Youth Voices Reshape the Conversation on Volunteering in Burlington

By: Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Burlington Local-News.ca

A team of ten local students is challenging Burlington to rethink how it supports youth volunteerism, and their findings could influence how schools, nonprofits, and community leaders approach civic engagement for years to come.

On Wednesday, February 25, at 6 p.m., the Community Development Halton (CDH) Youth Engagement Research Team presented the results of a year-long study examining how Burlington youth perceive Ontario’s mandatory 40-hour community involvement requirement for high school graduation. The research, the first youth-led study of its kind in Ontario, explores both the facilitators and barriers shaping young people’s volunteer experiences.

The Community Development Halton Youth Engagement Research Team, Bilal, Claire, Dharmi, Gabe, Krisha, Matthew, Pasha, Tumi, Vishi, and Yogitha, are students from Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board. Over the past year, they have examined how Burlington youth experience the graduation requirement and what that experience means for their education and future pathways. 

Supported by funding from the Burlington Community Foundation and community partners, the project engaged youth aged 14 to 21. Researchers collected 438 survey responses and facilitated multiple in-person focus groups to better understand local experiences.

Ontario’s 40-hour requirement has been in place since 1999, designed to foster civic responsibility, skill-building, and community connection. Yet national data shows volunteerism trending downward across Canada, particularly among young people. At the same time, CDH has heard directly from students scrambling to secure placements and complete hours before graduation deadlines. The research team set out to understand what was driving that disconnect.

The findings reveal a complex picture. Seventy-nine percent of respondents rated their volunteer experiences positively, demonstrating that when youth find meaningful placements, the impact can be significant. However, 60% reported difficulty balancing volunteering with school and personal commitments. Limited time, transportation barriers, and a lack of flexible or short-term opportunities were common challenges. Notably, 25% of surveyed students said they were unsure what volunteering truly entails or why it is important, highlighting gaps in communication and guidance.

Students described a system that depends heavily on self-navigation. Unlike literacy tests or mandatory online learning credits, the community involvement requirement has limited formal infrastructure within schools. Students are largely responsible for finding their own placements, while schools focus on approval and tracking hours. Youth called for clearer, more accessible information delivered through multiple channels — including school platforms, community spaces, and with multilingual materials — to ensure equitable access.

The research also identified structural barriers within the nonprofit sector. Age restrictions, limited supervisory capacity, waitlists, and specific skill requirements can unintentionally narrow opportunities. The team acknowledged limitations in its own data collection, noting that an online-only survey may have excluded youth without consistent internet access. To address this, researchers conducted outreach in parks, malls, and other public spaces and hosted focus groups with youth connected to community agencies.

When asked what types of volunteer opportunities resonate most, the team emphasized relevance. Youth are more likely to engage when placements align with their interests, career aspirations, or existing community connections. One student shared how volunteering at Joseph Brant Hospital supported her goal of pursuing healthcare by helping her build practical skills. Others noted that volunteering with organizations they had previously benefited from deepened their sense of belonging. Social dynamics also play a role: opportunities that allow youth to volunteer alongside friends can reduce anxiety and increase participation.

Youth are not rejecting volunteerism. They value skill development, community connection, and opportunities that strengthen future applications and resumes. What they are asking for is a system that is clearer, more flexible, and more responsive to the realities of their lives.

As Burlington continues to prioritize youth engagement and civic participation, this research offers a timely roadmap. Strengthening school support, improving communication strategies, and expanding accessible volunteer pathways could transform a graduation requirement into a genuinely empowering experience.

The team’s final report will be shared with event registrants ahead of its broader public release. For now, one message stands out: when youth are invited to lead the conversation, they do more than complete forty hours — they help shape the future of community engagement.