Service-Learning and Tsunami Relief: A Long-Term Response

As weeks pass, reports of the tsunami recovery are rapidly vanishing from the mainstream media. The reconstruction efforts, however, will continue for years to come. In many schools, young people have contributed to these efforts, and it is NYLC's hope that this will be a long-term response, not one that fades as other stories take over the newscasts.

We encourage teachers to look for true service-learning responses to these events, through which students can learn and deepen their involvement. Young people can be a powerful force for ensuring long-term support for those devastated by this disaster, but this type of impact requires educators to move beyond basic fundraising projects for charities. Educators must help young people understand why they are participating in relief efforts, and give them an active voice in how they respond to this disaster. It also requires the appropriate curricular connections: using subjects such as social studies, science, global economics, current events, and world history, in an age-appropriate way, to help young people understand these events and how they tie into bigger issues, such as poverty, environmental problems, and political situations.

Service-learning and relief organizations have made a wealth of resources available. We recommend the following sites as starting points for curricula, information, and project ideas.

As always, if you need technical support with a project, the National Service-Learning Exchange can help you free of charge. You can contact them by email or by calling (877) 572-3924.

Service-Learning and Service Project Resources

Global Relief Information