Community Service Project Curriculum

Volunteerism in Action
Carol Fairbrother, Peace Corps TEFL Volunteer

Application: Community Service Projects can be incorporated into the teaching

curriculum of TEFL Peace Corps Volunteers for up to two academic school years.

Audience: 9th to 12th Graders (can be tailored for 5th to 8th graders) Background: As Romania prepares for accession to the European Union in 2007, a
major focus is on preparing its citizens for active participation in the democratic process, community development and the civil society. Promoting citizen participation in volunteerism is a vital strategy in successfully meeting these accession goals. The importance of volunteerism has been recognized globally with the introduction of The International Day of Volunteering on December 5 each year. A campaign to focus on raising the profile of volunteerism in Europe was launched as the Manifesto for Volunteering in Europe 2003. Developed by the European Volunteer Centre (CEV), the year long campaign will raise awareness within institutions of the European Union regarding the value of volunteer activity and the need for increased support for its development at the social, legislative and financial levels. In Romania, the First and Second National Conferences about Volunteering were sponsored by the Pro Vobis Center on December 3 6, 2001 and June 19 22, 2003 respectively. Participants are in the process of exploring strategies for the development of volunteerism in Romania by creating platforms for the exchange of information among organizations that utilize volunteers and other interested people and organizations. A key resolution was the desire to establish a National Council of Volunteering.

Student Volunteerism and Community Service Projects .WHY ???

Volunteerism promotes youth development, civic responsibility, engaged citizenship and encourages a life-long commitment to service. Citizenship and civic responsibility are skills that are learned and practiced. Volunteering is one example of engaged citizenship in action. Volunteerism enhances personal, social and academic skills and provides new and meaningful learning experiences for students. The health of a community is enhanced when an increasing number of its members reach out and volunteer their time, their talents, their expertise and themselves to make a difference.

Community Service Project Curriculum

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Goals: 1. Students will embrace volunteerism as an intrinsic personal value resulting in

their active participation in volunteer activities throughout their lives. 2. Students will create meaningful lives as active, responsible, engaged citizens dedicated to actively improving society. 3. Students will choose to conduct their lives with integrity, honesty, compassion and understanding. 4. Students will experience their ability to make a difference in the world.

Objectives:
1. 2. 3. 4. Introduce volunteerism and civic responsibility. Learn about volunteer opportunities in the community. Identify, plan, implement & evaluate CSPs. Develop project management, critical thinking, communication, writing and presentation skills. 5. Develop leadership, teamwork and community outreach skills 6. Enhance self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Activities:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Classroom Discussion on Volunteerism and Civic Responsibility 3 - 4 Member Group Presentations on Potential Volunteer Action Prepare a 1 page Community Service Project Proposal Complete a Community Service Project Prepare a 1 page Community Service Project Summary Evaluation Individual Classroom Presentations on CSPs 3 minutes. Group and Classroom Discussion about the Impact of CSPs.

Timeframe:
Successfully completing Activities 1 to 7 can easily be accomplished in two semesters. Continuation of the Community Service Project Curriculum into the PCVs second year of teaching provides students with the opportunity to engage in different CSPs, gain new experience, meet new people and improve their skills as outlined in the objectives. In addition, the students have a greater chance to identify and clarify areas of passion and interest and intrinsically embrace the rewards of volunteering. First Semester: Complete Activities 1 to 3. Second Semester: Complete Activities 4 to 7. Third Semester: Complete Activities 3 to 7. Fourth Semester: Complete Activities 3 to 7.

Community Service Project Curriculum Grading:

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Students are required to fulfill the assignments as instructed. When grading the group presentations it is recommended to give all the students at least a 9 if each member speaks and all the group members fulfilled the presentation requirements. If the students are not prepared to present on the day assigned, then each member will receive 2 points off the grade they are given. When grading the 1 page CSP Proposals and CSP Evaluation Summaries, it is recommended that grades be given based on a bell curve. The best proposals based on format, grammar and vocabulary and content will get the highest marks.. It is recommended that all students receive a mark of 10 for successfully completing their CSPs regardless of what project they selected. This grading strategy is designed to reward success and to motivate the student to continue their volunteer activities whether assigned or not. It also prevents judgments regarding the validity or worth of a students CSP. It promotes the premise that all sincere efforts to improve a situation are valued and recognized equally. It is not possible to know for certain whether a student did in fact complete a CSP, so if the student turns in an evaluation summary he/she receives a 10 for completion of the CSP and is given a separate grade for the CSP Evaluation. Students should be told that if a student does not complete a CSP he/she receives a 0 for the project and a 0 for not being able to complete the CSP Evaluation. If a student chooses not to participate their final grade will reflect their decision.

CSP Proposal
Title: select short slogan Goal: the end toward which effort is directed Objectives: specific, measurable actions to achieve the stated goal Current State: define the present problem or issue Desired State: define the specific outcome hoped for Resources: identify people, places, materials to facilitate success Obstacles: identify possible problems & solutions Action Plan: who, what, where, when

CSP Evaluation:
Written Summary of CSP in 3 paragraphs one page o What did you do? o What did you accomplish? o How do you feel about your CSP experience? 3 minute presentation summary of CSP Group discussion of CSP experience o Personal/family/friends/neighborhood/community impact YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE....GET YOUR STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER!

Community Service Projects

Volunteerism in Action Carol Fairbrother, TEFL Peace Corps Volunteer

Benefits of Student Volunteerism

Promotes volunteerism & civic responsibility Enhances personal, social and academic skills Introduces community & global challenges Provides new & meaningful learning experiences Creates healthier individuals, families & society Encourages a life-long commitment to service
Goals

Students intrinsically embrace volunteerism resulting in lifelong volunteer service Students create meaningful lives as active, responsible, engaged citizens dedicated to
actively improving society understanding

Students choose to conduct their lives with integrity, honesty, compassion & Students experience their ability to make a difference in the world
Objectives

Introduce volunteerism & civic responsibility Learn about community volunteer opportunities Identify, plan, implement & evaluate CSPs Develop project management, critical thinking, communication, writing and
presentation skills

Develop leadership & community outreach skills Enhance self-awareness/esteem, self-confidence

CSP Curriculum

Volunteerism: Classroom Discussion Group Presentations CSP Proposal one page CSP Completion CSP Evaluation Summary one page Individual CSP Presentations 3 minutes

CSPs Impact:
CSP Proposal

Classroom Discussion

Title: select short slogan Goal: the end toward which effort is directed Objectives: specific, measurable actions to achieve the stated goal Current State: define the present problem or issue Desired State: define the specific outcome hoped for Resources: identify people, places, materials to facilitate success Obstacles: identify possible problems & solutions Action Plan: who, what, where, when
Volunteer Opportunities

Orphanage, special school, daycare center, family Tutor: friend, sibling, neighbor, student, orphans

Donate clothes, school supplies, food, sweets Assist a poor family, street children, elderly Organize block, park, river clean-up campaigns Plant trees, flowers, gardens, orchards Create/facilitate education campaigns: alcohol/drug, smoking, HIV, violence prevention
CSP Evaluation
Written Summary of CSP in 3 paragraphs What did you do? What did you accomplish? How do you feel about your CSP experience? 3 minute presentation summary of CSP Group discussion of CSP experience Personal impact Family/friends/neighborhood impact Community impact

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. GET YOUR STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER!