Community service in education at the International School of Florence nurtures empathy, builds leadership skills and strengthens social responsibility, guiding students to become compassionate and engaged citizens.
On October 15, the International School of Florence was busy “rolling up its sleeves” for the second year of ISF Community Service Day. This all-school event allows students, teachers and staff to work together to recognize, aid, attend to and help others in areas of our community where assistance and attention are needed. Taking all students off their regular school timetable to dedicate their efforts outward toward others has a valuable impact on student learning. It promotes empathy and inclusivity, and delivers a strong message to the school and the local community about the power of collective action. As Carey Killen, Upper School principal mentioned in her opening remarks of the day, “The reason we come to school day in and day out is ultimately to make an impact or difference in the world, and one of the ways you will all do that will be by helping others in some way”.
There were a range of activities taking place throughout the day, both on and off campus and many were led by local charity groups. The Red Cross brought a group of Grade 11 students together to educate them about the importance of volunteerism and learn about emergency response protocols. Groups of Grade 12 students, through the generosity of local Ristorante Accademia, were able to prepare food and distribute lunches to persons in need. Father Richard from St. James Church described the importance of these acts of kindness. He reminded students that “people who are in a hard spot are worthy of dignity” and recommended students take note of the reciprocal joy one can feel as the gift giver, bringing recognition to those who are often overlooked.
Angeli del Bello guided local clean-up efforts, highlighting the importance of improving our environment and shared public spaces, while Firenze Ciclabile engaged students in collecting data on Florence’s infrastructure for cyclists. Their ultimate goal is to encourage more people to safely ride bikes in Florence, promoting individual health and alleviating the city of automotive smog and heavy traffic.
Another group of students met with athletes in wheelchairs to play the popular sport, padel. Engaging with these athletes brought awareness to the difficulties people with disabilities endure every day. As most people who live with disabilities have faced some sort of discrimination, this activity highlighted the societal responsibility to be inclusive. Students were inspired by the determination of these athletes who shared their personal histories and motivating stories, and learned about advocating for the rights and dignity of all people regardless of ability. This follows the Para Games Awareness Week, when students in Grades 1-5 were instructed by the physical education department about para games and the recent Paralympics that took place this summer.
Students, staff and parent volunteers were just as busy at the Junior School. A group spent time with the elderly at a local retirement home, bringing the vital energy unique to children and putting smiles on faces throughout the day, singing songs and engaging intergenerationally. Grade 4 learned about the project X-Polli:Nation, which encourages people to create, maintain and monitor a pollinator-friendly environment as well as learning how they can become pollination stewards. Raising awareness about environmental issues at a young age encourages ecological responsibility later in life and promotes student advocacy.
Community Service Day provides practical experiences that go beyond the classroom, offering opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Partnering with local charities allows ISF to contribute to the long-term development of Florence and its surroundings. Rather than offering one-off acts of service, sustained collaboration with charities leads to consistent, meaningful contributions to the community. These real-world experiences teach responsibility and bring attention to difficult social issues. As students see the positive outcomes of their efforts, they gain a sense of accomplishment, inspiring the next generations of global citizens. Out of all the lessons educators teach, few hold as much lasting impact as those of service and kindness.
The post ISF Community Service Day appeared first on The Florentine.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
