Service -AP
After working at the Sani Foundation for three weeks and attempting to absorb Zambian
culture as much as I can, my understanding of service has shifted. I have learned that service
exists on all scale levels, as even seemingly trivial acts of kindness can improve someone’s day.
Service is about devoting your time to a cause other than yourself. It requires patience and empathy as you learn someone else’s story. Service is also active and never passive – individuals must take it upon themselves to serve. Doing so does not necessitate, however, a significant financial or emotional requirement on behalf of the person who is serving. It can be as simple as sharing your water with a woman and her toddler, who are both severely dehydrated.
exists on all scale levels, as even seemingly trivial acts of kindness can improve someone’s day.
Service is about devoting your time to a cause other than yourself. It requires patience and empathy as you learn someone else’s story. Service is also active and never passive – individuals must take it upon themselves to serve. Doing so does not necessitate, however, a significant financial or emotional requirement on behalf of the person who is serving. It can be as simple as sharing your water with a woman and her toddler, who are both severely dehydrated.
In the context of our Zambia Global Service Learning program, service involves our commitment
to learning about a culture that differs from our own. It requires open-mindedness and an
eagerness to embrace new experiences and new perspectives. Its success is dependent upon
our own willingness to engage with the local culture and its people.
to learning about a culture that differs from our own. It requires open-mindedness and an
eagerness to embrace new experiences and new perspectives. Its success is dependent upon
our own willingness to engage with the local culture and its people.
Within my own experience in Zambia, there are a few moments in particular that stand out to
me as moments of service. These moments occur nightly as I help my homestay brothers,
Marquis (6) and Nicholas (9), with their homework. We all sit down together for about 30
minutes and tackle the assignments the boys have been given. Doing so is one of my favorite
parts of the day because it is incredibly special to be able to bear witness to and aide a child’s
learning. I help Marquis with his reading and spelling, teaching him how to sound out words
and how certain letter combinations make different sounds. Nicholas and I work on his math
homework together as I teach him shortcuts for how to add and subtract improper fractions.
Seeing the boys’ success as they obtain new knowledge and an understanding of words and
numbers is precisely what motivates me to serve. It is such a joy to be able to share what I’ve
learned from my years in school with such young children, and to know that doing so is one small step in their paths as students.
me as moments of service. These moments occur nightly as I help my homestay brothers,
Marquis (6) and Nicholas (9), with their homework. We all sit down together for about 30
minutes and tackle the assignments the boys have been given. Doing so is one of my favorite
parts of the day because it is incredibly special to be able to bear witness to and aide a child’s
learning. I help Marquis with his reading and spelling, teaching him how to sound out words
and how certain letter combinations make different sounds. Nicholas and I work on his math
homework together as I teach him shortcuts for how to add and subtract improper fractions.
Seeing the boys’ success as they obtain new knowledge and an understanding of words and
numbers is precisely what motivates me to serve. It is such a joy to be able to share what I’ve
learned from my years in school with such young children, and to know that doing so is one small step in their paths as students.
I measure success in service as any measurable change, no matter how small, that benefits at
least one person. Through my homestay family, I’ve found my service to be successful through
simple acts such as making dinner for the family so that Momma Odess doesn’t have to, or
through helping the boys with their homework and allowing them to see how capable they are.
Through my work at the Sani Foundation, I’ve found success in my service knowing that my
research will allow more people with intellectual disabilities to obtain employment. This
process will be long, but I know that our research is a necessary stepping stone within that process.
As students in Zambia for only eight weeks, the impacts of our service will undoubtedly be
limited. However, we can continue to serve upon our arrival in the U.S. if we share our
experiences with our friends, family, peers, and colleagues. We must attempt to teach others
about the wondrous aspects of Zambian culture, thus exposing ourselves and others to the larger world. In doing so, we can expand our horizons and understanding of the world, and our
place within it.
least one person. Through my homestay family, I’ve found my service to be successful through
simple acts such as making dinner for the family so that Momma Odess doesn’t have to, or
through helping the boys with their homework and allowing them to see how capable they are.
Through my work at the Sani Foundation, I’ve found success in my service knowing that my
research will allow more people with intellectual disabilities to obtain employment. This
process will be long, but I know that our research is a necessary stepping stone within that process.
As students in Zambia for only eight weeks, the impacts of our service will undoubtedly be
limited. However, we can continue to serve upon our arrival in the U.S. if we share our
experiences with our friends, family, peers, and colleagues. We must attempt to teach others
about the wondrous aspects of Zambian culture, thus exposing ourselves and others to the larger world. In doing so, we can expand our horizons and understanding of the world, and our
place within it.
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