Plan a One-Day Interfaith Service-Learning Event

Overview of Global Youth Service Day, from Youth Service America

One-day events can help focus energy and give youth and adults a taste of interfaith service-learning. You may, of course, plan them on your own at any time. But you also can take advantage of global and national days. In doing so, you can access available resources, tools, and media coverage related to the event.

National and Global Days of Service

DIYS

The Days of Interfaith Youth Service (DIYS) is a campaign that pairs community service and interfaith dialogue. It is guided by Interfaith Youth Core. The primary events occur in April each year, but events can be held at any time. (If you host a DIYS event, be sure to register it with Interfaith Youth Core.)

 

GDYS DIYS partners with Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), the largest annual service event in the world. Each year, GYSD brings together millions of youth in service projects across the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. It's a great opportunity to give your group a place to focus its planning energy.

 

MLKDay Another opportunity is Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, which occurs every January. The Corporation for National and Community Service provides tools and resources for organizations and individuals to become engaged in service activities to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. on the federal holiday, including grants.

 

Other days to consider

Leadership for the Event

Planning a one-day event is generally the responsibility of your youth leadership team. Team responsibilities include:

  • Developing the goals, content, action plans, and dialogue and reflection activities for the event.
  • Recruiting service sites, participants, presenters, and volunteers.
  • Coordinating logistical details.
  • Conducting evaluations and follow up to the event.

Establishing Goals for Service, Growth, Learning, and Network Building

  • Growth and learning—Set goals for how young people will grow and learn through the experience, based on their current level of experience. Learning can include learning about the issues underlying the service, learning skills for interfaith engagement (such as event planning), or learning how their beliefs and values are translated into action.
  • Service—Service goals should be set in collaboration with community partners and community members. They may vary based on the number of participants in your event and whether the opportunities are close to each other. Keep in mind that taking time to listen to the community and identify priorities can be, in itself, a service, setting the stage for engagement throughout the year. To learn more about this option, see the community listening project in the investigate section of this tool kit.
  • Network building—Set  goals for building your network. How can this one-day event be a catalyst to help reaching broader goals. These might include:
    • Building trust and cameraderie among youth;
    • Developing interfaith competence and commitment among youth and adult leaders;
    • Recruiting participants and partners for ongoing service-learning activities;
    • Raising awareness to generate interest and support; and/or
    • Confirming participants' enthusiasm to continue participating and leading.

Designing the Day for Service-Learning

Build key phases of service-learning into the day, albeit in a condensed form. For example, you could:

Planning an Event that Welcomes All

  • Rituals (music, meditations, etc.): Remember that any religious ritual may be off-putting to a first-time participant, particularly if it is perceived as exclusionary. (These activities may also be illegal if you are using public funding to support the event.) Creating a safe place for all is key.
  • Food: Will you be having food at your event?  Think and ask about diffeetary guidelines you need to consider for different faiths (Kosher, Halal, Vegan).
  • Gender: Are you having both genders work on a project together?  Consider the implications of appropriate gender interactions in different religions.
  • Cleanliness: Consider purity concerns for any service project. What kind of service work will you be doing? Are you asking participants to get dirty or expose themselves to ritually impure products or substances?
  • Prayer: What are the prayer needs of the diverse faith communities who will be attending, will you need to set aside time or space for regular prayers (without requiring anyone to participate)?

Inviting Youth, Congregations, and Partners to Join the Day

  • Watch for scheduling conflicts! Major religious holidays, school schedules, major sports events can all hurt your attendance.

    Have all members of the leadership team reach out to others they know and who trust them. Word of mouth will be by far the best strategy for recruitment. More passive strategies rarely work.
  • Tailor your invitation to the specific interests and priorities of the group you're approaching. Use stories to inspire particular groups of people based on ideas or issues they are passionate about
  • Ask young people to get their own youth groups to participate. Also talk with adult leaders in various faith-based youth programs, and check with other community organizations that may be interested.

Finding Funding

  • Request donations of specific items in addition to finances (food, space, supplies for service projects, door prizes).
  • Apply for a Global Service Day grant. They are often available each year through Youth Service America.
  • Approach religious organizations about allocating program, discretionary, or community outreach funds.
  • Ask local businesses and civic organizations (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.) to donate items or money.
  • Invite all donors, congregational leaders, community and religious leaders to your event so they’ll support you as you look to the future.
  • See more on funding.

Planning for the Future

  • Keep minutes of meetings, budgets, planning, copies of any media exposure, thank you letters or other documents. Consider keeping a group journal or diary of lessons learned and suggestions for the future.
  • Brainstorm with your leadership team about how to make this work sustainable, including how to integrate it into ongoing service-learning activities.
  • Take pictures and video footage at your event to show the highlights to get funding for the next year. Use the results to tell your story in the community and the media.
  • Report back to funders and community stakeholders through thank you notes, videos, and celebrations to encourage their continuing involvement and support.

More Resources