We Rock in Service Learning!

View print-quality image

This week I participated in another service learning project here in Nicoya, Costa Rica, and the students once again shined. The students organized a program with senior citizens in a local nursing home where they brought games, kick ball, and danced with the seniors. It was a great experience and even better to witness the students work with the elderly and see their smiles.

The students made a simple but very motivating game that involved kicking a ball in a circle until the ball went through the chair legs and then, “Goal!” was shouted. The most amazing thing was how much Spanish the students used to play the games to create a wonderful environment. Lindsey Harness, a nursing student, said, “It is amazing how little we say in Spanish and what little they know but still they enjoy every minute of our time.” I myself experienced this too when I spoke about my cameras and explained my purpose in Nicoya. The participants loved the camera and loved to be involved. Every time I raised my camera or took a picture they smiled and posed; it was a wonderful feeling.

At each service learning site I have attended, I am overwhelmed at the professionalism of the students and the amount of language they have acquired over this immersion program. Here I believe service learning takes a different perspective, it is not only impacting the lives of the individuals you interact with, but you create a memory that will impact the rest of your life. Speaking for myself, this program motivates me to continue to learn more about new cultures and understand language to educate and provide whatever I can. Once again, great job to those students that participated in the service learning project. Two thumbs way up!