The YCIS Pudong Service Learning programme aims to nurture our students as ‘Servant Leaders’, teaching them compassion and charitable service. Service Learning allows students to make a difference, become aware of global issues, and actively participate in ideas that can create change within their classroom, school, community, and beyond. Wherever possible, Service Learning is embedded in the curriculum, changing the mindset of the students through significant, authentic experiences from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to Primary and Secondary.
In ECE, teachers have actively investigated how they can meaningfully weave global goals into the emergent curriculum and authentically extend appropriate learning for young children. “We have committed to set ourselves achievable goals. This means responding to emerging interests with a Service Learning lens, such as recycled art, air pollution, and cleaning up the ocean,” said Ms Juliette Broomhall, Early Childhood Student Support Coordinator at YCIS Pudong.
In Primary, one of the yearly Service Learning experiences is the collaborative work of Year 1 and Year 4 with ‘Solar Buddies’. Students in both year groups work together to build lamps for childrenin Africa who need light to read and study in the evenings. Through this experience, students learn about places and people that are less fortunate and how the gift of light could impact learning. “Students gain valuable skills in building circuits and learn about the places where the lights are sent. They also learn collaboration and the importance of service to others who we do not know,” said Ms Andrea Griego, Character Education and Life Skills Coordinator at YCIS Pudong.
In Secondary, recent Service Learning projects include the ‘Stop Single Use Shanghai’ campaign to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic and a Year 10 campaign on issues related to their ‘Global Perspectives course. “Students have been hosting events to raise awareness on issues that they studied in class, such as the importance of exercise and health,” said Mr Danial Siddiqi, Economics, Business and Global Perspectives Teacher and Service Learning Coordinator at YCIS Pudong.
Another great example of Service Learning is the student-run ‘Hope Beans’ coffee initiative. Hope Beans is a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) run by teachers and students who have set up a successful coffee business. The students source coffee beans from a supplier who works with growers in Yunnan and then sell it to YCIS Shanghai parents and staff under the Hope Beans brand for a slightly higher cost. They have successfully sold over 600 bags of coffee this year, persuaded the cafeteria provider to use their coffee across five campuses, and raised over 14,000 RMB for charitable donations to the Mekong Hope Surgical Fund, which helps children that require cleft palate surgery. The students also recently coordinated a coffee morning for parents at the Kerry Hotel Pudong, showcasing impressive public speaking, organisational skills, and a clear understanding of the Hope Beans business.
At YCIS Pudong, we commit to regularly evaluatingprogress in Service Learning projects and settingnew goals. We audit all Service Learning activities in each section of the school, providing staff with an opportunity to think of new projects and ways to engage with students. Recently, teachers participated in a training session with Cathryn Berger Kaye, a world-renowned Service Learning expert, author of books, and advisor for many schools worldwide. Teachers from Yew Chung and Yew Wah schools recentlyattended the event and, together with Ms Berger Kaye, explored innovative ways to embed Service Learning in the curriculum. “Ms Berger Kaye also showcased a useful tool called the ‘MISO model’, which we can use with our students to generate interest and ideas of Service Learning projects they would like to start,” said Ms Broomhall. “It was fantastic to have her lead the session,” Ms Broomhall added. Such events help further establish a culture of Service Learning in the school and inspire our staff and teachers with new ideas about how they work with the student body to deliver more opportunities in the future.
Furthermore, the school regularly holds events and webinars to keep parents informed about Service Learning activities and upcoming projects. For example, parents recently participated in a webinar where staff highlighted the school’s approach and provided a deeper insight into what actions the school is taking to create opportunities for all children to participate in Service Learning initiatives. Staff also highlighted the benefits these experiences provide for students in terms of leadership, empathy, global mindedness, and other meaningful skills.
We look forward to further integrating Service Learning in our everyday school experiences and showing our students the long-lasting benefits of their actions for the wider community. Such learning will prepare them for a life of leading with a servant’s heart, creating compassionate individuals who make tangible, positive changes in the world around them.