About
Community Service |
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The
researches have been shown that service activities have a unique
way of developing an individual’s leadership skills, sense
of community, self esteem and other personal characteristics.
In terms of career growth, many service activities provide students
with the opportunity to explore possible careers, experience
the “real world” of their chosen career field, develop
professional skills and contacts, build their resume, and put
into practice the information they have learned in academic
settings.
Community service provides
a variety of unique benefits to the students, the community
and to the organizations where students volunteer. It is very
common that volunteers get much more out of their service
experience than they expect. Also, the community gains resources
and services that would otherwise be unavailable.
Every
community service activity or project benefits a specific
individual or group. Whether it is building a home for the
working poor, serving victims of chronic or terminal illness,
tutoring children, or any other service activity, there is
a person or group who ultimately benefits from your time.
Without volunteers like yourself these services would not
be provided and the lives of those people receiving the services
would not be enriched. In addition, whenever you reach out
and help one person, there is a ripple effect that ultimately
results in benefit of the entire community.
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What
is community service? |
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Activities
undertaken individually or collaboratively:
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for
the benefit of others in an area of need |
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that
offer opportunities for learning |
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Activities
can be of direct or indirect benefit to individuals, groups
or the community, e.g. tutoring students; fundraising
for the Red Cross etc. |
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Objectives
of Community Service |
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To
develop a culture and ethos of service among student –
teachers. |
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To
provide opportunities for student – teachers to
exercise responsibility and develop leadership skills
by resolving real-life problems. |
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To
provide opportunities for student – teachers to
learn first-hand through helping others. |
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To
provide opportunities for student – teachers to
learn first-hand through helping others. |
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To
sensitize the future teachers towards the contemporary
issues. |
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Potential
benefits |
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Personal
and interpersonal development – communication, leadership,
problem solving, self-identity, ability to relate to different
groups |
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Development
of civic responsibility and skills |
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Increased
engagement and motivation to learn |
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Improved
community perceptions |
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Increased
respect for all |
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