See how these organisations are striving to make a difference and find out how you can become involved.

International Year of Volunteers (IYV) http://www.iyv2001.org/

In November 1997, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. This site aims to prepare us for a year that recognises the huge contribution that volunteers make to ensuring greater equity and fairness in the world. There are volunteer stories as well as links to programs throughout the world. Throughout 2001, this site will grow in significance.

Do Something: http://www.dosomething.org/

Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who know they can make a difference and take action to change the world around them. Make sure you go to their section called "Volunteer Now" and discover volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood!

Free the Children: http://www.freethechildren.org/

Begun in 1995 by a young Canadian, Craig Kielburger, Free the Children is an international network of children helping children through representation, leadership and action. There are details on ways that individuals can become involved as well as campaigns that target particualr issues such as child labour and poverty. These have details on how to work to bring about a change in these areas.

Corporation for National Service: Learn and Serve America: http://www.cns.gov/index.html

Corporation for National Service: Learn and Serve America supports service-learning programs across the country by providing funding and training. While this is based in the United States, there is a wealth of ideas outlined on the site that could be applied in many other countries. You will also find links from here to many other organisations that are making a difference.

Pax: The Movement to End Gun Violence: http://www.paxusa.org/index.html

PAX is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a society free of gun violence. This site provides details on how to take action to bring about a change in this area. There is an online petition and a list of representatives who you can write to.

Oxfam: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/

Oxfam is a British organisation that aims to eliminate poverty everywhere. This is done by helping to give poor people a voice, by supporting communities in times of disaster and helping people to help themselves. They aim to address not just the symptoms of poverty, but the causes as well. They believe that everyone can make a difference and help to make the world a fairer place. Cool Planet is specicially aimed at younger people and will show how you can help the rest of the world's population in many ways.

SERVEnet: http://www.servenet.org

SERVEnet is a site to help you find information and resources on service and volunteering. You can find volunteer and career opportunities, service news, events, best practices, and other resources. You can search for information by zip code so it is possible to find an opportunity in an area near where you live.

Points of Light Foundation: http://www.pointsoflight.org

The Points of Light Foundation mission is to engage more people more effectively in volunteer community service to help solve serious social problems. It is based in Washington DC but there is a network of over 500 centres across the United States. On the website you can find a range of information about varous programs for volunteers. There are also pointers to programs that aim to provide support for students at school who may be having difficulties with their lives.

Points of Light Foundation Volunteer Connections in the United States: http://www.volunteerconnections.org

Impact Online: http://www.impactonline.org

Impact Online is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people get involved in their community. An interesting part of their site is the listing of "virtual" volunteer type opportunities. You never need leave your computer and you can still help someone and make a difference!

Impact Online, Volunteer Match: http://www.volunteermatch.org

Impact Online, Volunteer Match has thousands of volunteer opportunities online posted by local nonprofit and public sector organizations.

Americas Promise the Alliance for Youth: http://www.americaspromise.org

Each day in communities across the nation, caring people like you are helping point a kid in the right direction. This is the work of America's Promise. This is probably more for organisers than students themselves but it does help to point some companies in the right direction as well.

Idealist: http://www.idealist.org/

Idealist: includes 20,000 organizations in 150 countries. A project of Action Without Borders This site has thousands of volunteer opportunities in your community and around the world, and a list of organizations that can help you volunteer abroad. There is a good search facility that enables you to specify a location as well as skills for volunteering.

Get Involved, The Community Action Network: http://www.getinvolved.net/

Get Involved, The Community Action Network lets you enter your zip code and find out how you can get involved.

Gobal Volunteers: http://www.globalvolunteers.org/

Global Volunteers At the request of local leaders and indigenous host organizations, Global Volunteers sends teams of volunteers to live and work with local people on human and economic development projects identified by the community as important to its long-term development. Opportunites are available in a range of countries and require a range of skills.

Quest International: http://www.quest.edu/servicelearning.htm

Quest International is a site for Educators and dedicated to bringing quality resources to assist in implementing and sustaining service-learning or community service initiatives.

The International Partnership for Service-Learning: http://www.ipsl.org/

The International Partnership for Service-Learning is an incorporated not-for-profit organization serving colleges, universities, service agencies and related organizations around the world by fostering programs that link community service and academic study.

Youth Service California: http://yscal.org/

Youth Service California (YSCal) promotes a statewide youth service strengthening communities, and improved education in California. It strives to make service in every student's life in California.

The Big Dummy's Guide to Service-Learning: http://www.fiu.edu/~time4chg/Library/bigdummy.html

The Big Dummy's Guide to Service-Learning explains about Service-Learning and planning volunteer projects.

Youth Volunteer Corps of America: http://www.yvca.org/

Youth Volunteer Corps of America creates and increases volunteer opportunities to enrich America's youth, address community needs and develop a lifetime commitment to service.

Youth in Action Network: http://www.mightymedia.com/youth.asp

Youth in Action Network. This site has sections totally devoted to Youth and Educators. Learn how you can be involved and read the stories of youth who have helped others.

Youth Yolunteer Corps Canada: http://www.yvcc.ca/youth/index.html

Youth Volunteer Corps Canada is an organization where youth create and plan volunteer projects in communities across Canada to make a better place.

Gratz Cluster: http://www.gratzclusterydslc.org/

Gratz Cluster is a Youth driven Service-Learning center with links to other Service-Learning opportunities and organizations.

My Hero: http://myhero.com/home.asp

The My Hero project is one that enables users to add their own hero to a huge database. The site provides numerous examples of people in a number of categories who have made a difference in the world. They even provide a profile of some of the unsung animal heroes in this world.

Additional resources may be fund in the teacher resource section.