Philadelphia, PA- Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” At Esperanza Academy, students learn the importance of giving and serving in a number of ways throughout their educational journey – from celebrating and discussing a different virtue each month, such as kindness and citizenship, to working together on fundraisers or donation drives to help the local community. These ideas culminate in a Community Service Program that requires Middle and High School students to complete 60 hours of service by the time they graduate.
Starting during their 8th grade year, students are required to complete 10 hours of community service within their school community. There are a wide range of opportunities available to them, from tutoring their peers or helping teachers with bulletin boards, to leading new student orientation tours. Service opportunities are typically posted on a bulletin board by staff for students to choose from.
8th graders Xionelys Alamo and Orlianys Rodriguez have served in a number of ways this school year that have impacted them and their perspective. Xionelys especially enjoyed serving as an interpreter during a parent event, where she was able to ensure that a parent and teacher could understand each other. “It felt nice to help someone who really needed it,” she expressed. Orlianys helped guide the 6th grade students as they rehearsed for the Winter Showcase concert. “I kind of saw myself in them. I remembered when I was a sixth grader and the eighth graders were helping us, and I really liked that moment,” she shared. Helping teachers with classroom projects has also helped both Xionelys and Orlianys get a small glimpse into what it’s like to be a teacher, which Orlianys is now considering as a future career path.
During their high school years, students complete 50 hours of service, both within the school and out in our local community. The school also coordinates service projects that students can participate in, such as making Valentine’s Day cards to be distributed to local nursing homes, fire stations, and police departments, or working with Esperanza, Inc. to plant trees in our neighborhood.
Angelica Velasquez, one of our High School Counselors, shared about the impact this program has had on students: “One of the wins that I have seen happen is when students realize they can really make an impact on their own environment through their acts of service. Students who participated in community activities like clean-up and tree planting days really enjoyed connecting with their environment and described feeling part of something bigger than them. Students who have completed service in the school building with teachers have spoken about how much more they learned from their current and former teachers by engaging in service activities and how they made new friendships with other students through those service activities. It is really great to see students grow and accomplish goals in this way.”
Senior Desiree Franco’s experience with the Community Service Program is a testament to what Ms. Velasquez described. One of the most impactful experiences Desiree had was working with Esperanza, Inc. on clean-up projects and tree planting in our local community. She shared, “I always cared about the environment, especially in North Philadelphia, where it’s so underfunded and often ignored. If you drive downtown, you can see how much nicer it gets. That’s what’s expected of North Philadelphia and this area is for it to be dirty. I don’t think that’s fair.” Desiree’s concern for the environment was amplified as she observed what a difference clean street and newly-planted trees can make. “It’s a lot nicer to walk through those streets than it was before.” Desiree has experienced, and heard other students share as well, how being involved in the process helps students become more invested in the work.
Though this program is a requirement for students, it often turns into so much more as they learn, try new things, and experience the joy of serving others. We hope that these transformational opportunities set them on a path of lifelong service.
Stephanie Woughter, is the Communications Coordinator at Esperanza Academy
