ServeNebraska Global Youth Service Day funding opportunity

In preparation for the release of the 2014 Global Youth Service Day funding opportunity, ServeNebraska, with sponsorship from State Farm, joined forces with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Service Learning Academy for a half-day workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 called “Service Learning: Nuts & Bolts.” The workshop introduced educators and non-profit organizations to the standards of service learning and how to effectively incorporate service-learning projects into K-12 curriculum.

This funding opportunity offers Nebraska schools, community-based nonprofit organizations and governmental entities the chance to apply for service-learning grants that engage youth ages 5-25 in addressing community needs. Organizations can apply for this funding opportunity at www.serve.nebraska.gov. The project period begins with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 20, 2014) through Global Youth Service Day (April 11-13, 2014). Application deadline is Nov. 18, 2013.


Funding is available in two categories:
State Farm grants of $1,000 each for youth-led service learning projects focusing on the areas of auto and roadway safety, teen driver education or home safety and fire prevention, and basic economics education, budget counseling and employable skills training.
Youth Service America grants have up to $400 for youth-led service learning projects with focus in the area of community need. Project ideas and resources can be found on the Global Youth Service Day website, http://gysd.org/.

Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction to enrich learning and to teach civic responsibility. Research indicates service-learning students were 1.75 times more likely to report an increase on an overall measure of civic skills such as identifying important community problems/needs, comparing pros and cons of different solutions to a problem, effectively communicating ideas to others and becoming an effective team player. Service-learning projects also result in improved school/community relationships.

“In past years we supported some very innovative and impressive one-day Global Youth Service Day efforts,” said Cathy Plager, ServeNebraska Executive Director. “For 2014, we are encouraging more sustained efforts that allow young people to be involved over the course of the spring. We really hope to get a number of innovative applications from groups throughout Nebraska.”

For more information, contact Plager at 402-471-6226 or cathleen.plager@nebraska.gov.

ServeNebraska coordinates and supports community involvement by Nebraskans that addresses the needs of our communities. They coordinate AmeriCorps programming, celebrate volunteer achievements through quarterly and annual awards, provide training and technical assistance and work to ensure that those with a disability are fully involved. Learn more at www.serve.nebraska.gov.