Young Americans Serve Nation in Successor of Roosevelt-Era Program | Voice of America - English
/*-->*/  /*-->*/  /*-->*/  */  /*-->*/  /*-->*/ President Obama made national service a theme of his campaign.  The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which he signed on last week, expands current AmeriCorps programs for Americans who wish to serve.  These offer opportunities for people of all ages. One puts about 11000, 18 to 24-year-olds to work on a variety of community service projects.  The National Civilian Community Corps was inspired by a program created 75 years ago, during the Great Depression.
Michelle Sandone, 22,says she looked into a number of different AmeriCorps programs, because shewanted to do a year of service. Shechose the National Civilian Community Corps, "because not only do they provide housingand meals and things like that, they also give you a small stipend and you getto travel around." NCCC volunteers alsowork with children, build homes with Habitat for Humanity, fight wildfires andprovide aid following disasters. Ever since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005,all volunteers spend several weeks on the Gulf Coast. Volunteers work inteams of eight to 10. During the 10-month program, a volunteer will spend mostof the time with his or her team. "There is a lot of joking around and exploring the different citiesthat you are in," says team leader Katie Lamarca, who is doing her second tourwith NCCC. She says volunteers form strong bonds with their team members. Now in its 15th year,the National Civilian Community Corps was inspired by the Civilian ConservationCorps. The CCC was created by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 to provide workfor young men when unemployment rates were at 25 percent in the UnitedStates. Most of their work was doneoutside, planting trees. They were paida small salary, and most of the money they earned was sent directly to theirfamilies to support their parents and siblings. The current recession may be having animpact on enrollment in the NCCC, which pays volunteers a small stipend andsome benefits, including a $5000 education credit that can be use towardstudent loans or continuing education. "I think part of the reason weare seeing an increase in applicants is because of that, especially the collegegraduates," says Boyer. But she believes another reason is driving young peopleto apply. "There is a focus among theyoung people now that, before they start their careers they want to give back alittle bit." That's not only whyMichelle Sandone applied, but also why Aaron Villere wanted to join thecorps. "I was really planning ondoing this my whole senior year [last year in college]," he says. "I justwanted to get a year's service in before I had to go to the actualworkplace." Aaron is alreadythinking about signing up for another year. About four in 10 of NCCC graduatesdecide to return or volunteer with another program like the Peace Corps.