The After-School Activities program (ASA) at Dalian American International School is designed to allow students the freedom to discover and develop lifelong passions, maintain a healthy body and mind, extend and apply their classroom knowledge, and provide a link to give back to the community. In Aunty Wang’s Service Learning ASA, students support a local nursing home where the residents have different medical and physical needs. The residents at the home often do not have family members who could visit them.
In this ASA students focus on supporting the nursing home in three broad categories: well-being of the residents, helping fund daily material needs, and improving the living environment. The students visit the care home to support the residents and have insightful conversations with them, they make origami and write positive messages.
Recently, DAIS students organized two fundraising campaigns to help the nursing home meet the daily material needs. They ran a clothing drive to provide suitable winter clothes for the residents. The kitchen in the nursing home was in need of repair, and DAIS helped with renovation. Students also used some recycled materials to make small table plants to help improve the living environment.
Their reflection on the visits showed that they learnt valuable lessons in empathy and serving others. It is really important for our students to make a difference to the community while working with those in need.
