Service-Learning World Forum Highlights Stories from across the Globe

The Fourth Annual Service-Learning World Forum brought together leaders in the field for a morning of cross-cultural sharing, comparing and learning. Held at the 21st Annual National Service-Learning Conference in San Jose, Calif., on March 27, speakers and attendees alike were struck by vast differences in specific approaches, while simultaneously inspired and comforted by great similarities in hopes and dreams.

Varying Regional Approaches

The Middle East panel described service-learning as a potentially transformational youth development tool in the Arab world. With 60 percent of the Middle East’s population being younger than 30, Mohmoud Alaish, a graduate student at Hamline University, said that youth in Saudia Arabia, “don’t have a tradition of service. [We can] use service-learning to instill leadership, citizenship, and employability skills.”

The Pacific Rim panel described a relatively short history of service-learning, with its seeds being planted in 2001 at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. Zong Ying Zhou and David J. C. Yen, both of Fu Jen Catholic University, told of how it has become a model for universities in the region and of how more than half of Taiwan’s colleges and universities are now using service-learning.

Elisabeth Hoodless from Community Service Volunteers in the United Kingdom explained that service-learning has been in the country’s elementary schools for more than 20 years. Practitioners there have linked service-learning to citizenship to make the more difficult inroads into the secondary system.

In the Netherlands, service-learning is a relatively new concept. The national government recently mandated Civic Internships for high school students, who use their own initiative to find experiences. Many Civic Internships involve service-learning, according Hanneke Mateman from MOVISIE, the Netherlands center for social development, but they often face challenges in finding community organizations willing to adapt how they work to more effectively engage young people.

Naomi Tutu, speaking as a member of the African panel, emphasized the concept of ubuntu—the idea that humans exist not in isolation but community. This concept of interconnectedness and generosity undergirds service-learning across Africa.

Similar Challenges

Throughout the World Forum, panelists noted that while the approaches to service-learning may differ, challenges transcend borders: How do we make service-learning a reality for more students? How do we ensure it is of the highest quality? How do we sustain community partnerships? Where do we find funding? How can we create more flexibility in schools and community-based organizations? How do we successfully implement cross-cultural service-learning projects?

Addressing some of those challenges, NYLC and Youth Service America brought a sense of practicality to the discussions. A workshop focused on NYLC's Generator School Network (GSN) highlighted its potential to become a network for gathering educators from all over the world to work together. "Our team in Argentina has been paying attention to the possibilities of the GSN, and we hope to be able to use this tool to bring our service-learning communities closer together," said Michael VanKeulen of NYLC.

Silvia Golombek of Youth Service America offered some nuts and bolts solutions to language issues, differing academic calendars and seasons, and socio-cultural contexts. While these issues can all be considered challenges, cross-cultural service-learning is a great opportunity to gain 21st century skills. “Because it is an increasingly globalized world … the ability to interact with people who are very different from ourselves, whether it is in our own community or in other countries, is essential,” said Golombek.

Transcending Dreams

In addition to the great challenges, hopes and dreams seemed to transcend borders as well. Haru Inouye, Chief Executive Officer of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, a World Forum sponsor and host sponsor to the National Service-Learning Conference, emphasized in his keynote presentation what many sensed throughout the morning, "We all have hopes and dreams, and wonderful people like you prove that no matter what country you're from, no matter what religion, no matter what color your skin, kindness has no borders."