Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

Got a dream? If you can dream it, you can do it, claim officials at Youth Venture, a national nonprofit organization based in Arlington, VA.

Its challenge to you, and to any visionary age 12 through 20, is to think of a way to make a positive change in the world, then create your own club, organization, or business to turn your idea into reality. They promise to help you out with tools and training, up to $1,000 in seed funding, media attention, and access to a national network of changemakers - just like you!

Terminate Teasing
One such venturer, Annemarie Kelly, 18, along with fellow  

Girl Scouts of America

  Julie Piwowarczyk, Molly Lappe, and Erin Lappe, founded Why Tease?!, a Chicago, IL-based campaign that aims to educate youth about the consequences of teasing and bullying.

"Perhaps if bullying is targeted early on in a child's life, it will deter him or her from teasing others in the future," says Annemarie, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago.

And these girls know what it's like to be on the receiving end of jokes. "Over the years, we have had to overcome many stereotypes," claims Annemarie. "Being a Girl Scout is not about dancing around in a uniform selling cookies door-to-door or making crafts out of Popsicle sticks. The Girl Scouts of America program has taught us the importance of giving back to others."

Which is exactly what the girls are doing. In order to get their no-teasing message across, they decided to write a book, Why Tease?!, for first graders. With their Youth Venture grant, they were able to print 50 copies of the book and teaching materials for distribution to local elementary schools.

"What's unique about this book is that it's designed not only to alert children to teasing, but also to teach them how to react to it. All of the characters in our book were drawn from the chest down, colorless and featureless, to show that anyone can be teased," explains Annemarie.

The venturers also helped create a Why Tease?! patch for Girl Scouts to earn, and last year, they themselves earned the organization's highest honor, the Girl Scouts of America Gold Award, for their work on this and other troop projects. Plus, they are currently pursuing professional publication of their book.

And these changemakers have been changed by their venture. "The personal benefits of this work have been astounding," attests Annemarie. "With hard work and a lot of perseverance, we've turned our ideas into sound reality. The truth is, anyone can make a positive impact on his or her community, and we did just that."

To experience this kind of success, Annemarie encourages you to seek assistance. "Perhaps the hardest part of carrying out a project is not just formulating a plan, but actually moving from idea to action," she reveals. "While the real work belongs to the participant, Youth Venture can serve as a kind of springboard by providing the tools and support needed to work with and serve other people."



http://www.collegesurfing.com/content
Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

Sound Off! Post Your Comments