·        What is ‘Service Learning’?

 

‘Service Learning’ is an important component of the Grade 9/10 programme at Concordia International School.  This initiative has two components:

  

o       The ‘SERVICE’ – students will provide assistance to people in need (i.e. visiting Senior Citizens, helping with non-profit projects that benefit others, etc.)

 

o       The ‘LEARNING’ – students will be exposed to new learning opportunities to raise their awareness of the needs of the community around them.  This will help to round-out their overall education.  In the spirit of Christianity, students will be encouraged to commit to helping others while reflecting on their own personal development.      

 

 

·        Who is it for?

 

All grade 9 and 10 students will be involved in ‘Service Learning’ projects.

 

·        When does it take place?

 

‘Service Learning’ will take place on Friday afternoons on an alternating basis with the usual Y.M.C.A. programme.  For instance, one Friday afternoon a student will be involved in a ‘Service Learning’ project and then the next Friday that same student will go to the Y.M.C.A. for recreation.

 

 

·        What will students do?

 

Arrangements have been made for students to assist people at the Martha Boss Lutheran Community Centre (89 Chung Hau Street, Homantin).  The Centre’s website is:  http://www.mblcc.org.hk   Students will be directly working with two groups of people:

 

o       Senior Citizens – visiting and chatting with them, taking them for walks, pushing wheelchairs, etc.

 

o       Kindergarten Students – playing games, singing songs, teaching some basic English words, helping with snack time, etc.

 

 

Our students will be divided into groups and they will visit the Centre once every two weeks, on Friday afternoons between the hours of 1.30-3.30pm.  We have arranged for a private school bus to take the students from Concordia International School to the Martha Boss Lutheran Community Centre.  The students will be dismissed from the Centre at 3.30pm and they will need to travel home safely by themselves.  At the nearby bus stop, there are buses going to many destinations including the cross-harbour tunnel, and the Hunghom KCR.          

 

Students will be guided by the ‘Service Learning’ Coordinator (Mr. Mohn).  He will accompany and supervise the students during each session.  In addition, Mr. Suerte, one of our full-time Science/Math teachers, will also accompany the students each week.  Our Cantonese-speaking students will be paired up with non-Cantonese-speaking students when required.  English will remain the common language of communication. 

 

 

Students will regularly submit a ‘Service Learning Journal’ to Mr. Mohn, as evidence of their personal experiences and reflections.  ‘Service Learning’ is a pre-requisite for Concordia’s Graduation Diploma.  Students should approach it with seriousness as well as enthusiasm.      

 

 

·        Why does this matter?

 

While we live in a very fast-paced dynamic region of the world, not everyone is ‘moving ahead’.  Whether it is due to a lack of opportunities, low income, no employment, health concerns, or loneliness, many people in Hong Kong are in need of some kind of human assistance.  Concordia students could provide some assistance in the form of weekly chats, a helping hand, or fresh ideas. 

 

There are no guarantees about how long a person’s life may be or how many days each of us have been allotted.  Regardless, the quality of a person’s life can be improved through the generosity and thoughtfulness of others.  As Concordia is a Christian school (open to Christians and non-Christians alike), the words of Jesus Christ serve as an important reminder for all of us: