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The youngest and oldest generations will assume the major role in Another Way by becoming Volunteer Corps members (VCM) and joining a battalion representing one of the seven community service sectors and identifying with the entity of their choice within that battalion.
Volunteers sign up to conquer social problems such as homelessness, poverty, illness and crime. However jobs like conducting research, coordinating the resources to match the needs and raising funds enable the various groups to accomplish their missions more efficiently. These are the infrastructure jobs carried on at Volunteer Corps Centers on a rotating basis. These temporary assignments will enhance the efforts at the home-base entity and will also transform the lives of volunteers-in many ways this transformation is as important as the primary mission of the home-base entity.
Older people are ideal mentors. Many are forced to retire before they are ready or find they are healthy and active and not as happy with retirement as they had imagined they would be. These people have skills and life experience they would like to pass on. Many have prospered and are anxious to give back to their communities. Some are alone and feel worthless. Another Way, via service in the Volunteer Corps, provides an outlet for their goodwill, relief for their loneliness and admiration and love from the community.
By working along side older people outside their families, young people will learn skills, develop good work habits, responsibility and learn many things about surviving in the adult world. By overcoming obstacles, conquering frustration and practicing tenacity to "get it right", they will develop character. Without special classes many will become familiar with banking, investments, insurance, learn how to type, keep books, make intelligent phone calls, take legible messages and learn how to sell themselves, ideas, services and products. Others will learn how to care for and respect tools, how to build and repair, how to plant, harvest, cook, garden, and market. They will learn these things in the trenches-by participating along side those with experience and expertise-by acting in the real world and not sitting in classes. These experiences will make them better employees, maybe even employers and better parents. Taxpayers will benefit from their energy and goodwill instead of paying for less effective lessons in "job readiness" and "parenting skills."
Most importantly VCMs will become part of something bigger than themselves-they will find a cause and a motivation for living. Cynics will become idealists when they see that there are things some people value above money. They will experience comradeship, love and acceptance in a society where people often feel alienated. They will develop compassion and self-discipline will bring them pride. They will gain self-respect through actual achievements as well as respect and recognition by the community.
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