Many gap year programs involve an element of service learning. In a world full of greenwashing and voluntourism, it is more important than ever to ask the question, how does service learning benefit the communities they operate in?
Service learning is a unique approach that combines community service with experiential learning. Examples undertaken by students are: habitat restoration and species monitoring; assisting local students with English-language development; and improving school environments in poor rural communities. If done correctly, it allows participants to really immerse themselves in a place and share an experience with local people, bridging the gap that often exists between visitor and host. At Pacific Discovery, we work hard to ensure that the work our groups do is grounded in community needs, vision and are executed through local leadership.
In this blog, we will delve into some of the ways in which service learning benefits local communities during a gap year and give examples of some of our service learning projects on programs.
On our Australia and Bali Gap Semester Program, we participate in some amazing service-learning projects. On week 10, we work with an organization called Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF) that manages holistic conservation and community development programs on the Balinese Hindu island. They'll teach us about the Bali starling conservation work being done on the island, build nests, weave baskets, and give our time helping out amongst the local communities that call this island home.
Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF) projects have been recognized globally by organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme, the Whitley Fund for Nature and the Rainforest Action Network.
Learn more about Friends of the National Parks Foundation.
Posted by Pacific Discovery on August 08, 2023
