See what a high band reads like.

P1The idea that young people should be compelled to give their time to community service is advocated in several countries, often as part of national or civic education programmes. I partially agree with this proposal, though I believe the manner of implementation matters as much as the principle itself.

P2There are persuasive arguments for requiring some form of community involvement. Voluntary participation rates among young people are often low, partly because they lack awareness of the need and partly because early habits of civic engagement are simply never formed. A structured requirement gives young people direct exposure to social issues, working in care homes, environmental projects or food banks, that can foster empathy and a sense of responsibility that persists into adulthood. South Korea and Germany both have traditions of compulsory civic service, and surveys in those countries suggest the experience is retrospectively valued by most participants.

P3The compulsory element is, however, genuinely problematic. Coerced volunteerism carries an inherent contradiction: service rendered under threat of penalty is unlikely to cultivate the intrinsic motivation that makes it meaningful. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds may also find mandatory service an additional burden if it conflicts with part-time work or caregiving responsibilities at home.