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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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No Boundaries provides opportunities for service across the region
From rafting down the Ganges, to community work in Chiang Mai, to trekking in jungles in Borneo – an exciting range of activities are offered to students participating in Discovery College’s No Boundaries week. No Boundaries offers all students in Years 10-12 a range of experiential learning activities. It provides them with an opportunity to be involved in a number of challenging and meaningful learning experiences, through which leadership skills, an awareness of self and others, and exposure to different perspectives are developed. These experiences offer students a unique exposure to other cultures and communities, aiming to deepen their appreciation of others. In developing these trips the College aims to offer experiences that will help develop self-awareness by providing physical, intellectual and emotional challenges. Activities are organised in each experience that will promote independence, responsibility, cooperation and goal setting among students. Moreover, No Boundaries gives students exposure to new cultures and points of view. A number of No Boundaries activities also have service as a part of the experience. In setting up these community engagement opportunities, a focus is given to working with the community being visited, rather than simply doing something for that community. This is done in order for students to gain an awareness of the destinations they visit and some of the issues that people face in these locations by trying to understand the issues rather than oversimplifying them. Trips that involve a strong service component are often developed using a reliable and reputable organisation at the location to ensure that the community students will work with are involved in the planning of service activities. The planned service activity is one that is relevant, meaningful, challenging and directly addresses an identified community issue. Students are also involved in reflection – before, during, and after each trip – to have them consider their perceptions about the people and places they visit as well as how the experience may have challenged them personally. They are asked to reflect on what they learned about themselves, their relationship with others, and the importance of teamwork or leadership in their experience. Peter Muir CAS and C&S Coordinator
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