We have all heard of Generations X and Y, but what is “Generation Z?” These are kids (12 and under) who have grown up with 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Wall Street crashes, intense political debates and recessions. This age group composes nearly 18% of the world’s population, but many adults may not be aware that a good number of these kids want to work to create positive change.

Even though these children are ready and willing to help, they are too often sidelined by misguided adults who feel that these kids are “too young” to volunteer in causes. Fortunately, many pint-sized philanthropists have pushed ahead on their own and demonstrated their ability to raise awareness and hundreds of thousands of dollars for their causes.

One such example is 11-year-old Olivia Bouler who used her artwork to help save birds that were affected by the devastating BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In just a few months, her efforts raised $175,000 and she came just shy of 30,000 Facebook “likes,” a number that any corporation would be envious of.

Olivia is not the only one; there are many more examples:

  • 12-year-old Zach Bonner walked tens of thousands of miles across the United States to raise funds and awareness for the homeless youth of America.
  • Three elementary school friends founded the “Pink Polka Dots” after losing a close friend to brain cancer. Over the past 4 years, they have raised a quarter of a million dollars and recruited more than 40 other children to this kid-run cause.
  • Two sisters, ages 10 and 12, created a social enterprise, “Hives For Lives,” to help raise funds for cancer research. To date they have raised more than $170,000 through the sale of honey.
  • The kid-created “Cupcakes For Cancer” has enlisted children across the country to bake and sell tasty treats to fund cancer research.
  • 14-year-old Hannah Taylor has raised nearly $2 million dollars to help homeless Americans.
  • 17-year-old Riley Carney has raised nearly $100,000 to fund literacy as a way for kids to escape poverty.

Still, the idea of the youngest generation creating positive social change is still relatively new. Unfortunately, the efforts of charitable children goes unnoticed as do the large numbers of collective kid-potential.

Consider these numbers from a 2008 Just Kid Inc. study:

  • 91% of kids (6-14 yrs) are interested in and care deeply about helping others.
  • 74% said they participate in charitable programs because “it makes me feel good inside.”
  • 58% showed a desire for helping others, such as giving up a Saturday to help those in need.

In addition to the large numbers of children who want to help, there is their enormous disposable income. With an average weekly allowance of $12 each, Generation Z has $43-to-$51 billion in annual spending power. As Corporate America knows, only too well, children have “considerable sway” over the $170 billion dollars that resides in their parents’ pocketbooks.

In 2009, American households contributed $227 billion dollars to charities. Today’s socially conscious kids, who know how to squeeze money out of mom and dad, can heavily influence “how” and “where” these donations are allocated. Corporations that commit resources to good causes can win the support of these children (and more donations).

Because Generation Z is plugged into the online and real world, these kids often want to turn virtual causes into virtuous action. Studies have shown that 79% of youth are interested in volunteering in their community for causes that they care about on an emotional level.

Thanks to the web, kids now have the same tools as adults to become agents of positive social change. In reaction to what they perceive is wrong in the world, their idealism can easily be turned into activism. Generation Z wants to go beyond “school and scouts” to positively impact the world.

One web site that has harnessed this kid-power is KooDooz.com, which was created by Lee Fox. She recognized that charities across the country were missing a golden opportunity to connect with a new generation of enthusiastic philanthropists. She realized there was an untapped online opportunity to empower children.

From doing three years of research, collaboration and talking to kids, Fox found that schools and other youth-oriented organizations did not recognize that this generation of kids liked “learning by doing.” She also learned that these kids were eager to contribute time to causes that they had an emotional connection to.

Tapping into that emotional connection and idealistic desire is what KooDooZ.com does. It allows kids to create challenges and/or join organizations that work for their favorite cause. According to Fox, KooDooZ integrates three factors on its web site: kids, classroom and community.

This adds up to what Fox calls “service-learning,” which combines education with real life experiences. Service-Learning builds the bridge between children, communities and classrooms. On KooDooZ, kids are able to join social causes and learn at the same time, which generates more excitement than a textbook and an assignment.

KooDooZ allows Generation Z to learn outside the boundaries of formal education and helps them access volunteer work that will shape their personal identities; a truly holistic approach to education. In addition to education, KooDooZ also has a rewards system for kids who complete challenges.

As history has shown, major social movements have begun with the youth. By giving young people a way to channel their best intentions, philanthropic passion and idealism to change the world in a positive way, KooDooZ has become a social network for kids who want to make a difference. Kids are creating a better future by the good work they do today.

Alternate Ending After: Generation Z is going beyond “school and scouts” to positively impact the world.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, along with the U.S. Census Bureau and Independent Sector, conducted a study and found the following facts about young volunteers.

  • During 2004, more than 1.3 billion hours of public service was contributed by 15.5 million young people between the ages of 12 and 18.
  • 55% of young people volunteer for charitable causes, compared to only 29% of adults.
  • Young people who volunteer are less likely to engage in bad behavior and are more likely to have a connection to their community. They also tend to do better in school.
  • Kids strongly agree with statements such as “I would like to help make the world a better place,” and “It’s important to do things for others.”
  • 39% of teenagers volunteer on a regular basis, 35% do occasionally and 27% do once. Children, who have a parent who volunteers, are nearly three times more likely to volunteer.

The numbers clearly show that if kids are given an opportunity to initiate and work for a cause that they feel passionately about, they will do so. The challenge for adults is to provide a way for kids to put their idealism into action.