Serving our community
If we respect each other and acknowledge our unique contribution, we can move forward quickly in a positive environment where we can all be teachers and learners.
While completing community service projects, students develop real-world skills that will help them succeed in middle school, high school and beyond. They practice:
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration with others
- Time management
- Communication
Most importantly, students learn that the work they do can make a real impact in the world. By getting involved in community service at a young age, children also:
1. Develop a Richer Perspective of the World They Live In
Volunteering is an essential part of preparing students to “take responsibility as open minded, principled citizens in a global community.” While performing community service, children have the opportunity to see first-hand just how much their work can have an impact on the world. Many of our students at Destiny Future volunteer locally at food shelves, animal shelters, in retirement communities, and even at orphanages abroad. They get to interact with people who have vastly different backgrounds, and learn patience and empathy as they develop a global perspective.
2. Connect What They Learn in School to the Real World
Community service gives students an opportunity to explore academic interests through a real world lenses. If a child is intrigued when he or she learns about recycling in school, for example, they can pick up recyclables from local businesses and take them to a local recycling center to see the impact firsthand. Volunteering during an election can help them learn more about how the government functions, or cleaning up the Long Island Sound can help them learn more about environmental issues firsthand.
We’ve found that when students connect what they’re learning in school to issues that actually matters in real life, they throw themselves into learning. Research also back this up. Studies show that students who give back to the community perform better in school, particularly in subjects such as math, reading, and history. Furthermore, students who participate in community service are also more likely to graduate from high school.