Sophia Gee, an aspiring educator with long-held love of volunteering, hopes to be an elementary school teacher one day. In the meantime, her passion for working with youth lead her to join the American Red Cross as a Youth Engagement Leader.

“I decided to volunteer with the Youth Engagement Team because I am passionate about getting youth connected to their communities,” says Gee. “I loved volunteering when I was younger, and I wanted to continue to do so. This made the Youth Lead position a perfect fit, since I could work with new volunteers and get more youth members connected to their communities.”

Thus far during her seven-month tenure, Gee has met with countless youth volunteers to learn about what drew them to the American Red Cross and helped connect them with the right volunteer opportunities to meet their goals. In her role as a Youth Engagement Leader, she works with prospective youth volunteers to connect them with a school club or position where they feel comfortable contributing their time and resources.

When a new volunteer expresses an interest joining the American Red Cross, Gee meets with them to share upcoming projects specifically for youth volunteers to see what matches their unique interests and skills. Among the programs available are Missing Maps and the Youth Action Campaign, two key programs for youths volunteering with the American Red Cross.

Missing Maps is a mapping project where volunteers virtually map areas of the world so first responders and emergency personnel are better able to get to these areas.

The Youth Action Campaign is a program where youth learn about International Humanitarian Law and create a project to increase awareness of these laws. The Youth volunteers work on teams to move these projects forward and impact their communities.

In addition to helping volunteers get connected with a program at the American Red Cross, Gee helps youths start clubs at their high school or university. She provides them with information on how to start a club with volunteers and works with them through the process of establishing the new club. Once the club is up and running, she works with its members to participate in American Red Cross programs and helps them plan their own club projects.

“I love working as a Youth Engagement Lead, as I am able to meet youth volunteers from our region and get them started on their volunteer journey,” says Gee.

Learn more about Missing Maps: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/volunteer-at-home-make-digital-maps.html

Learn more about the Youth Action Campaign: https://www.redcross.org/humanityinwar/international-humanitarian-law-youth-action-campaign.html

Written by Brooke Rodriguez