Agency, action and engagement
Community service is considered an integral part of the academic program at AIA starting from childhood. Serving the community and the environment is constantly incorporated into the Learning Units in all subjects. Community service offers students the opportunity to reflect on their own values and actions, to understand the connection between their lives and the environment, and to develop a sense of civic responsibility. It also encourages students to assess their commitment to helping others, particularly those who are most in need. All IB programs have action and community service components. Additionally, to obtain the IB Diploma, a student must complete a specified number of community service hours.
Community service can take several forms, but it must be meaningful in the sense that it addresses a genuine need in the community and has a clear, long-term impact. It is recommended that students get involved in different types of service, such as:
- Direct service: Students interact directly with people or with the environment to perform acts of service. Examples include spending time reading or engaging in activities with children with special needs or the elderly, or helping to clean a part of a natural reserve.
- Indirect service: Students perform acts of service in a manner that does not entail interacting directly with the beneficiaries of the service, but they can verify that the service can verifiably benefit the community or the environment. An example of such a service is to design a website for a non-profit organization.
- Advocacy: Students defend a cause or issue to encourage public engagement or raise awareness. Organizing a campaign against smoking is an example of advocacy work that students can undertake.
- Research: Students collect information and analyze it to conduct an analysis on a certain topic to help influence policies and decisions. An example of research-based service is conducting a social survey on the effects of unemployment.
