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Service Learning Abroad: Learning While Serving

Tue, 02/22/2011 - 13:34

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This awesome article was brought to you by Sarah Palmer

Sarah has researched and educated others about international volunteering for six years. Currently she lives in Washington, DC and works with long-term volunteers adjusting to the return home from their service trips.

What is Service Learning?

What you need to know:

Service learning programs combine the benefits of studying and volunteering abroad
Service learning programs are a great way to enhance your academic studies
These programs will be of interest to students looking to enter aid and development programs

Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with educators and proponents of service-learning programs. At its very core, service-learning combines education with community service - students take on a volunteer or civic engagement project and then reflect on their experience in a classroom setting.

It’s an incredibly versatile endeavor; projects may be completed from kindergarten to college and beyond, and at home or overseas. For this post, I’ll focus on service-learning abroad.

About Service-Learning

Service-learning overseas can be described as a cross between study abroad and international volunteer service.

Through study abroad, you enroll in courses for credit in another country. While you certainly may pursue volunteer or other community oriented activities while studying abroad, service isn’t quite the focus. Volunteering abroad goes the opposite direction - while you’ll gain valuable insight into a new community, or develop new skills and connections, the main goal isn’t always education.

Service-learning, then, is sort of a combination of the two. Individuals undertake community service projects, and then reflect on their experiences in a classroom setting. Class time is used to identify key issues in the community project, delineate how to tackle these issues, and follow up on progress, both from the students’ and from the community’s perspective.

It’s important to note that some study abroad programs do incorporate service-learning, and community volunteering may be completed for class credit. Again, service-learning is very adaptable to a number of situations and settings.

Service-Learning Programs

To better explain service-learning, I’ve included two sample programs below. Both of these organizations place students with local, community based groups to assist with business operations, project development, and research. Throughout the placements, students meet regularly for further training and reflection on their own and the project’s progress and development.

Amizade

In partnership with West Virginia University, Amizade, offers worldwide service-learning projects for college students seeking academic credit for their work. Programs are available in Africa, North America, and South America, with focuses on conflict resolution, healthcare, international development, marketing, politics, public policy, and sustainable community development.

Project example: Students will travel to Jamaica in summer 2011 to study sustainable development in rural areas. Along with the Association of Clubs, service-learners will study reports and other important readings on cross-cultural communication, sustainable development, and international service, all within the context of their Jamaican placement. Within the community, students will undertake assignments such as tutoring local youth, assisting with construction programs, and planning the development of a park.

International Service Learning Alliance

International Service Learning Alliance (ISLA) offers internship programs for college students, career professionals, and retirees. Project focuses include business and community development, education, healthcare, natural resources and environment, and youth leadership. Programs last from nine weeks to one year, with placements in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Project example: ISLA is offering a summer 2011 service-learning trip to Peru, where students will study and work with organizational partners Village Earth and the Shipibo Nation. Placement will be in the Ucayali region of the central Peruvian Amazon, where service-learners will “assist communities with their worthy endeavors, promote cross-cultural understanding, and encourage reflection and evaluation of the experience.”