Service Learning

Happy Americorps Week!

There are hundreds of Americorp volunteers in Washington. Americorps is similar to many other volunteer programs in that volunteers are offered a placement in an area of need--education, social services, community development-- and in return for their service hours get a modest living allowance and an educational award upon completion of the program.


Volunteers in any form are a vital part of a community; I think the benefits of having volunteers are apparent.

But how does volunteering benefit the individual?
For starters, it allows growth in a new area that one might be interested in learning about. It gives individuals an opportunity to become part of their neighborhoods and interact with others that share similar values. It is rewarding to be an integral part of one's community.

Service learning classes are becoming much more prevalent on college campuses. These classes allow for students to gain credits through doing volunteer work in the community and reflecting on their experiences. I think this is an excellent way for students to not only gain work experience but to give back to the surrounding communities.
I think quite often there is a huge disconnect between the locals of a "college town" and the college students. Many students never set foot off campus. They don't take time to understand the community around the college, and merely attend classes in the university. "Townies" see their towns over run with college students running around but not attaching themselves to the community or growing any roots.
By service learning, students are asked to step off the campus, away from this alter-reality where everyone is between 18-25 and middle class, where everyone is studying or taking classes, and interested in the same things. It gives students an entirely new perspective on the place they've been calling home and a chance to serve the community that serves them.

Service is learning, no matter how much or how little you do. You are applying yourself to something you are interested in. You will form relationships with people and you will learn how other people live.

Through service, volunteers understand their purpose and feel self-actualized through these experiences. In order to be a complete person, you must be a vital part of a thriving body.

--Megan