Youth volunteering is not just an activity, it is a transformative tool. At a stage of life when identity is defined and values are consolidated, offering young people the opportunity to get involved in social causes allows them to grow as people, understand the world around them and become agents of change.
What is youth volunteering and why is it important?
Youth volunteering encompasses all those solidarity actions carried out by young people -generally between 10 and 25 years of age– for the benefit of society. These activities can take place in different contexts: from environmental protection to accompanying the elderly, international cooperation or the inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Participating in volunteer activities from an early age has a profound impact. Not only in those who receive help, but also in those who provide it. Skills such as empathy, teamwork, social responsibility and critical thinking, all essential in an interconnected and changing world, are developed.
Endesa’s Campus for Young Solidarity: a transforming experience
Aware of this need, the Fundación Endesa, in collaboration with Volies, has developed for the third consecutive year the Solidarity Youth Campus. A proposal aimed at the sons and daughters of Endesa employees, aged between 10 and 14 years, so that they can experience firsthand the value of solidarity.
For a week, the participants have been involved in high-impact social and environmental activities: accompanying the elderly in nursing homes, supporting the work in soup kitchens or food banks, carrying out inclusive leisure and free time experiences with people with disabilities or adapted sports dynamics, among others. All this, under the guidance of specialized monitors from the FDI Foundation and with a pedagogical approach adapted to their age.
This campus not only raises awareness, it also educates. It allows young people to understand what it means to give their time and energy to others, and it does so in a caring, safe and learning environment.
Transmitting values that will last over time
Encouraging volunteering from an early age is an investment in the future. In a context of climate crisis, social inequality and misinformation, training a conscious, empathetic and active generation is key to building a fairer society.
The alliance between Endesa and Volies for so many years reflects this commitment of the business sector to social transformation. Through initiatives such as this campus, we not only open up spaces for participation, but also inspire young people to see solidarity as a permanent value in their lives.
How can we continue to promote youth volunteering?
- Create more accessible and attractive spaces for youth
- Promote awareness campaigns in educational centers
- Integrate volunteering into the curriculum
- Or facilitate intergenerational accompaniment.
These are some of the keys for youth volunteering to stop being an exception and become a widespread practice.
From Volies we will continue to work so that experiences like the Campus Jóvenes Solidarios continue to grow, connecting generations, inspiring other companies and sowing future from action.
