All worlds are flat, but some worlds are more flat than others. Educating Students for the Not-So-Flat Future: Challenges and Prospects for Service Learning in Mumbai All worlds are flat, but some worlds are more flat than others.

Educating Students for the Not-So-Flat Future: Talking Points Snapshot of the playing field in India and Mumbai Mumbai calling ASB’s 21st century Mission is ASB’s 21st century dilemma A service learning philosophy Multiple focus areas Turning ideas into action Building relationships for the long-term “We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.” Herman Melville

Snapshot India 30% live on less than $2.00/day. 150 million people live in slums Teacher-student ratio 1:220 70% of the work force is illiterate or educated below the poverty line. 60% are employed in the agricultural sector. University attendance rate: 1:14,000

Snapshot Mumbai 1995: 14.1 million; 2005: 18. 1 million; 2115: 21.8 million 54% of Mumbai’s population live in slums. Approximately 40 families migrate to settle in the city each day. Literacy rate: 86% 1350 NGOs in Metropolitan Mumbai

Mumbai Calling & The Not-So-Flat World In few places in the world are the needs so apparent and the resources, structures and organizations to fulfill those needs so abundant. “As exciting and as visible as the flat Indian high-tech sector is, have no illusions: It accounts for 0.2 percent of employment in India. Add those Indians involved in manufacturing for export, and you get a total of 2 percent of the employment in India.” (Friedman, 2005) “Countries like India are now able to compete for global knowledge work as never before…The playing field is being leveled.” (Friedman, 2005)

ASB’s 21st century Mission is ASB’s 21st century challenge We inspire all of our students to continuous inquiry, empowering them with the skills, courage, optimism, and integrity to pursue their dreams, and enhance the lives of others.

A service learning philosophy Community service is any deliberate action, which seeks to improve the situation of another or enhance our environment. Community service should be an integral part of our lives. Through community service action we not only benefit others and/or the earth, we also learn about our global, national, and local communities and ourselves. Community service activities should have a positive impact on the lives students and educators. Students should have opportunities to participate regularly in community service through ASB’s service program. At each grade level, students should demonstrate their growing sense of community awareness and service by participating in the planning, organization, and implementation of service activities. Students should have the opportunity to reflect on and discuss community issues and service activities in their classrooms. As students get older their service activities should be increasingly self-directed and integrated into their daily lives.

Multiple focus areas Charitable giving, active contributions, school facilities and resources On-going charitable drives and activities Individual student initiatives Special events Long-term relationships “Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” Marion Wright Edelman

Turning ideas into action Community traditions: Family Fun Day builds long-term charitable relationships. Hands-on fund-raising and school-based service activities begin in the earliest grades. As students get older, we need to extend their sphere of influence.

Turning ideas into action High school students contribute a week each year to Habitat for Humanity in Pune.

Turning ideas into action Our 11th grade has established a relationship with Magic Bus, an organization committed to providing opportunities to disadvantaged children. Our facilities and resources are critical to this relationship.

Turning ideas into action Our 10th grade has begun building a relationship with Reef Watch Marine Conservation, a coastline environment group.

Turning ideas into action Our 9th grade has begun a relationship with Save the Children India. Our facilities and resources are critical to this relationship.

Building relationships for the long-term Tracking Community Relationships