DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation’s Commitment to Internships
DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation is committed to providing service-learning internship opportunities for youth. The Foundation involves student volunteers and unpaid interns who participate at high levels within our organization throughout the year. As an organization we strive to offer workshops directly related to the needs of the organization, and which also help our volunteers participate and give back to the community through the financial literacy educational programs that we develop.
- Service-learning Internships can improve character values and responsible behavior. Interns learn about cultural diversity, tolerance, and how to be respectful toward others.
- Service-learning Internships can improve academic outcomes. Interns participating in high-quality service-learning experiences that are meaningful have been shown to make academic gains.(1)
- Service-learning Internships can promote a sense of connectedness to the community. Interns develop a sense of connectedness includes feeling valued by community members, feeling responsible for the welfare of the community, having pride in one’s community, and a high tendency to take action for the benefit of the community.(2)
- Service-learning Internships can promote social-emotional skills. Researchers have found a statistically significant impact of service-learning programs on multiple outcomes, including improved social skills, improved psychological well-being, and a better ability to set goals and adjust behavior to reach these goals.(3)
- Service-learning Internships can promote civic participation. Research has shown that high-quality service-learning programs can promote students’ civic knowledge and commitment to continue contributing to their community and to society as a whole.(4)
At DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation we recognize the benefits to our organization:
- The opportunity to expand our mission and reach by engaging a cadre of competent, motivated young people who share their time and talents in support of the organization’s mission
- New energy, ideas, and enthusiasm as well as specialized skills (such as community skills)(5)
- Increased public support and visibility as young people become ambassadors in their schools, homes and other networks
- Cultivation of a new generation of volunteers
Benefits for Service Recipients, Communities, and Society: Beyond the young people directly involved, community-based service-learning benefits the people served, our communities, and, ultimately, society. It meets real needs and priorities for individuals and communities as young people bring new energy, capacity, and creative ideas.(6)
See more at:
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/civic-engagement-and-volunteering/service-learning
1 RMC Research Corporation, 2007; 2 Yamauchi, Billig, Meyer, & Hofschire, 2006; 3 Deakin Crick et al., 2005; Irby, Ferber, & Pittman, 2001; Lerner et al., 2008; Michelsen, Zaff, & Hair, 2002; 4 Zaff & Lerner, 2010; 5 Chung, 1997; Roehlkepartain, 1995; Naughton, 2000; Melchoir, 1998; reinforced by the general research on the benefits of all types of volunteers identified in Urban Institute, 2004; 6 Mohamed & Wheeler, 2001
Throughout my time as a graphic design intern at DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation I was able to obtain a valuable amount of real work experience. |
Going into this internship, I wasn’t sure what to expect or if I was prepared enough for the tasks I would have to complete. I was both nervous and excited to lead a team, but afraid that I wouldn’t have all of the answers because I didn’t have much experience. I think that throughout this internship I learned that not having all of the answers all of the time is ok, I was able to put myself out of my comfort zone and I was able to use my skills outside of the classroom in a professional environment, which is something I have never had the chance to do before. |