Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

• Giving, serving and private citizen action intended for the common good.

 

Purpose:

Participants will examine their vision for a better future, and reflect on how their own philanthropic involvement can make a difference.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• consider how they might be involved in giving and serving in their community.
• evaluate what they can give to make the future of their organization or community a reality.
  

Activity Theme:

“One day, after we have conquered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we will harness…the energies of love, and for the second time in history of the world, we will have discovered fire!”

~Adapted from Tellierd de Chardin, Author, Thinker, Scientist, The Phenomenon of Man

Activity Steps:

• The facilitator sets the mood by having quiet reflection music in the background as the participants enter the session. (Something from 2001 A Space Odyssey or from the Star Wars movies is recommended)
• The facilitator asks the participants to close their eyes and he/she asks the following questions, giving the participants time to think about each one before moving on to the next one. (Remember the “Right to Pass”, some people are not comfortable closing their eyes in a group setting.)
  1. What would you like our community to look like in the year 2010?
  2. What will people be doing?
  3. How will people be interacting?
  4. What will education, recreation, transportation and work be like?
  5. How might families, schools, organizations, and institutions be different?
  6. How might people be involved in service and giving?
  7. How old will you be in 2020?
• Each person is given a balloon and a permanent marker. The facilitator asks them to blow up the balloons and tie a knot in the end, then tell them to illustrate on the balloon their vision for their community in the future.
• The facilitator asks the participants to share one or two things about their community vision with the group. Each of these might be placed on chart paper. Participants spend some time reflecting on the shared visions and considering any additional items to add to their own visions and balloons.
• Ask the participants to tie their balloons together in pairs. They then are to bring the pairs and tie them together in bunches with a piece of string, yarn, or ribbon. The idea is to have it look like a very colorful “space station” when the balloons are tied together. Depending on group size there may be several “space stations” to hang in the room.

Processing Questions:

1. Divide the participants into groups of 4 or 5. Ask each person to discuss the following questions in their small group.
2. How can young people help make this ‘future vision” a reality? What part can they play in making it happen?
3. What attitudes do people need to have to make it a reality?
4. What are some of the obstacles that need to be overcome to have these future visions become reality?
5. After each person has had time to share in response to the questions in small group, the facilitator might want to ask for a few responses to be shared with all the groups giving an overview of what was discussed.

 

Supplemental Activity:

Have participants list three things they can do THIS WEEK to make this Vision of the Future happen. They can write it in a journal or represent it in an illustration.

Activity Source:

SPACE ODYSSEY 2010
Adapted from Community Partnerships with Youth Inc.
Youth as Philanthropists

Additional Resources:

Modern Philanthropists
Learning to Give Unit “The New Philanthropists—A Hands-on Way of Giving” (Grades 9-12)
Lesson Three: “The New Philanthropists”

Future Civic Engagement
Learning to Give Unit “Growing a Citizen” (Grades 9-12)
Lesson Two: “Participatory Citizen or Slacker—Which One Will You Be?”

City Planning
Learning to Give Unit “Getting to Know the Community” (Grades 6-8)
Lesson Four: “The Planning Commission”

Interconnectedness
Learning to Give Unit “Philanthropy at Home and Abroad” (Grades 9-12)
Lesson One: “Global Issues”

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy HS 1. Define philanthropy to include giving and sharing; volunteering; and private individual action intended for the common good. Explain how a volunteer group can act for the common good. PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy MS 1. Define philanthropy as individuals and organizations providing their time, talent, and/or treasures intended for the common good throughout history and around the world. Give examples.