If your club is considering SLP sponsorship, the positive effects of service and fellowship may prove persuasive.
By Tony Knoderer
There’s no shortage of great reasons for your Kiwanis club to sponsor a club in one of our Service Leadership Programs (SLPs) — whether for the first time or as a way of expanding your mentorship to new clubs and SLPs.
Need a little help convincing your fellow members? Let them know that multiple studies, as well as Kiwanians’ own experiences, have shown that students who volunteer:
- Tend to get higher grades.
- Improve their social and emotional health.
- Strengthen their ties to other youth and adults.
- Feel connected to the larger community — and feel motivated to contribute to it.
- Develop leadership abilities that lead to better employment opportunities.
- Have better awareness and understanding of public issues.
- Get more first-hand experience of diverse cultures and communities.
As members of SLP clubs, students make an impact in the lives of others — and develop skills and self-discipline alongside like-minded peers. Kiwanis SLPs include K-Kids for students ages 6-12, Builders Club for middle-years students, ages 11-14, and Key Club for high school students.
All the while, they’re guided by adults who share those qualities. In fact, Kiwanians who serve as advisors to SLP clubs are models for the benefits of service and fellowship throughout a person’s life. They also help fulfill a Kiwanis cause: youth leadership development.
Service matters. So do mentors. We encourage Kiwanians to explore SLPs — which also include Circle K International for young adults in universities, as well as Aktion Club for adults with disabilities. Learn more here.