Self-initiated projects
What are Self-initiated projects?
All the independent initiatives I take to build my understanding of service, demonstrate my commitment to the community and develop my sense of responsibility.
Some examples:
Student Clubs I lead/ participate
Create content in a chosen format (video/posters/music...) to raise awareness about a local/global issue (SDG)
Be part of a student support desk and help other students with what I am good at
Find solutions to improve critical issues in our school community
Getting involved with local NGO's and helping the underprivileged
What Service as action is NOT?
Any activity in which you receive a tangible benefit (internship credit, extra credit, or a grade) or reward such as money (babysitting).
Activities that are for the benefit of the members of a religious organisation or to promote religion are not considered service to the community at large.
Activities completed during the regular school day i.e. break duty, school lessons.
All forms of duty within the family cannot be used for community service. (helping during family events, making dinner, etc.).
What characteristics will successful service projects have?
(Source: BCIS MYP Community and Service Guide 2013-2014)
• It will be helping to address the needs of the community or people being served
• It will be a learning experience and involve lots of reflection, before, during and after the experience to give everyone the opportunity to voice concerns, share feelings and evaluate the success of the project
• Your service as action activity will have clear goals and wherever possible it will be linked to the learning at school
• It will promote an understanding of all forms of diversity and foster respect amongst the participants
• Student’s will be active partners with a strong voice in identifying needs, planning the activities and evaluating the impact on the community and this will empower participants and promote leadership skills
• The projects will build partnerships between the different grade levels if the project is internal or help to bridge generational, cultural or other gaps between the school and the wider society
• Students will share evidence between the broader community and the school promoting service based learning where possible
• The best projects will be sustainable and followed through from the initial investigation of needs through to the celebration of achievement
Self Initiated Projects Examples
Our very own author!
Ryann Lahiri chose to collaborate with Bombay to Barcelona Library Café - a social business that supports youngsters with difficult backgrounds, in their education, training, employment and housing.
After digging deep through her own research, Ryann understood the needs of the members of the project and finally decided to take action in order to raise funds for them for one of their current projects - The Dream House, which helps these same members acquire a home. Her action was to adapt the biography of the founder of the project, Mr. Amin Sheikh, and rewrite its text for children.
The final result was of such quality that it left everyone, who read her proposal, astonished. She adapted the book with such creativity and sensitivity that Mr. Amin Sheikh brought the text to his team, illustrated it and edited the book. The NGO recently received the prototype of the book which will soon be published in Mumbai.
