IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

IB World Schools value service with others as an important way to engage in principled action across a range of overlapping local and global communities. Through responsible action, tightly connected with sustained inquiry and critical reflection, young people and adults can develop the kinds of attributes described by the learner profile that are essential for success in future academic pursuits and for adult life.

The MYP aims to help students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self and their developmentally appropriate responsibility in their community.

As students become more aware and acquire a better understanding of the context, and of their responsibilities, they become empowered to make choices about how to take thoughtful and positive action. This action will be different from student to student and from context to context.

The action may involve students in:

• feeling empathy towards others,
• making small-scale changes to their behaviour,
• undertaking larger and more significant projects,
• acting on their own,
• acting collaboratively,
• taking physical action,
• suggesting modifications to an existing system to the benefit of all involved and
• lobbying people in more influential positions to act.

Possible Service Ideas

Single learning event: This is a service you provide to others just once and is not ongoing. You must complete 3 per term.

• Participate in organised events. E.g. tree planting day, clean up Australia Day etc.
• Collect and donate old clothes or household goods to charity.
• Collect and donate to student organised charity events within the school.
• Collect and donate toys to the Royal Children’s Hospital
• Offer to look after you elderly neighbour’s garden.

Series of related learning experiences: This is a service you provide over a short period of time. E.g. over a 3 week period. You must complete 2 per term.

• Become a mentor to a younger student.
• Coach a sport
• Visit a retirement home and spend time with the elderly, reading or talking with them.

An extended project: This is a service you provide over a long period of time. E.g. 3 weeks or more. You must complete 1 per term.

• Plan, organise and run a charity event.
• Regularly visit someone in your local community who is socially isolated.
• Regularly assist a child with a disability.
• Become a regular volunteer at your local charity organisation.

The following sites will assist you with more ideas for possible service activities.

Proposed Service as Action Activities