Service For Peace

About Us

Mission and Objectives
Our History
Impact on Our Volunteers
Effectiveness of Our Programs
Testimonials
President's Volunteer Service Award

Mission

Service For Peace connects diverse groups and individuals through transformative service learning experiences that change communities.

Objectives: Service and Learning

SFP develops projects and educational programs that motivate volunteers to serve in their communities on a continual basis. Our goal is to fully engage our volunteers through effective and meaningful service. The PATHMAKERS program helps participants think of permanent solutions to larger problems, even when working on a very local level.

You can find more details about our projects at our Activities page and by visiting the local chapter pages.

Our History

It's all started with an idea: we have all the youth having plenty of free time during the summer while our communities have many needs not taking care of because of lack of resources. So why don't we engage our youth in a summer program where they have the chance to give back to their communities, learn a lot and also have plenty of fun. So the Summer of Service was born...

In 2002, 300 youth aged 14-20 participated in the first Summer of Service (SOS) program in Washington, DC. 40,000 hours of documented service included a 1-day clean-up of 20 DC public schools which the Washington Post said ‘saved the District $400,000.’

In 2003, SOS expanded to 16 cities, with 1,025 youth participating, working with about 120 community partners such as Miami Dade Police, Boys and Girls Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Police Athletic League, Bay Points School (moderate risk detention center for juvenile offenders), DC Public Schools, Miami Dade College, Barry University, Bridgeport University, Americorps, YMCA, American Red Cross, and many faith-based community organizations.

Soon we realized there's plenty of need for community service beyond the summer and we need to engage our youth in more frequent programs for effective learning. So Service for Peace has got involved in ongoing mentoring programs and the Seasons of Service sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation.

Service For Peace has also been committed to awarding young volunteers for their commitment to service by being a national recognized agency for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. To date SFP has awarded hundreds of youth for the 100+ hours of service to their communities.

Impact on Our Volunteers

We offer character education and leadership training for our volunteers. We provide skill-based education helping our volunteers develop civic mindedness and a personal sense of responsibility, personal character development, conflict resolution skills, and tools to help them make a contribution to the community and society. We also train young leaders in project development, volunteer management and capacity building through interactive, peer-led hands-on educational programs.

Effectiveness of Our Programs

The unique ability of SFP is helping diverse groups cross barriers of race, religion, creed, or national origin. We help communities organize meaningful service learning programs that promote local interests, build a culture of service and fulfill the President’s call to serve. SFP ensures the most efficient and effective use of volunteers through preliminary community surveys determining and prioritizing compelling community needs. SFP interviews prominent community leaders involved in education, public safety and health and human services to ensure programs are crafted to meet community wants needs.

SFP links service to education by involving secondary schools and institutions of higher education to create lasting community change and provide opportunities for intensive commitments to service that foster civic responsibility. To strengthen grass root coalitions SFP provides technical support and outcome-based evaluation measuring positive community change and helping to build capacity and sustainability. SFP continues to reach underserved populations by forming partnerships with agencies that serve such groups.

What People Are Saying About the Service For Peace Experience

Please accept my sincerest gratitude to Service For Peace and the volunteers of your organization who participated in the DC Public Schools first Community Volunteer Day. It was a great day for our city and our school district.We estimate that by working together we saved our school system approximately $400,000 in maintenance/beautification expenses .the back to school shine in our schools was a welcomed sight to our many students, teachers and staff. This is an achievement you can point to with pride. - Paul Vance, Superintendent District of Columbia Public Schools

Your King Day of Service report was superb, great visually, very impressive. It sounds like Service for Peace beat all initial expectations! I think it just continues to show that the King Day of Service makes fundamental sense and continues to resonate with people from sea to shining sea. - Todd Bernstein, President, The Citizenship Project, Founder and Director, Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service

Service for Peace really is just a perfect example of the kind of programming that we've been trying to bring to the city of Miami and so we are very excited to have Service For Peace here. - Hon Manny Diaz, Mayor of Miami

This is a very nice program to get kids understanding people who are different; look different; act different, maybe have different religion than you, and all toward the goal of peace. - John Timoney, Chief, Miami Police

These blue shirts really stand out in the community, and a lot of them were asking who is Service For Peace, and how can we be a part of it. - John Fletcher, Counselor, Bay Point Schools

I'd rather do this than go to the beach, any time. We were able to give food to the people who needed it. We're working hard, you feel the sweat. It's an amazing experience. I'm really happy I did this. - Sharia Glagan, 16, Clifton NJ

You're making friends with people who have disabilities and it brings the community closer together. I think it definitely changed my concept When we try to understand people that are different it creates better unity. - Jinae Linek, 17, Pasadena , CA

