Say yes: Celebrating youth volunteers

To mark National Youth Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating the voices, contributions and leadership of young volunteers across Victoria. In this reflection, Christine shares how saying yes helped her find belonging and a lifelong connection to community.

I didn’t know it at the time, but my first experience with volunteering was when I was 12 years old. I was in charge of the microphone at school assembly, making sure it worked properly and passing it to whoever was speaking next. I felt like the coolest person in the room.

At the time, I hadn’t been selected for roles like sports captain or school captain, and I was pretty devastated, especially because my siblings had. Looking back though, that small role was the beginning of something much bigger than I ever imagined.

Fast forward to high school, and if there was anything related to student voice, leadership, or getting involved, my hand was up. I actively looked for opportunities to contribute and make a difference. When a Rotary youth program called RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) came up when I was 14, I eagerly applied. Looking back now, I can confidently say that experience changed the trajectory of my volunteering journey.

RYPEN gave me confidence in finding who I was. More importantly, it gave me a sense of belonging.

For me, volunteering became a safe space. I spent many school lunches attending meetings, helping plan initiatives, and getting involved in student-led projects. When I was part of those activities, I felt like I had a purpose. Throughout high school, I moved between friendship groups and often felt like I never quite found one place where I fully belonged. Volunteering became the constant.

It was the community where I felt most comfortable being myself while contributing to something bigger than myself.

The following year, I returned to RYPEN as a leader. Stepping into that role was both exciting and empowering. It showed me just how much impact a supportive environment can have on a young person and planted the seed for a future of volunteering beyond school. From there, I continued saying yes to opportunities wherever they appeared, whether through university clubs, community organisations, or youth programs.

One thing I never stepped away from was Rotary. More than twelve years later, I am still involved, volunteering across youth programs such as RYPEN and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

The most rewarding part of volunteering has been seeing how much I have grown through the experience.

A few years after I became a RYPEN leader, I learned that I had almost not been selected because most of the leadership team couldn’t remember who I was. At the time, I was incredibly shy and tended to fade into the background. Thankfully, someone saw potential in me and gave me a chance. I am so grateful they did.

Because of that opportunity, I developed confidence, authenticity, and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. I don’t think I would be the person I am today without those experiences. That moment taught me the power of believing in people before they believe in themselves. It is also one of the reasons I continue to volunteer today. I love helping create those same opportunities for others and playing a small part in their growth journey.

The community that comes from volunteering has also been one of the greatest gifts. Some of my closest friends today are people I met through volunteering. They are the people who have celebrated my successes, supported me through challenges, and become a very special part of my life.

What started as a way to get involved became so much more. It became a source of purpose, belonging, growth, and lifelong friendships.

If the word volunteering makes you think of something your parents or grandparents do on a Saturday morning, I get it. I used to think volunteering had to look a certain way too.

But honestly? Just give it a go.

The best thing about volunteering is that it can be whatever you want it to be. Whether you are passionate about sport, the environment, youth leadership, animals, events, the arts, or social media, there are opportunities waiting for you.

And if you can’t find something that excites you, create it. Start a project, run an event, launch an initiative, or build a community around something you care about.

Some of the most meaningful opportunities don’t already exist. They happen because someone notices a gap and decides to do something about it. I’ve experienced this firsthand through creating my own science podcast and building a student team around a shared passion. What started as an idea became a platform for connection, learning, and impact.

Most importantly, don’t underestimate where one opportunity can lead. I started by holding a microphone at school assembly. I never would have imagined that years later I would be leading youth programs, building lifelong friendships, and growing into a more confident version of myself through volunteering.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to put your hand up and say yes to the first opportunity.

You never know where it might take you.