November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Millennium Project Celebrates Young Volunteers

(Page 2 of 2)

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Mieke H. Bomann American News Service (www.americannews.com) 
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Karel Cipra, 12, was inducted into the Youth Hall of Fame in Seattle when he was in fifth grade. He had made it a point of helping a retarded classmate with his assignments and offered the often-isolated child his friendship.

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'I felt it would be my job to help this kid because no one would show him much respect,' said Cipra. The seventh-grader said his empathy for others comes in part from having gone through tough times himself. As a young child, he weathered brain surgery. But he also understood that his actions could leverage the good behavior of his peers.

'I was kind of popular, so if I showed respect more kids would start showing (him) the respect he deserved,' Cipra said.

Sagen is quick to point out that recognition of good deeds is not the single solution to youth isolation. Giving young people skills and the opportunities to use those skills are also essential to building self-esteem. But while he found there were lots of training programs and work opportunities across the country, there was a distinct lack of celebration of the contributions of young people.

The ultimate goal of the Hall of Fame is to instill in adults the understanding that it is their responsibility to support children, he said. 'What the kids win is the opportunity to have a legacy in the community.'

Contacts: Larry Sagen, executive director, International Youth Hall of Fame, Seattle, Wash., 206-623-6770; web site: www.youthhall.org. Karel Cipra, student, through Larry Sagen, 206-623-6770.

COPYRIGHT 1998 THE American News Service, 289 Fox Farm Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301. For further information, please call 1-800-654-NEWS or e-mail info@americannews.com

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