Community Development Service Learning: Connecting Individual and

Community Learning to a Greater Social Movement

Waves of ChangeBuilding People Centred Economies

May 22nd, 2008

This workshop will:This workshop will:• Invite you into the dialogue on connecting individual and community learning to social change. • Introduce the Community Development Service Learning Initiative

• Share the story of CDSL in one Northern British Columbia community

•What type of social change are you working towards in your community?

•What are your assumptions about how learning contributes to social change?

Principles of CEDPrinciples of CED

• Grassroots• Community-led

(conceived &directed locally)

• Holistic approach• Long-term

Learning for Social OutcomesLearning for Social Outcomes

• Learn about ourselves (passions, skills, assets, etc.)

• Learn about each other through relationships

• Learn about the systems in the community.

What kind of learning fosters citizenship?

The Community Development The Community Development Service Learning InitiativeService Learning Initiative

Learning and CED:Learning and CED:

• This project builds on existing work happening in CED to:– Engage youth;– Develop leadership and build capacity for

youth involvement in CED initiatives ;– Mobilize new knowledge that informs policy &

practice;– Build partnerships between practitioners,

communities and educational institutions .

What is the CDSL Initiative?What is the CDSL Initiative?

A national initiative to strengthen service

learning opportunities in CED organizations for students, build youth engagement in CED, and facilitate effective experiential learning partnerships between community organizations, educational institutions and youth.

Service Learning? Service Learning?

“Community Service-Learning (CSL) is an educational approach that integrates service in the community with intentional learning activities. Within effective CSL efforts, members of both educational institutions and community organizations work together toward outcomes that are mutually beneficial”

Canadian Association for Community Service Learning

Community Development Community Development Service Learning?Service Learning?

• A form of experiential education• People in their neighbourhood or community

decide what the learning outcomes and the service need to be.

• The learning involves fostering understanding, knowledge and skills outside of the curricula of formal institutions.

• Practitioners consciously create learning opportunities for people to engage with each other to bring about change that enhances local life

Example of CDSL in the Upper Skeena

1. ENGAGEMENT: Individuals and groups who are normally disengaged…

Example of CDSL in the Upper Skeena

2. APPLY SKILLS: Individuals apply knowledge and skills for collective learning and community action

Living & Learning in Living & Learning in CommunityCommunity

Liaison: connect people, learning &

service

Human capital: the skills &

capacities of each member of society

Social capital: collective action

to increase community socialand economic assets

Using learning for transformative change:

Conversation Informed Action Reflection

Objectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjective #1: Build capacity

of CED organizations to benefit from community development service learning & contribute to the development of curriculum and programs in formal/non-formal learning organizations that meet community needs.

Objectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjectives of the CDSL Initiative

Objective #2: Build opportunities for students to engage in effective community development service learning, and network with youth leadership and the CED movement to contribute to social and economic change in Canada.

Objectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjective #3: Build

opportunities for formal/non-formal learning organizations to partner with CED organizations to expand community development service learning opportunities that contribute to community needs and assets.

Objectives of the CDSL InitiativeObjectives of the CDSL Initiative

Objective #4: Enhance the effectiveness of community development service learning in building community assets and contributing to youth engagement in CED, inclusive of rural, urban, northern, Aboriginal and disadvantaged communities.

• How does the university contribute to the development of active and engaged citizens?

• How does the Individual learning that happens in an institution connect back to the learning that will benefit community?

Next steps for CDSL InitiativeNext steps for CDSL Initiative

• Tools and Resources• Discussion Paper• How-To Guide• Critical Reflections Paper• Digital Stories

• Peer Learning with Community Partners to test Tools.• Kerri Klein [kklein@alumni.sfu.ca] • Anne Docherty [adocherty@upperskeena.ca]• http://www.ccednet-rcdec.ca