Why You Should Encourage Service Learning In Slum Setting

By Martha Ward


People living in the slums have financial challenges that highly contribute to the denial of chances for their children to attend schools and colleges to gain their basic education. However, some of the charity organizations are trying to bail out the children and youth demise by integrating service learning in slum setting with other financial aid. The whole process has its predicaments, but there have been outstanding benefits for the slums that it has been tried out.

Changing the mentality of any person from one point to another is not easy. This can best be done by a professional who understands how to guide and counsel the affected persons. At the introduction of the program, you should hire trained guidance and counseling professionals to bring sanity to the students. This will make them understand the purpose of the learning and what should be done to be disciplined.

This program focuses on youths and young kids who are of age and have not been taken to schools by the parents due to lack of money. The youths are given the basic part of education whereas they have a delegated time for skills acquisition lessons. Before introducing this fantastic program in any slum setting, first, understand their needs to avoid crushing with them on small matters.

Hire trained staff from the area or the neighborhood who understand the language of the slum people. You will find different spoken languages in slums mostly slung, and if you bring professionals from other areas, you may encounter communication barrier. These professionals will also help in soliciting jobs for the skilled youths.

The rate of crime in slums is always high, and this is caused by lack of employment and other channels of making money. Through the service learning in slums programs, the youths will have no time for such evils. The program should focus in enlightening the youths on how to improve their security. This works magic in curbing crime.

Slums are harbored by people of all cultures and religions. This leads to accelerated levels of crime which is a big headache to the authorities. Through the service learning, youths will have no time to commit these heinous crimes because they will be delighted to acquire the important skills that will open doors for them to get income.

Invite regularly mentors and other high ranking officials who have grown and managed it from the slums. They will be inspirational to the attendants of the service learning and can boost the morale of the slum learners. They will be taken as role models for these students, and this will make them focused on the course.

Include a feeding program for the learners and the slum at large. This will ensure that the youths attend classes without an excuse of going to work in search of food. Consider requesting funding from the government and other funding organizations that are focused on improving the lives of people living in slums.




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