Service is a collaborative and reciprocal community engagement in response to an authentic need. It always starts with a real need communicated by partners instead of a projected need where only you and your groupmates determine or second guess what others need. When responding to a real need, your actions become meaningful and have impact. 

CAS is all about learning from personal experience so that we grow and develop to become the best person we can be with a healthy mind and body.

It’s about getting involved doing things not only for others but with others to develop a sense of commitment with them. Of course, problems will arise. But we don’t simply give up when we meet an obstacle. We persevere and find new or better ways to solve problems. Finally, as we tackle problems, whether local or global, we gain a wider perspective about the world as we help others to show that we care.

 Through the process, we hope to become independent, adaptable, socially responsible, and internationally-minded citizens.

Our goal in CAS is to target and provide evidence in meeting 7 Learning Outcomes: 

1. Undertake new challenges and learn new skills

2. Identify your strengths and areas for growth

3. Initiate and plan CAS Service experiences

4. Show commitment and perseverance

5. Work collaboratively with others

6. Recognize and consider the ethics of your choice and action

7. Engage in issues of global importance

For service, learning outcomes #3, 4, 5, and 7 are really important.

Direct Service is direct help or interaction that involves people, the environment, and animals. Kalahari Experience is one example where FIS students go and teach students of different ages in the Kalahari. Another example is when students volunteer at the local animal shelter to clean out cages and care for the animals. See more examples below.

Direct Service Ideas

With people:

Coaching children in sports

Delivering meals to people living with a medical condition

Leading resume-writing workshops for people who are unemployed

Organizing or assisting at a blood drive

Playing music with senior citizens to have an exchange of skills and learn about each other's music preferences and talents, and then performing as an ensemble for others

Distributing plants at a farmer's market to promote home-grown container gardens

Serving food at a soup kitchen

With the environment

Restoring a stream

Preparing the soil and beds for an elementary school garden and planting with the children

Growing seedlings for distribution

Installing raised-bed gardens for a senior center

Establishing a recycling program at city hall

Making a storm-water garden

With Animals

Helping at an animal shelter with data entry and dog-walking

Assisting with a pet adoption outreach program at community events

Leading a workshop on pet care

Setting up a turtle sanctuary in partnership with a community organization

Indirect Service -  Although you may not see who receives help in an indirect service, you know and have confirmed that your actions will benefit the community or environment. For example: students who raise funds for ‘Operation Smile’ know that money they collect will finance operations for families who cannot afford cleft lip and palate operations of their child specifically in India. Another indirect service is the ‘Clean Water Initiative’, where members choose to fund a well through an NGO and raise funds for this purpose until the goal is achieved. See more examples below.

Ideas for Indirect Service

With People

Assembling a photo exhibit about poverty for a gallery

Preparing meals in a soup kitchen

Taking part in a walkathon to raise money for humanitarian causes

Writing brochures for service or charity organizations

Assisting with the creation of a museum exhibit

Making exercise videos to give to homeless shelters

Creating a newsletter for a retirement community

Recording audio books for people who are visually impaired

With the environment

Preparing signage for a local wetland

Growing seedlings for distribution

Initiating a school compost to reduce food waste in landfills

Creating a website with information about flora and fauna for a local park

With animals

Making zoo toys for animals

collecting needed supplies for a wildlife rescue center

Baking dog biscuits for an animal shelter

Making coloring books on local endangered animals for elementary schools and for tourists with protection tips

Advocacy - Students give voice on behalf of a cause or concern to promote an action or an issue of public interest. Examples include: ‘HIV/AIDS Awareness’ group and ‘Amnesty International’ where they fight for the rights of people who are discriminated against or mistreated.

Research - Students collect information through various sources, analyse data and report on a topic of importance to influence policy or practice. An example includes taking samples of water quality and submitting it to the local government to show how pollution affects local water.