A group of young people plant trees. American teens are setting an example for their parents through their volunteer work, according to a new poll by Harris Interactive¹.

American teens are setting an example for their parents through their volunteer work, according to a new poll by Harris Interactive.

The random² national telephone survey released this week by the Federal Way-based charity World Vision found that more teens volunteer to support a charitable cause - 56 percent - than have a part-time job - 39 percent.

Parents and guardians³ said 82 percent of the teens in their lives do something to support charitable causes, including volunteering, recruiting others to a cause, wearing a button or T-shirt or donating money. Forty-six percent of the adults surveyed said they volunteer their time, but they also take credit for inspiring their children to volunteer.

The Harris Interactive poll was conducted in the United States between Jan 29 and Feb 2 among 2,003 adults.

Sara Johnson, a teacher who advises students at a private school in a Chicago suburb, says she's seen a resurgence⁴ of teen involvement in social causes since President Barack Obama was elected in November.

The Harris Interactive survey found a quarter of teens have become more involved in charitable causes or organizations as a result of the economic downturn, but the economy has also led to cuts in allowances, and has teens working more hours at a paying job.

Unlike many public high schools across the nation, Illiana Christian⁵ does not require its students to clock public service hours. Senior Melissa Martin said some kids are too busy with other commitments like sports and music, but most of her classmates do volunteer.

Alynn Woodson, director of volunteer engagement at Habitat for Humanity International, said she has noticed a new enthusiasm among teen volunteers for the organization.

Habitat for Humanity celebrates the 20th anniversary of its alternative spring break program this year and is expecting more than 12,000 young people to help build homes for low-income people around the nation.

“哈里斯互动”开展的一项最新民调显示，美国青少年十分热衷志愿工作，为他们的父母树立了榜样。

这项于本周公布的电话随访调查受位于Federal Way的慈善机构“世界宣明会”的委托开展。调查结果表明，与兼职（39%）相比，有更多的青少年乐于从事慈善工作（56%）。

家长及青少年监护人称，82% 的青少年在日常生活中有过支持慈善事业的行为，包括志愿服务、慈善招募、佩戴志愿标志或穿带有此类标志的T恤衫或者捐款。而在参与调查的成年人中，仅有46%的人表示愿意参加志愿工作，但同时他们也因鼓励子女参与志愿工作而受到赞扬。

该民调于今年1月29日至2月2日开展，共对美国2003名成年人进行了调查。

芝加哥郊区一所私立学校的教导员萨拉•约翰逊称，自从去年11月巴拉克•奥巴马当选美国总统以来，学生们参与社会公益事业的热情一路高涨。

该调查发现，受经济衰退的影响，四分之一的青少年更热衷参与慈善事业或慈善组织，但同时经济危机导致了报酬的减少，所以现在青少年做兼职更加辛苦。

与美国其它很多公立中学不同，伊里阿纳基督学校对学生参与公共服务的时间不作要求。高年级学生梅丽莎•马丁称有些同学忙于参加体育和音乐等其它课外活动，但她们班上的大多数同学都参加志愿活动。

“人类家园国际”组织的志愿服务部门主管安林恩•伍德森称，她注意到青少年志愿者参与该组织的热情比以往高涨。

“人类家园国际”组织今年将迎来其“特殊春假”项目的20周年纪念。据其预计，有一万二千多名青少年将参加帮助全国低收入者建设家园的志愿活动。

Vocabulary:

take credit for:因……而受到好评

alternative spring breank: 特殊春假项目，简称ASB项目，往往安排学生去需要帮助的社区从事志愿服务，承担各类具有挑战性的工作，例如帮遭到自然灾害破坏的社区造房子，辅导农业季节性工人，在收容所为无家可归者服务等等。还有一些ASB项目安排学生出国从事野生动物保护或去受艾滋病或贫困摧残的社区服务等。