January 16, 2026 - Service Learning Blog
Student Service Learning Blog Writers
Expanding our Horizons - Chinthe Expeditions
š®š³ Grade 10: Rishikesh, India
During our Chinthe Expedition in India, the 10th graders visited an elementary school in Sirasu, a village on the banks of the Ganges River. It was a small school, with only 15 students, many of whom were incentivised by the governmentās Mid-Day Meal Scheme. At the beginning of the visit, we respectfully observed the classrooms and learning taking place.Ā
The ISY students reflected with gratitude on the opportunities and privileges that come with being part of the ISY community. While we have well-lit rooms and use our laptops, the children were in dark rooms, and learned with a blackboard and chalk. Yet, despite having little, they were so eager to share what they had with us. With hands tugging at our sleeves, they chatted excitedly and introduced themselves. To get to know them better, we played relay races, chinlone, and barf (a local version of tag). We even learned some Hindi words! It was truly a morning filled with fun and joy! The visit to the school reminded us to be appreciative of what we have and how happiness can be found in the littlest of things. The students left feeling empowered to get involved with service projects back in Yangon.Ā Ā
š²š¾ Grade 11: Malacca, Malaysia
The grade 11 students traveled to Malacca, a coastal city in Malaysia full of history and culture. There, we visited the beach at Padang Kemunting, where students participated in service activities, including a beach cleanup and helping out with turtle egg conservation. The students collected trash along the beach while enjoying the ocean waves and the breezy weather. They learned about the turtles and ways to protect the species. Later, each student planted a tree at Besar Island, working together to support long-term environmental health. The trip to Malacca was not only a chance to explore a new place, but a great opportunity for the students to remind themselves about the importance of service learning.
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What Lies Ahead?ā By Eaindray Tha, Grade 10 |
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What an incredible couple of months it has been! Since our first meetings in August, 2025, the Service Learning Blog has published 10 articles and 3 comics. Most importantly, we have grown as a team and learned new skills, while having so much fun. With many new and enthusiastic members joining us this year, our club established the roles of interviewer, photographer, writer, and artist. Although we have our own responsibilities, everyone is eager to support each other and put their all into whatever task is at hand. With this positive attitude, we overcame challenges like tight deadlines by collaborating and developing an efficient publishing schedule.Ā |
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Hereās what the students enjoyed about being part of this team:
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āIt was amazing watching everyone come together to work on one project and it really made me feel included and part of a family.ā - May Moe (Grade 8)Ā |
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āAs a new member, I was a bit worried before joining because I wasnāt very confident in my writing or drawing skills. But after working with other members, and successfully creating comics, I feel very accomplished and much more confident in my skills.ā - Kyi Cyn (Grade 10)Ā |
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Ā āBeing part of the Blog has allowed me to learn more about issues around the world and was a chance to actively participate in informing the community about them.ā - Claire (Grade 11) |
This is only just the beginning of the Service Learning Blogās journey. Stay tuned to read more articles and comics every Friday.
