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If
the goal of our service learning project is to solve
problems in communities and provide authentic opportunities
for youth, we must make sure we are actively engaging
the community in identifying their own needs. By involving
the community in identifying their needs, the members
of that community become partners in solving the issues.
Citizenship is fostered in members of the community
and the youth volunteers. An increased awareness of
community needs and of individual contributions to the
larger society are fostered as well.
Seeking
out the voice of the community in the service learning
project planning will help ensure that the needs identified
are “genuine community needs.” A genuine
community need is one that is truly a need in the community,
not justone
that is perceived as a need by those involved in the
project planning.
Community
need and voice can be found in a number of ways. Interviews
with
elected officials, surveys, studying facts and data
about the community or population to be served, and
involving recipients of the service in the project planning
committee are all ways to ensure that the community’s
voice is heard.
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In
Marion County, Jasper Elementary 4-H’ers had class
discussions on ways to improve their school campus. They
decided they wanted to improve the appearance of the front
and main entrance of their school by planting flowers,
building picnic benches, and improving the existing landscape.
The young people discussed, brainstormed, and wrote ideas
on ways to achieve their goal of making improvements at
Jasper Elementary. In reading class, they wrote essays
on why they wanted to be involved in the project; in math
class, they discussed the money needed to fund the project;
and in science class, they discussed the plants and flowers
that would enhance the campus. As they reflected on their
experience after the project, the 4-H’ers were already
hoping to extend their service to other areas of the large
campus.
