Community Service

Service work is at the heart of any Global Works Trip

Traveling with a purpose and having the opportunity to engage in meaningful service work enriches students, helps others, and builds connections between people.

Each Global Works trip utilizes participants’ service funds and labor to realize very real and impactful service projects.  The program is designed to be a win-win-win situation – the community/organization with which we engaged in our service work is provided with funds for service projects, labor, and meaningful exchange; students gain valuable community service credit and are able to get an authentic look into another way of life and have fun, life-changing adventures.

COMMUNIY SERVICE GOALS

• Provide a sustainable, collaborative, and needed project to the community or organization with which we are working.
• Provide opportunities for service learning, cultural exchange, awareness building, language opportunities, feelings of productivity, reflection, and self-development for participating Global Works youth.  Global Works participants receive a certificate crediting the completed hours of community service following their program.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The cornerstone of Global Works service work is making strong connections with like-minded, motivated families and organizations in the communities where we travel.  We expect these contacts to organize projects based on the needs of the overall community; we will provide materials and enthusiastic volunteers, but it is imperative that the community is involved and committed to these projects.  We will assess the level of commitment through evaluating the initial vision of the project, witnessing active participation by community members, and observing follow-through after our group leaves.

TYPES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Local Projects:
The community determines the need and organizes the service project.  These projects may include working on/building:

• A community center
• A shared kitchen
• A public sport court
• Gardens or greenhouses

Nonprofit or NGO Projects:
Work with local or international nonprofits or NGOs who help identify a need and a project.  These projects can be very diverse and may include:

• Environmental projects: trail maintenance, animal habitat rescue, planting trees, etc.
• Work in an orphanage: maintenance or organizing activities with children
• Animal rescue: renovations, animal habitat care, etc.
• Building houses

School Projects:
Work directly with local schools.  These projects may include:

• Building classrooms: laying cement floors, building walls, etc.
• Building playgrounds
• Painting and murals
• Health, arts and crafts, or English lessons

Projects with the government or other local organizations

• Work for the mayor: community library, recreation center, etc.
• Work with parks, conservation corps, etc.: maintenance, animal conservation, visitor center renovations etc.
• Work with community benefiting organizations: senior citizens center, childcare centers, etc.

SERVICE LEARNING & REFLECTION

Global Works groups process service learning through reflection meetings.  Trained staff leads spirited discussions about projects, accomplishments, challenges, cultural differences, impact on the community, sustainability, etc.  You may also use at least one of these meetings to discuss how the work project was set up, Global Works’ philosophy on service projects, what the long term effects of the project will be, why sustainability is important, etc.

BRINGING  IT HOME

We encourage continued interest in service work, humanitarian efforts, and environmental preservation throughout the lifetimes of a Global Works participant.  Through debriefings and discussion, we map out the way participants can continue this type of work in their future.  The trip journal serves as a reminder to the group of the value of their efforts and contributions to the service work they completed!