Youth

In the past year of my volunteer journey, I’ve really embraced an ancient Chinese saying: “Don’t underestimate the power of doing good, no matter how small the act.” This proverb has truly come alive for me as I’ve seen firsthand how even the tiniest acts of kindness can make a huge impact on our community….

Over this past year, I’ve tried to involve myself in numerous ACAN efforts. These included Project Rise Together, Project Cleaner Austin, Project Melody, in addition to Westwood’s Student Council. This year, I also created and led my own project, Project Sing Along, where we taught kids with special needs music. Across all of these experiences,…

Project Melody is a student-led volunteer group dedicated to spreading our love and passion for music. Throughout the past year, we have held multiple concerts, including a fundraiser concert and several senior home performances. We plan to expand our project to play for more varieties of people, as well as help and mentor younger and…

The opportunity to be a part of the leadership team for Project Rise Together has allowed me to explore stories I would otherwise not be able to, and help the community of children in Austin. Our team has worked with Children of the King, a daycare for children who may not have the same opportunities…

Over the past two and a half years, I’ve had the privilege of leading Rise Together, a project dedicated to providing opportunities and experiences for local youth, as well as developing friendships between different communities. The children we work with have often come from difficult childhood backgrounds, such as living in poverty, dangerous neighborhoods, or…

Volunteering is a powerful act of selflessness that has the potential to not only impact the lives of those being helped but also to profoundly change the perspective and values of the volunteer. Over the past year, I had the privilege of participating in several new unique volunteering experiences that left an indelible mark on…

I’ve always wanted to contribute to ACAN’s mission to serve the community and spread our Chinese culture. During my time at Project Melody, I performed many musical pieces with my peers to present a part of my chinese culture and share the love for music with my community. We visited nursing homes for the elderly,…

Every time when I apply for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, it holds more significance than just an accolade. It represents my ongoing commitment to serving the community and making a lasting impact. One of my key involvements is with Girls Giving Grant (g3), which is part of Impact Austin’s youth initiative. This year, our…

I never understood why someone would willingly volunteer. The concept of working without expecting payment left me bewildered. After a year of giving back, the idea no longer seems so foreign. Volunteering at establishments such as CAMP Camp and The Salvation Army made me realize how much of a difference a single person could make…

Watch a short video to learn about the ACAN Youth Projects for 2024.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ2Siut26nU

South Africa: A Lesson of Gratefulness Over the recent years, I have had the opportunity to travel to South Africa to volunteer and experience the unique culture and environment that the country is known for. Along the way, I learned a lot about happiness, especially gratitude. To set the scene, I first began taking an…

Introduction: At the Austin Chinese-American Network (ACAN), our mission is clear: to serve our community and foster our heritage. We are dedicated to supporting our youth and encouraging them to actively participate in or initiate projects that align with our mission. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the various avenues available for ACAN Youth…