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DAIS/DHS’s dedication to service-based learning was on full display recently at the Jinman Community Center in Jinshitan, where our students led a double-header of engaging classes for local children.
The day began with an art workshop hosted by the Creative Inquiry Society. Earlier this year, the club's members attended the ACAMIS Student Leadership Conference in Beijing, where they were tasked with designing a community service initiative. Armed with the blueprints they developed at the conference, the students reached out to the Jinman Community Center—and their outreach was a resounding success, with 43 local children signing up to participate.
Creative Inquiry Society president Yian Ying highlighted the intense preparation behind the scenes: “Preparation was detailed and collaborative. We designed a 10-week curriculum and prepared materials. I felt excited but also a bit nervous about whether the activities would truly connect with the children.”
During the 90-minute session, the society introduced the children to Batik, an art style that utilizes a unique wax-and-paint technique to create vibrant, abstract designs. The children were thrilled to take home the products of their newfound skills. Because the medium requires specific handling, the students placed the safety of the children directly into the planning process. Yian underscored this priority: “One challenge was balancing creativity with safety, especially when working with wax and dyes. However, our club completed safety training for Batik.”
This workshop kicked off a 10-week program funded by the ACAMIS Service-Learning Grant the group recently won. For Yian, the grant was a major milestone: “It validates our idea of using art as a tool for emotional expression and allows us to make a real impact in the Jinman community.”
Later that afternoon, the focus shifted from canvas to computer screens. A second group of DAIS/DHS students taught 28 children the fundamentals of programming using Scratch, a coding platform developed by MIT.
Kenneth Zhang and Megan Li led the instruction using laptops funded by a $26,000 NAE Social Impact Grant. This coding initiative is the brainchild of 2024 alumni Suah Lee and Susan Li. To ensure the project's sustainability, Kenneth, a junior, was trained to carry on their legacy, while Megan, a freshman, is well-positioned to help lead and expand the program's reach. As Megan shared, “I want to allow more children to learn coding and obtain this essential knowledge.”
During the session, the children successfully animated the Scratch cat mascot, programming it to move and respond to a typed "hello." The students excitedly watched as their feline creations zoomed across the screen, transforming into various avatars at the click of a button they had programmed themselves!
Mr. Jacob Singleton, the Secondary School Social Impact Lead, was on-site to supervise and assist the students. Reflecting on the direction of service learning at DAIS/DHS, he noted: “These projects are the true culmination of a holistic education. We are moving beyond the classroom to develop active global citizens who don't just understand the world, but feel a profound obligation to serve and uplift it.”
Reflecting on the day's success, Yian shared her thoughts on the experience of teaching the children: “Teaching at the community center is very worthwhile. The children are very engaged and good at expressing themselves. It is encouraging to see their confidence grow over time. This experience also helped us cultivate stronger communication and leadership skills. In the future, we hope to continue and expand the project by running more workshops and strengthening our partnership with the Jinman community. We also aim to refine our curriculum and create a sustainable model that can be passed on to future students.”
DAIS/DHS students are determined to make a positive mark on the world around them, and for the children at the Jinman Community Center, that impact is already a reality.
