Hey Adriene

SERVICE LEARNING = I SERVE YOU SO I MAY LEARN FROM YOU

Farid of Singapore International Foundation came to KL recently specially to conduct a service learning course for Raleigh International KL.

There are many definitions of service learning, as defined by the many academians and experts in the subject.

But personally, I find all those definitions too long, complicated and "academickey" so I shall attempt to define it in my simple layman terms.

Ahem...

Service Learning is a mutually beneficial relationship where a person serves the community in order to learn, and where the community which is being served accepts that service in order to teach.

Raleigh International expeditions are a classic example of service learning.

Although, at the time, when I was on a Raleigh expedition in Sabah, I didn't know that I was gonna be learning stuff. I just wanted to go out there and "help those poor people of Sabah!"

I'd mistaken Raleigh International for a community development charity, when actually the focus is on youth development. Youths being the young people serving the community. Like myself! And it was only after much frustration on my part, that I finally realised that in the 3rd-4th week. Duh! (slapping myself on the forehead) ;)

What's so powerful about service learning is that it:

1. Motivates students to learn more

~ I now have a strong interest in issues affecting rural community and youths

2. Personal development

~ Inspired me to become a better person, I hope

3. Helps students connect to others

~ I now have more empathy for people with backgrounds different from my own, for eg youths in kampungs and youths from challenging backgrounds like alcoholism and drug abuse

4. Helps students develop commitment to active citizenship

~ Made me realise how proud I really am of my Malaysianness

5. Enhances understanding of issue and subject matter

~ Not just theoretical learning but actually experiential learning. Living in the village, I experienced first hand the difficulties the rural communities faced like river water that is so heavily silted that it's not fit for drinking, regular power outages, no piped water supply and reliance on rain water.

6. Apply knowledge and skills they learn in one setting to other settings

~ Improved my team management skills, which I have tried to apply to my workplace. Very good when people are under pressure and tempers are fraying!

7. Help students reframe the way they think about complex social issues

~ Issues are no longer black and white. The gray areas keep increasing and strangely, it's a good thing. Does this make any sense?

Hmmm... my conclusion is there's no better way to learn than service learning :)