Cambodia Leadership Service Learning trip

As I read one of my teacher’s blog today on service learning – the leadership trip, I began to think back to my earliest memories of service – of giving service, receiving service, or observing service. This included images of visiting retirement homes with my class students, collecting money for charity in secondary school, running for a cause in University and tutoring a neighbor who was struggling with math.

So, why do I want to give service? A question over these years I continue to ask, having experience more of it myself in school. Well, I found a connection between my early personal experiences and memories of service. “Maybe that’s why I take care of my school children. Maybe that’s why I am a teacher.” Hence, my choice to become a teacher.

Teachers – I now see – clearly have a natural affinity with service learning. This year, one of my colleagues even proposed to continue with the teachers’ service learning. I believe the reason is that part of what draws us into the teaching profession is the opportunity to reach children and make a lasting – even profound – difference in their lives. I remembered how the last teachers’ service learning in Johor two years ago – how one of our teacher while visiting an orphanage, interacted with the orphans and – did a magic trick. It provided a deep and wondrous ways to reach out to the orphans!

My most recent service learning to Cambodia last year involved living in a rural overseas community with few financial resources. To me, this service learning trip has helped improved the delivery of knowledge and skills to my student councilors, as it involves so  much more than merely tacking on projects to the existing lesson plans (Hygiene lesson, Dental Care project, Photojournalism). I observed the blend of practical methods that inform (of language barrier, engagement of foreign learners teaching in a school), involve (through participation and interaction with the school children and villagers), inspire (interviews with community and village head, even fellow Singaporean adults working in Cambodia) and move the student councilors to be true students, seekers of knowledge and active contributors to society.

I also see with service learning, my student councilors going beyond required assignments and reveal hidden talents. I also became enlivened by the high level of student engagement that the service learning trip provides. Students make essential connections through our nightly conversations with teachers to bring forth the best they have to offer and help them create a meaningful, relevant learning experience. Indeed, as my teacher said, this trip is invaluable and I believe that is truly a win-win for all involved.