Service Learning

Service is an integral part of the ICS mission and experience.  At ICS students learn how to serve and transform their communities.  As students grow in their Christian worldview they learn how to model Christ in creation care and in caring for those in need.  Service Learning connects classroom learning with service opportunities in the wider Hong Kong Community and in other countries through weekly service programs and Secondary School events like Week without Walls.  

In Hong Kong, all students are able to engage in a wide variety of service opportunities such as: visiting the elderly; feeding the homeless; supporting handicapped people; writing to those in prison, compiling Christmas boxes, and tutoring children from poorer families and minority groups.  There are also a number of annual special projects that include Beach Cleanups, visits to Crossroads, Domestic Helper Open Day, and World Vision 30 Hour Famine, to name a few. In the High School, students take on more personal responsibility for leading and developing the service activities through leading these events, the Make a Difference Projects, and service clubs.  As the ICS Motto says: ICS =  Instruction for Life, Commitment to Christ, and Service to the Community. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Service Learning

What is Service Learning?

Service Learning is an educational approach that combines academic learning with authentic service opportunities to engage students' hearts, hands, and minds in making a positive difference through direct or indirect interaction, advocacy, or research.

Is Service Learning a part of the curriculum? 

Service Learning is integrated into the ICS curriculum at every level and guided by the Twelve Learning Standards such as being meaningful, sustainable, developing student voice, collaboration, and servant leadership. Teachers infuse Service Learning into one class unit or more during the year so that academic and service goals are aligned.

Why does ICS offer Service Learning?

Service Learning provides an environment for students of different ages to look beyond themselves, to learn life long skills for putting their beliefs into action, and the opportunity to take the initiative to serve and transform their communities.

What are the practical skills students develop through Service Learning? 

By serving others, students become more aware and caring for others, they develop empathy, personal ownership, grit, enhance personal and interpersonal development, and communication skills.

Is Service Learning appropriate for younger students?

Although a small step, learning about and caring for people in need can have a big impact on developing students’ empathy and community responsibilities. Service Learning offers younger students the opportunity to encounter people and their needs that they otherwise would not - we are surrounded by people in need that appear to be no different from us. 

What co-curricular opportunities are provided to students? 

At the High School level, students are required to participate in the credit-based “Make-A-Difference” project as a graduation requirement. There are also many service-orientated co-curricular clubs available such as Service Advocates (kids and education), Service Warriors (elderly and disabled), Minority Outreach (ethnic minorities), Roots and Shoots (environmental issues), and Global Issues Network.

In addition to the clubs, there are events such as Domestic Workers Open Day, 30 Hour Famine, Poverty Simulations at Crossroads, working with Food Angels and Feeding Hong Kong, Hospital Outreach, Music Partnerships, ministering to the elderly and those with special needs.