By: JerKendra Holloway
Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. ( The core concept driving this educational strategy is that by combining service objectives and learning objectives, along with the intent to show measurable change in both the recipient and the provider of the service, the result is a radically-effective transformative method of teaching students. (
Increases retention Provides quality education Increases the relevancy of education to students “living in a real world” Enhances personalized education for students Teaches positive values, leadership, citizenship and personal responsibility (Carter, Bishop, Kravits 312)
A lot of my service-learning was spent at the Habitat for Humanity. I volunteered to work as a “Desk Angel”, which was basically a secretary at the front desk in the Habitat for Humanity’s main office. I also volunteered on a construction site with Habitat for Humanity as a site host. My job was to check other volunteers in, make sure everything was running smoothly, and serve lunch. I also done other various things for my service-learning such as the Normal Life Fall Ball, Relay for Life carwashes, Second Harvest Food Bank, field day, and clothing donations.
A nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. To accomplish these goals, we invite people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda. Today, we have built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner (partner) families. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. (
With all of my service-learning, it has taught me a number of skills, more responsibility, and opened my heart and the way I see things in a new way. I feel good after I complete a service- learning project because I know I am giving and making someone else’s life a little better.
Service-Learning! It’s a great thing to do to help our world. Now why don’t you try it???
Carter, Carol, Joyce Bishop, and Sarah L. Kravits. Keys to Success. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, Print. Valdosta State University. "Habitat for Humanity Fact Sheet (frequently Asked Questions) -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1." Habitat for Humanity Int'l. Web. 27 Apr "What Is Service-Learning? | Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse." Home Page | Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Web. 27 Apr