In June, our association gathered an amazing group of friends, partners, and colleagues from SocioHabita for a fantastic national training dedicated to the service-learning methodology in culture. This training was a key part of our exciting project.
What is service learning?
Service learning is all about students putting their theoretical knowledge into practice by diving into real projects that benefit the community.
It’s a win-win situation where learning becomes deeper and more meaningful, and community service gets a boost in purpose and effectiveness.
Here are some cool examples:
Creating Music Festivals: Music students organize and host festivals for the community, spotlighting classical and folk music.
Art Workshops: Art students lead workshops for kids and teens, teaching them various drawing and sculpture techniques.
History Tours: History students create and conduct tours of the city's historical sites, sharing their knowledge with locals and visitors.hance our work.
That sounds great, doesn't it?
Our training was a mix of theory and hands-on practice, and true to our style, we used art tools to enhance our work.
Think stress relief, mental relaxation, and getting ready to create awesome projects with young people.
Picture this: collages for brainstorming and SWOT planning—yes!
Yes, motivational icebreakers before diving into hours of theory!
A few days of training that felt like a fun party at a friend’s house—absolutely!
Imagine using this method all the time when rolling out projects.
And guess what? We’re super excited to be one of the stakeholders in the upcoming Madeira Whale Fest as a result!
Once we announced our involvement, we were flooded with requests from young people eager to participate and volunteer. The ocean is the lifeblood of Madeira, and its significance is close to the hearts of the islanders.
We saw Madeira Whale Fest as a perfect opportunity to practice the service-learning method, making the festival a pilot project together with Madeira Island youngsters.
It’s an excellent example of how to use this method in culture, ecology, and art.
Our training was the ideal match between experienced youth workers and young, motivated volunteers who are passionate about the issues facing their community and peers.
As a result of our collaborative efforts during the training, we developed several programs that have been accepted and approved by the Madeira Whale Fest organizing committee.
Wow, we can’t help but call this a huge success! We’re gearing up for a summer of hard work and three important days in October 2024, when our association and young volunteers will bring their plans to life.
And you know what? This is just the beginning! Service learning provides the key elements—motivation and confidence – showing that many projects can be as successful as our upcoming Madeira Whale Fest.
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