Millions of Young Voices Amplified Will Change the World

If your perception of a high school girl is based on the characters from the television show Glee, you may be surprised to learn that teenagers really do want to do good for the world. It's not all about prom outfits and weekend plans; teenagers have a genuine interest in taking leadership roles that make the world a better place. They often just don't know where to start.

How do I know this? I'm a seventeen-year-old high school senior. But more importantly, I've met brilliant teenagers who talk with tremendous passion about their ideasto solve global problems. Last summer, I conducted a workshop at the iEARN Global Conference and discussed how global issues affect different countries.

There, I asked the students what issues were most prevalent in their countries and I was completely blown away, not only by the clamor of problems to solve, but the inspiring solutions and ideas these students presented for each issue.

Students were bringing a fresh perspective to global problems: We were thinking beyond the political gamesmanship and maneuvering that often stands in the way of real change. It was a sign of the power that we could talk across borders and find a way to harness our energy and our ideas.

But we also need to make community service enjoyable. Sadly, giving back has been deemed a 'chore' that many students are forced to do and trained to resent. I have made a personal goal to change this.

What we need is a way to connect to

• Engaging philanthropic opportunities that address what we are passionate about.
• Ways to encourage giving back with our friends.
• Other like-minded students from around the world.

This is why I founded iCAREweCARE, a student-run, non-profit that leverages the power of social networking for “doing good.” The organization helps high school and college students from around the world connect with their friends who share a passion for specific global issues, provides them with meaningful opportunities in their community to address those issues, and allows them to make social change a social effort by leveraging social networking. It also provides a platform for students to ask peers from around the world about how global issues affect different countries.

Millions of young voices amplified will change the world

Adults and young people alike should start embracing the untapped potential of the student movement. Events like the Arab Spring protests, where thousands of young people banded together through social networking to advance the cause of democracy, have proven the impact of our generation. If students could move that mountain, just imagine what else they can make happen.

It's time to stop thinking of students as the leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of today.

Priyanka Jain is a rising high school senior and a social entrepreneur. She is the founder and President of iCAREweCARE, a student run non-profit that leverages the power of social media for doing good.

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