COMMUNITY FAITH-BASED/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Getting Started

Service learning students begin their service experience with an enthusiasm for learning and desire to broaden their understanding of social and personal issues.

To ensure that both the organization and the student reap the full benefit of the service learning assignment there are a few specific responsibilities:

• Provide a structured experience.
  • Plan ahead with the student and the teacher/faculty/or youth group leader.  Identify learning goals for the student that will assist the student in understanding more fully the application of academic knowldege they are gaining.
• Take time into consideration.
  • Identify ahead of time the time and scheduling constraints for all concerned. 
• Be responsive to student questions and concerns.
  • Setting a specific time for regularly scheduled check ins with the student will ensure everything is going smoothly.
• Schedule and provide a comprehensive orientation.
  • The more the student learns about your organziation, the better the work they will do.
• Provide on-going supervision and offer constructive feedback.
  • Identify additional learning the student needs and advise them on how to find out what they need to know.
• Track the number of hours students volunteer.
  • These hours will be reported to the student's teacher or leader.