Mission and Philosophy
The Global Service Program provides students with a way to take part in purposeful, personally relevant service to the larger global community. This service can take different forms: volunteering, community service, and service learning.
It does not matter which of these three types of service the student chooses to pursue, for students need to be able to find the service that best matches their interests and passion. RHS would encourage students to try more than one type of service, for the student may find one more engaging than another.
RHS encourages students to do sustained service with one organization because this has the potential to help the student develop expertise in one particular area as well as to develop their leadership skills. Sustained service also builds bridges between the individual, RHS, and the organization. The longer connections are likely to become service learning, as the student learns from the organization and people he/she serves. RHS recommends that at least 12 of 50 hours be spent with one partner organization.
An important part of the Global Service Program is the student’s reflection on the work he/she has done for the organization. By reflecting on the work he/she did as well as the overall experience, the student grows in his/her understanding of the world, collaboration, work, and his/her own preferences. Students, therefore, will be required to demonstrate their reflection in their documentation forms. This is the place where students can express what they learned, get feedback on the experience, relay frustrations, and share accomplishments.
As part of the Global Studies concentration, students are required to complete 50 hours of globally focused service. It is likely that students will complete more than 50 hours. When this occurs, students will be recognized at Senior Awards night.
- Volunteering is engaging in “activities where the primary emphasis is on the service being provided and the primary intended beneficiary is clearly the service recipient” (Furco, 1996, p13).
- Community service is engaging in “activities that primarily focus on the service being provided as well as the benefits the service activities have on the recipients” (Furco, 1996, p13).
- Service learning is engaging in activities that have an equal benefit to “the provider and the recipient of the services” (Furco, 1996, p14). This is real learning for the provider and service for both parties.
It does not matter which of these three types of service the student chooses to pursue, for students need to be able to find the service that best matches their interests and passion. RHS would encourage students to try more than one type of service, for the student may find one more engaging than another.
RHS encourages students to do sustained service with one organization because this has the potential to help the student develop expertise in one particular area as well as to develop their leadership skills. Sustained service also builds bridges between the individual, RHS, and the organization. The longer connections are likely to become service learning, as the student learns from the organization and people he/she serves. RHS recommends that at least 12 of 50 hours be spent with one partner organization.
An important part of the Global Service Program is the student’s reflection on the work he/she has done for the organization. By reflecting on the work he/she did as well as the overall experience, the student grows in his/her understanding of the world, collaboration, work, and his/her own preferences. Students, therefore, will be required to demonstrate their reflection in their documentation forms. This is the place where students can express what they learned, get feedback on the experience, relay frustrations, and share accomplishments.
As part of the Global Studies concentration, students are required to complete 50 hours of globally focused service. It is likely that students will complete more than 50 hours. When this occurs, students will be recognized at Senior Awards night.
The Global Service description and expectations were influenced by the community service expectations at the International School of the Americas (San Antonio, TX) and The Academy for Global Studies (Austin, TX). Both are part of the Asia Society's International Studies School Network.
