It is important for you to understand what Service Learning (both direct and indirect) is – and that you can make a difference within your local community. There are 4 basic types of Service Learning projects: Direct, Indirect, Advocacy, and Research based.
Examples of Service Learning projects within our local community include:
Adopting a local park, school, or high way
Commitment to using fewer plastic bags
Recycling
Organizing a “Clean Up” day
Volunteering time with a local non-profit organization such as: Habitat for Humanity, Animal Shelter, Food Bank, Homeless Shelter, etc.
Conducting research for renewable energy sources, water conservation, etc.
This discussion will help you to develop a better understanding about Service Learning in addition to requiring you to research a non-profit organization within your local community (that interests you) and advocate for their mission/cause.
1. What is philanthropy?
2. What non-profit organization are you interested in learning more about? (ie: It must be a 501c3 – non-profit organization)
3. What is their mission statement? (Provide the direct website URL link) If you cannot find a mission statement for your non-profit then please answer the following: Who is your non-profit? What do they serve? What do they do? How will they accomplish their goals?
4. Research your non-profit organization and identify an area of need to develop a service plan (idea) to advocate on their behalf. (Your response must be a minimum of 2 paragraphs in length – 6-8 sentences each.
(For example: Your local food pantry may be in need of additional volunteers to help sort food on Wednesday’s and Friday’s. What would you do to create awareness about this need in your local community? What could you personally do to help the food pantry to secure more volunteers? Who in the local community could partner up with the food pantry, so they could gain consistent, reliable, volunteers to help serve food to local members in need? What is currently being done to create awareness about hunger in your local community and what would you change or do differently? Etc). **This is just 1 example.
