How Kids Can Use Web 2.0 Tools to Promote Service Projects

Kids are busy people. Balancing school work, practices, homework, and blossoming social schedules often results in losing sight of other important opportunities, including the opportunity to give back to the world we live in. Service projects often come in the form of fundraisers required for some sort of team or group participation, and it is hard for children to exit these experiences feeling as if they've made a difference beyond filling the very real need that their individual group had for them to participate.

In December of 2007, my ten year old daughter, Laura, made a commitment to do exactly that, in memory of her grandfather. She spent the month doing good deeds and blogging about it at her website Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference. She challenged her readers to do the same, and she offered a humble reward to the reader who made the "most difference" along with her that month: her allowance, in the form of a charitable donation.

By the end of the month? Over sixty people participated in her service project, and her funds were matched to over 800 dollars. One reader, a NASA scientist, even offered up a web-conference for the classroom that made the most difference!

In four short weeks, Laura and her entire family realized how web 2.0 tools, and blogging specifically, could allow kids to make a substantial difference for worthy causes--while they remained safe and snug in the comfort of their homes. Laura has taught all of us that helping others doesn't have to be an overwhelming process, as long as you start with a

Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian is a heart surgeon using his Internet marketing business to fund heart surgery for under-privileged children in India.

One of the many ways to raise awareness for congenital heart defets is building a lens on Squidoo. You can see the Congenital Heart Defects lens here, and even join the Squidoo for CHD Group that was created to promote "A Day for Hearts"

When I heard about the CHD awareness building event, and realized that Dr.Mani was teaching anyone who wanted to help how to build a Squidoo lens - even if they had never done it before - I joined the "5 Day Squidoo Challenge" to help spread congenital heart defects awareness while learning to build a top quality Squidoo lens.

The lens you are reading is the result... my contribution to Squidoo and to "A Day for Hearts - Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Day". If you like this lens and would like to show your support for the event, please visit the CHD homepage at http://www.CHDinfo.com

You don't have to start a blog or make a long-term commitment in order to make a difference. There are all sorts of free, easy, and fun ways to give back to the world you live in. Check these out:

• Visit the FREE RICE site to polish your vocabulary while donating free bowls of rice through the United Nations! Kids and adults of all ages and ability levels enjoy playing this game.
  
• Learn how to GO GREENThis site provides you plenty of information for doing so!
• Use GOOD SEARCHrather than your usual search engine to raise money for a charity. We like to support Suneel's Light! Suneel is a friend of ours!
• Click to help support a whole bunch of different causes right here
• You can also click to make a difference here

For downloadable lists especially for little kids and a full page of great ideas for making a difference every day take a peek over here!