Volunteerism benefits teens

April 15 to 21 has been designated National Volunteer Week, but volunteering should be a year-long practice for teens.

The Quebec government should seriously consider adding a community engagement course to the curriculum to reinforce the importance of volunteering.

Recently, Statistics Canada revealed that Quebecers once again had the lowest volunteer rate among provinces. And yet, the benefits of volunteering are clear. For students, it allows them to become involved in new activities and to gain technical, social and knowledge skills that cannot be learned in the classroom.

Helping others — whether at the neighbourhood library or tutoring disadvantaged children — gives students the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people from diverse walks of life.

As well, volunteering is a gateway to the labour market because it creates new career options and reflects many positive personality traits that prospective employers seek.

It should be noted, especially given Quebec’s high dropout rate, that research shows students who volunteer are more successful in their studies. Statistics also show that teenagers who volunteer are more likely to do so as adults, which is good for all Quebecers.

Chris Eustace, Pierrefonds