In January, a group of students and staff travelled to Vietnam as part of our inaugural Vietnam Service-Learning Tour. Designed to foster a heart for service and provide a deeper understanding of global communities, the tour offered the opportunity to connect, contribute and grow.
Partnering with the non-profit organisation Heart for Hue, students supported local children by decorating a music room at Quang Phu Kindergarten and leading English Lessons. Donna Wilson, Service Learning Tours Administration Officer said the tour aimed to inspire a lifelong commitment to serving others, both locally and overseas.
Year 12 student Elissa Groves, reflected on transforming the music room and the highlight of her trip:
“The most meaningful moment to me was seeing the looks on all the kids’ faces as they walked into their brand-new music room that we had just built,” Elissa shared. “Acts of service are incredibly important, no matter how big or small they may seem.”
The tour also presented students with challenges that fostered personal growth. For many it was the first time they had travelled without family while also adjusting to new food, lifestyles and environments.
Bennet Andrews, Carramar Head of Campus, was on the tour and noted that the experiences broadened students’ worldview and strengthened their understanding of service.
“Living out service in communities less fortunate is the most powerful way to grow your own empathy and understanding of others,” he said. “The echo of service experience is enormous, as it serves as a reference point for someone’s own understanding of their place in the world and the plight of others.”
Another aspect of the tour was teaching younger students. Mr Andrews described watching students stepping into a teaching role as akin to seeing someone taking the training wheels off a bike for the first time, slow and steady at first and then finding confidence and joy in the experience.
“For me, the highlight was the opportunity to teach others. It’s a moment of leadership, growth and a real win-win situation as students develop skills while making a meaningful impact on the younger children’s education” Mr Andrews said.
While Service Learning Tours have been an integral part of St Stephen’s School’s commitment to Service Learning for many years, this is the first time we have visited Vietnam. It offered students the chance to engage with communities, embrace different cultures and make meaningful impact.
Later this year, a group of Year 8 students will go on a Service Learning Tour through the breathtaking Kimberley region, spending one week at the newly opened Manjali Studio School. This immersive experience will allow students to live, learn and share experiences with Manjali students, deepening their understanding of Aboriginal culture. Beyond their time at Manjali, students will contribute to an art project for the Mowanjum Community Centre and explore stunning landscapes that make the Kimberley such a special place.
With service and community at the heart of these tours, St Stephen’s School students embrace two of the school’s key values, leaving a lasting impact on the communities they visit.