Presentation Transcript

1. Service Learning and its Benefits by: Kelly Durpo April 17, 2008
2. What is service learning to me? To me, service learning is helping your community by volunteering your time to benefit the less fortunate, to better yourself, and to better the community you live in.
3. Service learning can include: …helping out to better the city you live in. …helping out in your county by volunteering at non-profit organizations. …and helping out others who are less fortunate and in need.
4. In Fall 2007 I completed 10 hours of community service for my Perspectives class. I helped with a car wash held at Longhorns, I donated money to the VSU Cheerleading squad, I made Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child, and I did Adopt-a- Highway. In Spring 2008 I helped out at a party to benefit those suffering from Chromes disease, and I helped out with the Relay for Life in Cape Coral, Florida.
5. Relay for Life in Cape Coral, Fl Relay for Life is Cape Coral was much different from all of the Relay for Life events I attended in my hometown. In Eatonton we went, set up a tent for our school, and kind of joked around. We also raised money in silly ways such as locking people up in jail and making others pay to get them out. In Florida, they are very serious with their Relay for Life. My dad’s restaurant, Eight Fifty Lafayette, had a team for the event. Each team had a movie theme; theirs was The Last of the Mohicans. Each team was given a “stick” to go with their team’s theme and the stick had to always be moving around the track. At home, this really did not matter, but there, you were looked at and checked on often. It was a very different experience. Each of us had to walk more than other teams, because our team was very small. Also, the way of fundraising there was only raffles or selling food. There were no games or anything like that. It was very formal and serious.
6. Adopt A Highway Adopt A Highway is an organization that was started in 1990 to help clean up the highways and roads in the United States. Adopt A Highway provides an opportunity for companies and organizations to sponsor a section of land. Then, that company or organization is responsible for keeping that section clean and neat. They do this by picking up trash and other things that should not be lining our roads. Not only does this benefit all Americans by keeping the country cleaning, it also benefits the company by providing advertisement and gives the company a positive image.
7. Operation Christmas Child Operation Christmas Child is done by Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that has been around for more than 35 years. Their mission is to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. Operation Christmas Child is done every year around Christmas and it brings the sprit of the holiday to children by giving them gift filled shoe boxes. These children are not as fortunate as we have been, so even the smallest gifts mean a lot to them.
8. Relay for Life Relay for Life is an event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. It is a nightlong event that lasts between 12 and 15 hours. It is meant to spread awareness of cancer prevention, treatments, and cures, to celebrate those who have survived, and raise money for research. Relay for Life is the world’s largest fundraising walk. Last year, Relay for Life raised over $405 million dollars.
9. Pro’s of Service Learning Service learning can help you meet and connect with new people. Some of the people may be different from you, but everyone that you meet you will learn something from. Service learning helps you give back to your community. Service learning also can make you feel great about yourself.
10. Con’s of Service Learning The work can sometimes be messy and something that you do not really want to do. The work can make you tired and sore. Sometimes, you can get hurt.
11. …my Mom and I at the Relay for Life tent.
12. …the winners of the Ms. Relay for Life competition.
13. …me with our Relay for Life sign after a long night.
14. …a storm was coming, so we had to quickly clean up.
15. What did I learn? In high school I rarely did anything that “gave back” to my community. When I came to college I was required to do so many hours of community service for my class. I am so glad that I was, because now I know that it is a great feeling to help others who may not be as fortunate as we are. Some of the people you meet struggle everyday, whereas most of us are just handed our “lives of luxury.” In the end, I am glad that I participated in service learning because it has taught me a lot and helped me become a better person.
16. The End! : )