A New Generation of Leaders

Young adults, 18-29, are eager to make a difference through volunteering. That's good news because advisors of this age are just what the girls ordered.

By Jill Hamburg Coplan

Remember the first time you experienced peer pressure or how you felt about your body at age 14? Do you recall the difficulty of making career choices at age 16? When was the last time you felt the stress of test-taking? When girls hit adolescence, these issues are very much on their minds. And, according to research conducted by GSUSA's Girl Scout Research Institute, (GSRI), the kinds of volunteers teens would like more interaction with are college-age and young professional women, close in age, who remember clearly how they'd overcome those hardships.

"We heard from pre-teen and teen girls that it was a strong concern—they really wanted to work with college students and young professional role models," said Judy Schoenberg, GSUSA Senior Researcher.

Expanding Opportunities

Now the roles of volunteers 18-29 are being re-emphasized and enlarged, as Girl Scouts begins a drive to recruit young people to fulfill the yearnings of teenage Girl Scouts to have them as advisors, mentors, role models, and confidantes.

"With the directive from our National Board Task Group," said Diane Tukman, GSUSA Director of Adult Support, "we are excited about expanding leadership opportunities for adults in the age group."

Several new efforts are making that a reality. But first: Who are today's 18- to 29-year-olds? What have polls and market research taught us about their attitudes? What do they need to succeed and what turns them off? How can established volunteers bring younger volunteers into the fold? And what can the generations learn from each other?

Making a Difference

The good news about these up-and-comers is they're already volunteering, and with bright optimism about their ability to make a difference. According to Public Allies, a national service organization in Milwaukee, young volunteers are more tolerant, and though not very political, they're more civically engaged than other age groups. A GSRI study Voices of Volunteers 18-29 (2003) found that young adults volunteer more than their elders, with two-thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds giving their time.

"We went out to look at what motivates them and asked whether they'd have an interest in volunteering and the answer was yes," Judy Schoenberg said.

But young people help others for personal reasons, too. It's not only about bolstering a resume, they said. They volunteer because they care, and it feels good when they touch someone's life. Many also said they donated time to a particular group simply because someone asked.

New Efforts

To tap the rich vein this age group presents, Girl Scouts is strengthening its presence on college campuses and workplaces, supporting council pilot programs, and building alliances with business and agencies.

To help expand visibility on campuses a task force of university women and advisors are working to improve recruitment, training, and image.
In addition, GSUSA has begun a stronger collaboration with the Kappa Delta sorority. A pilot project launched in January has brought together five councils with Kappa Delta sorority members on campus. Girls 11–17 get the opportunity to work with sorority sisters using STUDIO 2B resources.

GSUSA has also made 10 $15,000 grants to councils to create pilot programs to attract younger volunteers. One will create new leadership development workshops. Another will build a talent-matching system to link young students or professionals (a veterinarian, say, or a speech writer, or a fitness expert) to councils that want workshops or input.
Lastly, the organization will soon begin exploring relationships with corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit agencies—especially those with younger employees or a focus on youth.

What Volunteers Want

Girls want them, young volunteers are ready, and the organization is recruiting. But what exactly do volunteers 18-29 want in a volunteer position?

Number one is a flexible schedule: to be part of a talent bank, for example, a guest speaker or workshop leader, support network member, or e-conferencee. They want to engage with substantive topics that have strong personal appeal. They're looking for stimulation and a challenge. They want responsibility—including a say in planning—as well as feedback and recognition. They'd like genuine opportunities to develop their leadership potential. And, they also would like to be mentored by experienced volunteers.

As with any new effort, current Girl Scout volunteers face important challenges: using their management skills to make good use of young volunteers' time; providing a welcoming environment; resolving transportation problems; matching talent with needs; providing training; and, at decision-making time, accepting new ideas that may differ from one's own.

Brenda Jimenez, GSUSA Program, Membership, and Research Consultant, added that cultivating relationships with volunteers in this age range will take preparation and follow-through.

"If you're going to invite me to dinner, make sure your house is clean and that you cooked!" she says. "It's no use recruiting 500 18- to 29-year-olds if you can't keep them. It's important to have room for fitting them into the system." If you can, she added, "the options should be endless."

Adapted from LEADER, Fall 2004. © Girl Scouts of the United States of America.