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The definitions below have been prepared in consultation with the Steering
Committee of IANYS. (Comment: "It must be noted that the need to translate
the definitions as well as local language usages may require a few changes.
Also, it is probably good to consider them as interim definitions. Your suggestions,
as well as our future conference discussions, may produce better ones." Don
Eberly, Honorary President of IANYS, October 2000.)
1.
Definition of national youth service (NYS)
"National Youth Service (NYS) is an organized activity in which young
people serve others and the environment in ways that contribute positively
to society. NYS participants normally serve full-time for six months
to two years and receive support - whether from NGOs or government - sufficient
to enable them to serve."
The meaning of national youth service in different countries varies; it
is increasingly taking a place alongside education and work as an activity
for young people that is constructive in itself and is an investment in the
future.
The common feature of national youth service programs is the involvement
of young people in service to others and to the environment, usually for
a period of six months to two years. Major areas of service are health, education,
environmental conservation, and care for the very old and the very young.
National youth service also embraces service-learning, where students
utilize their education to serve others and where students reflect on their
service experiences to inform their learning. Service- learning in secondary
school is often a prelude to full-time national youth service.
Related terms:
2. The International Association for
National Youth Service (IANYS)
IANYS was established in 1996 to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of
information about NYS, and to help realize the promise of NYS. Delegates
to its five biennial conferences to date have come from six continents and
have included NYS participants, government and NGO officials, university
professors and researchers, and others interested in NYS. (More
information)
3. Service-learning
In service-learning, students at schools and universities, as well as young
people serving in full-time service programs, use their education and talents
to serve others and then reflect on their service experiences to inform their
learning. In formal education, some form of academic recognition, such as
academic credit or fulfilling a curricular or graduation requirement, is
often given for evidence of learning acquired.
The (US) Corporation for National Service defines service-learning as an
educational method:
- under which students or participants learn and develop through active
participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and
meets the needs of a community;
- which is coordinated within an elementary school, secondary school, institution
of higher education, or community service program, and with the community;
- which helps foster civic responsibility;
- which is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the
students, or the educational components of the community service program
in which the participant is enrolled;
- and which provides structured time for the students or participants to
reflect on the service experience.
4. Voluntary service
UNESCO defines voluntary service as altruistic commitment by people
who give their time and/or their expertise voluntarily and free of charge,
in a formal context, for a given period. Voluntary service requires a number
of practical arrangements, such as the payment of subsistence and transport
costs and social security coverage for the volunteer.
Other resources (unverified, January 2001)
URL:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/National_Service/
This site contains information about the concept of "National Youth Service" and
lists publications on the topic, people to contact, and defines its meaning
in different countries where national youth serivce is increasingly taking
a place alongside education and work as an activity for young people that is
constructive in itself and is an investment in the future.
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