Reasons Why You Should Conduct Service Learning In Slum Setting

By Martha Ward


Slums are found in most countries in the world, and they are commonly known for the poverty and high levels of crime. Conducting any activity in those areas is riskier and needs proper strategizing before venturing in there. However, any institution willing to take service learning in slum should have different methods of enticing the occupants to attend the classes. Here are ways that service learning in slum setting can be done and the benefits that come with this initiative.

Service learning is a process whereby the youths and the school children are taught the normal lessons and also given skills to fend for themselves. The training is focused on creating a reflection in the students to achieve real life objectives for their community and get a deeper understanding of life.

Every shantytown has its unique challenges, and this commands different modes of approach. Ensure you have done a thorough research on the issues that affect the residents of the slum setting you want to introduce the program. This will help in coming up with the skills training that should give them a chance to work in the locally available jobs.

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 training staff should come from the slums or the neighboring areas. When you bring teachers and trainers from other parts of the state, they may fail to understand the need of the occupants and these can contribute to the failure of achieving your objective. The youths will easily blend with the staff, and this will hasten the learning program due to the good teacher to student relationship.

The people attending and undertaking the service training will be of all ages, and you should be ready to handle them. Hire teachers and other service providers who can mingle positively with these needy people. Your staff should be to guide and counsel those taking the program because they will be coming with different problems on an individual basis. This will improve their morale and will give them more reasons to attend the program

Changing the mentality of the shantytown dwellers from the crime inhabited one to a positive thinking mind is a tedious process and demands a lot of care. Ensure that the staff working for the organization has been trained in guidance and counseling. The youths attending the program should be counseled on different issues to ensure that they embrace the whole learning positively.

To have excellent service learning in a slum setting, you will need to come up with other programs that directly benefit the residents of that slum. These include the supply of food, the towels for the girls and a medical facility. That is an expensive exercise and soliciting for funds from the government and other donor agencies can be a prospective way of achieving it.




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