Mentoring and community service programs: Positive approaches to the prevention and alleviation of current special problems for youth

The purpose of this project was to participate with students at Horizonte Instruction and Training Center's Alternative High School Program in community service activities and to explore the positive effects of mentoring programs and community service programs on the youth who participate in them. Specifically, this project was designed to explore students' views of community service. Fifty-one students were interviewed concerning their views of community involvement and the effects that community involvement has had on their feelings about themselves and their communities, as well as on their relationships with others. Most of those youth interviewed who had participated in community service reported that they had learned from the experience, improved relationships with others, and developed an interest in doing further community service. This paper concludes by discussing youth involvement in community service, suggesting improvements upon established community service programs, and exploring further ideas for service involvement.