Service as a Strategy: Addressing Critical National Needs

Part of the ICP published Service As Strategy series that highlights the positive role that service can play as a strategy for addressing a variety of social issues. ICP believes that every country should utilize innovative, efficient and resourceful strategies to respond to critical national needs such as emergency and disaster relief and recovery, critical teacher shortages, and HIV/ AIDS prevention and treatment. Young people represent a diverse and resourceful cohort waiting to be mobilized to address those needs. Young people can be a resource for providing integral services to their communities through innovative and effective means, instead of being thought of as only the beneficiaries of service. This paper will provide examples of innovative ways to mobilize young people to address critical national needs while calling on communities, governments and nongovernmental organizations to invest in young people as resources for getting things done in their communities. (author)