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When she planned her sixth birthday party, Morgan Atwell of Evergreen, Colorado, told her friends to skip the presents. Instead, she had them pool their pennies so she could support schools that educate girls in remote Pakistan and Afghanistan.

When John Heineman learned that millions of Americans were stranded with no health insurance, he took to the waters, literally. A month after he graduated from the University of Iowa, and after intensive training, he swam the English Channel in 12 hours and 40 minutes to raise money and awareness for the uninsured in his community, Iowa City.

Something New Being Born
These individuals represent a new uprising as we volunteer and serve all around the globe — and across the United States. They and millions of their counterparts are powering a give-back movement no one saw coming: ordinary people — you, me, your neighbor down the street, your aunt in Ohio — going head-to-head with extraordinary poverty in the developing world and tough challenges here at home — while having the time of our lives.

Bill Draper, the head of Ashoka, a nonprofit that promotes social entrepreneurs across the world, says we are experiencing “the most profound historical transformation in the structure of society since the agricultural revolution — the shift from a world led by small elites to an ‘everyone’s a changemaker’ global society.”

Why Now?
Why are so many of us rushing to give back? Why is personal philanthropy tapping such a deep root? What brings so many people of all ages to remake their lives to serve, considering it not just a mind-blowing experience, but an amazing, great-feeling privilege?

Many believe we’re seeing a humanitarian tipping point, as a critical mass of people conclude they can no longer sit still and watch millions die each year from preventable diseases or watch poverty and homelessness in our own country rise. “Perhaps the most important change? A growing sense that we’re all interconnected,” says Jacqueline Novogratz, head of the Acumen Fund.

Your Passport to Greater Joy
Giving back doesn’t mean that you don’t get anything in return. Helping others reach for a new day rejuvenates us in ways that another margarita-soaked vacation, more stuff, a fatter resume or a supersized house can’t begin to. I don’t know of any more satisfying feeling.

What could be your piece of this give-back solution? President Obama is calling us to rise up, to step up and to serve. How can you be a force of good — for someone in your own backyard or thousands of miles away?

Here are 21 ways to be a change agent, whether you’ve just 20 minutes or the rest of your life:
In 20 Minutes:
•    BUY a bed net to protect a family from malaria. www.malarianomore.org, www.nothingbutnets.org
•    BABYSIT for an overworked, overstretched single parent.
•    DONATE lightly used winter coats and clothing to your neighborhood school where homeless kids are on the rise.
•    INVEST in a micro-loan for a determined seamstress, farmer, fisherman or for other entrepreneurs in the developing world. www. kiva.org
•    SUPPORT a low-income family’s heating bills, doctor visits or care repairs. www.modestneeds.org
•    ORDER a gorgeous piece of beaded jewelry that supports HIV-positive African women. www.beadforlife.org

In One Hour:
•    HELP a low-income family learn nutrition, cooking, food budgeting and financial planning skills. www.operationfrontline.com
•    HOST a dinner in your home to benefit women in the developing world. www.diningforwomen.org
•    HELP the one in six kids who don’t know where their next meal will come from.  www.shareourstrength.org
•    COACH someone who is eager to get a job. www.careergear.org or your local aid agencies
•    DINE at a restaurant to get first-ever clean water to developing villages. www.tapproject.org
•    BE a virtual e-mentor for a low-income student. www.icouldbe.org

In One to Three Weeks:
•    ORGANIZE a book drive for kids around the world. www.roomtoread.org
•    HELP rehabilitate a National Park trail. www.wildernessvolunteers.org; www.sierraclub.org
•    TAKE a volunteer vacation and ease poverty, build a school or well, support HIV-positive women and orphaned kids, endangered species and habitats. Find exciting volunteering options all around the world. www.crossculturalsolutions.org, www.globalvolunteers.org, www.globeaware.com, www.earthwatch.org, www. i-to-i.com, www.amizade.org

If You Have More Time:
•    BECOME a citizen teacher. Share your skills, hobbies and interests with young people. www.citizenschools.org
•    MENTOR and be a career coach for a returning soldier. www.hireahero.org
•    JOIN the Peace Corps. www.peacecorps.org
•    TEACH somewhere in the world. www.worldteach.org
•    TEACH somewhere in America. www.teachforamerica.org
•    SIGN on to help young people: If you are 17-21, join City Year’s youth service corps to help tutor and mentor school children, reclaim public spaces, and organize after-school programs and vacation camps.
www.cityyear.org

For other ideas and to connect with other change agents making a difference: www.idealist.org;
www.usaservice.org; www.volunteermatch.org;
www.networkforgood.com; www.bethechange.org.

A six-time author, freelance journalist and former manager at Engineers Without Borders, Susan Skog’s newest book is The Give-Back Solution: Create a Better World with Your Time, Talents and Travel. www.susanskog.com