At AIS, we define learning as a “lifelong, holistic process that builds and shapes skills, abilities, and critical thinking through life lessons, observations, and experiences in order to become a competent and active global citizen.” Service Learning is a crucial part of the AIS experience and process of becoming an active global citizen and community member. All students from Kindergarten to 12th grade complete at least one service project each year. 

In Kindergarten, students learn about empathy and resilience, qualities that are key to implementing positive change, and complete their first service project. Throughout elementary school, students practice identifying problems in our community and proposing possible solutions with the support of their teachers. By secondary school, students are able to independently choose a community problem, identify key actors, research how the problem is being solved in Guatemala and beyond, and come up with a viable solution. By the time they graduate from AIS, all high school students will have completed at least 200 hours of service.
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Instead of approaching service as separate from core academic subjects, teachers are supported in incorporating service learning into their curriculum. At AIS, academics are enriched by service learning and vice versa, setting our students up for a lifelong commitment to service. For example, 7th Grade students studying the microbiology of water will create a video about viruses and bacteria in water to support Clean International, an NGO that provides water filters to hospitals and families suffering from waterborne diseases.

• 2nd Grade students created educational toys for students at the Education for the Children Foundation. 

• 4th Graders wrote letters to residents at a senior home to help them feel less isolated during the pandemic.

 

• 7th Grade students helped to build a school out of recycled materials such as tires, eco-bricks, and discarded bottles with the organization Long Way Home in Comalapa, Chimaltenango. 

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• 9th Graders learned how to plant a sustainable garden and helped plant, water and harvest at the Garden of Hope/Huerta La Esperanza.

• 7th graders will support Clean International’s Communications by creating a video explaining the importance of access to clean water. 

• An 8th grade student’s long term service project, Wastedefy, aims to clean waste and pollution from all of Guatemala’s major bodies of water, starting at the mouth of the Motagua River. 

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• High school students will write bilingual children’s books to donate to students  with limited access to materials around Sacatepéquez.

If you would like to learn more about the Service Learning program or have ideas of potential partner organizations, please get in touch with our Service Learning Coordinator Madi Lusk [email protected]. ​

Jose Julian Anleu - 11th Grade

I had a number of impactful service experiences, including two medical missions. The first was to El Hato where I translated for visiting specialists and general medical practitioners who were engaged in a community health clinic. Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit the Common Hope Clinic where I supported the administrative staff in their health outreach.

I would like to be a cardiac surgeon, and these experiences prepared me for my future by showing me the impact outreach can have on helping people.

Salma Huessein Elsaghir - 10th Grade

I had many memorable service learning experiences on trips and here at AIS. We studied global issues in my social studies class with Mr. Josh. My final project was to go off campus and teach a class to fourth graders at Niños de Guatemala about how we as young women should love ourselves and dream big. 

I cannot wait to return there again this year! Here at AIS I volunteered once a week helpíng AIS 3rd graders in their roller skating class. Teaching them new tricks and helping younger friends was one of the most fun parts of each week.