I've never worked with an organization so committed to a specific goal, and the different projects we've done with them have served a bigger purpose, it's not just one day of service it's about a spirit or a culture of service that we can spread. - Roxanne Adler, Teacher, Hyde Charter Leadership School ,Washington DC

It's been incredibly rewarding for me. As a matter of fact I just had the opportunity to read one of the reflections of one of the young people that I work with and I had to take a minute to compose myself afterwards, and I said 'You know what? It just doesn't get better than that; it really solidifies my desire to continue doing this kind of work because I feel like I touched someone's life over the last few days. - Bill Weidner, Rotary Club, Briarcliff , NY

Service for Peace has really changed my life in many different areas. I am more a people's person now, I know there is hope, and I found it through Service for Peace. Just by coming together with different people from all over the world, has been a blessing. - Alberto Watson, 19, Carrfour Assisted Housing Miami , FL

Since he's been in Service For Peace we've watched him [Alberto] blossom, I mean he's talking to people; he's gone back to school. He's living on campus, at Job Corps. And he's become a role model; kids look up to him. He learned how to do conflict resolution, which is needed a lot around here. He's very popular in the neighborhood now. - Donna DeNard, Director, Carrfour Assisted Housing Miami , FL

The Foundation was very pleased to work with Service For Peace because they seem to have people on the ground in a whole bunch of cities and that made us really feel we wanted to work with them. Because in the end this isn't about dialogue, it's about action; it's about changed lives, and it seemed that Service For Peace was actually doing that. - Rev. Mark Farr Points of Light Foundation, Washington DC

We are extremely proud to have been part of this initiative. Service for Peace is indeed a program that is so stellar that we would like to make sure that it is on an ongoing basis. - Dr. Jose Vicente,President, Miami Dade College North Campus

You are changing lives through your volunteerism and commitment to service. - Pat Morris,Chair, Volunteer Florida

What has impressed me is the way people have really given of themselves, and have enjoyed the week and their friends and have been also been able to articulate and say what its meant to them. - Dr Donna Lenaghan, Barry University

People don't expect too much from kids our age, but I think that it would surprise you if we got the chance; the opportunity, to do nice things for the community. - Maria, 15, Paterson , NJ

I got to work with different people from different cultures; people that I never saw before. I really liked it. I helped a lot of people and I felt good about that. I want to keep doing this. - David, 19, Baypoint Schools , FL

Service For Peace provides the plan and the essential guidance that assist young people in bettering their communities, bridging cultural gaps, and contributing to the growth of tolerance, understanding, and generous societies. - Julio Robaina, Florida House of Representatives

Everyday we learned something new. - Farhana Hoque, Florida State University

Thank you for your support. I was very pleased to have some of my boys involved. They were very enthusiastic and benefited greatly from the experience. Please include us in any future undertakings of Service for Peace. - Mary Louise Cole, CEO Baypoint Schools

To better yourself as a person you have to leave your comfort zone and do positive things that you don't want to do or want to hear, because in the end not only will you feel good about yourself but other people will feel good too. - Chris Nilson, 18 Bridgeport , CT

The highlight of my day was teaching Victor how to read. It sounds stupid but in the beginning this kid could sound out each letter but he couldn't put it together at all. It's like no one ever tried to teach him. But after I taught him how to put it together you should have seen the look in his eyes. He lit up and he ran up to the front of the class to the teacher and she congratulated him. - Esther Jones, 17 Bridgeport , CT

President's Volunteer Service Award

The President has called the nation to voluntary service and created an award to honor those who do. Service For Peace can help you win this award.

Every day, millions of Americans volunteer, using their time, talents, and compassion to make a difference in the lives of others. By mentoring a child, caring for an elderly neighbor, teaching someone to read, or bringing food and clothes to those who need them, Americans are helping to foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility for generations to come. It is through these acts of kindness and decency that we are able to demonstrate the true character and compassion of our country.

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service to others. It encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation and inspires others to make volunteering a central part of their lives. The President's Volunteer Service Award is a Presidential recognition program for Americans of all ages, who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer service. The program recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period.

Age	Bronze	Silver	Gold
Under 14	50	75	100
14+	100	175	250
18+	100	250	500
Family/ Group	200	500	1000
Service For Peace is an officially registered organization with the President's Volunteer Service Award. We encourage all of our volunteers and project participants to consider applying for this important recognition. Since hours can be combined from any service activity, not just Service For Peace, many individuals, families, and groups may have already met the requirements to earn the President's Volunteer Service Award. To apply, groups and individuals should send us a written record of completed service hours. You can email us for a tracking form or keep track online at- https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tgact/ros/dspROSlogin.cfm "I call upon our fellow citizens to serve our country by helping somebody in need. And by doing so, this society will change, one heart and one soul at a time." - President George Bush