or gently used school supplies and drop them off at a local Staples store to be brought to underprivileged children. DoSomething Boot Camp brings teens together for a day of networking and training in different philanthropic fields that they may be interested in.
These are just several of the many projects that DoSomething is a part of. Not only do teens get to feel great about themselves and all that they can do for their community and the world, but DoSomething offers scholarships for extraordinary helpers. The more you get involved, the more likely you are to win!
To learn more about DoSomething and find out fun and interesting ways to get yourself and teens involved, you can visit their website at http://www.dosomething.org/ or find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dosomething and Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/dosomething.
