At Nexus International School Singapore, education extends far beyond academic achievement. We encourage our learners to become global citizens who understand their place in an interconnected world. A key pillar of this development is service learning, which challenges learners to engage meaningfully with communities beyond their own.
Recently, a group of Year 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) Nexus learners took on a self-directed volunteering trip to a rural, mountainous community in Guangxi, China. Jasper, Lenny and Weilian returned to a primary school they had previously visited to spend a week embedding themselves in the local culture, designing curriculum-linked lessons, and experiencing the realities of life in a developing region.
Putting Pedagogy into Practice: Learner-Led Teaching
Rather than acting as passive observers, the learners took full responsibility for the daily academic schedule at the school. Teaching children from 3-6 years old, they drew on the collaborative skills fostered within the Nexus environment to design and deliver targeted lessons across several core subjects.
- Language and Literacy: Leveraging on their strengths, Chinese-speaking learners Jasper and Lenny led the Chinese language sessions, ensuring nuanced and culturally accurate instruction.
- STEM and Sport: The group collaborated to deliver foundational Mathematics and English lessons, alongside structured basketball activities designed to promote teamwork and physical coordination among the primary students.
Because class sizes were small, the Nexus learners taught as a single, cohesive unit. This required high-levels of communication between the boys as they adapted their learning to meet the needs of the younger children.
“Teamwork, communication, and open-mindedness were especially important during the trip,” Jasper reflected. “Since we were teaching young children and working closely together as a group, we needed to be patient, flexible, and supportive of one another.”
The success of the trip was rooted in long-term planning back in Singapore. Prior to departure, the learners initiated and managed various school-wide fundraising activities and sales to secure essential supplies and clothes for the village families.
Developing Personal Growth Through Real-World Challenges
International service learning opportunities like these provide an unparalleled environment for developing the skills to be adaptable and resilient in real-world situations. Transitioning from the modern infrastructure of Singapore to a remote mountainous village during winter presented immediate physical and logistical hurdles for our learners.
In comparison to Singapore’s tropical climate, the learners faced sub-zero temperatures and minimal heating in rural China. Towards the end of their week there, the harsh conditions took a toll on the learners. However, the group demonstrated remarkable maturity, supporting one another to ensure their commitment to the local school was uncompromised.
By experiencing some of these more basic conditions firsthand, learners were reminded of the global inequalities and resource limitations faced by many in other parts of the world. Rather than viewing these challenges as setbacks, they embraced them as a necessary reality of the community they were there to support.
Cultural Immersion and Mutual Respect
True service learning works best when there is a reciprocal exchange between both sides and this was a huge part of the boys’ experience in China. Whilst our learners were helping teach at the local primary school, they were kindly invited into the community to experience and learn more about local traditions, including a traditional village housewarming celebration.
This immersion provided deep insight into regional customs, such as the gifting of livestock as symbols of prosperity. For the Nexus learners, it offered a firsthand look at historical traditions preserved outside of urban centres.
Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for our Nexus learners was a sustained emotional connection with this community. As this was a return visit for the Nexus group, Jasper, Weilian and Lenny were happy that so many of the children recognised them.
“What touched us the most was that the children still remembered us and were genuinely excited to see us again. That felt very meaningful. In our busy daily lives, we sometimes forget our interactions, but for them, those moments were important,” said Lenny.
A Shift in Perspective: Forward-Looking Reflection
The ultimate measure of any service project is how it shapes a learner’s worldview and future choices. This journey challenged our learners to reassess their definitions of fulfilment, community, and success.
“What impacted me the most was seeing how closely connected the community was,” Weilian shared. “Even though many people there had fewer material resources, they seemed genuinely content. It challenged the assumption that people living in less developed areas are unhappy. Happiness and fulfilment can look very different depending on the community and lifestyle.”
By stepping outside their comfort zones, these learners returned to Nexus not only with enhanced leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, but with a grounded sense of gratitude and a clearer understanding of their roles as responsible global citizens.
This inspiring journey is just one example of how our learners actively engage with the wider world. Service learning is deeply embedded at Nexus. Find out more about our service learning programme.
