Definitions
The
definitions below have been prepared in
consultation with the Steering
Committee of IANYS. (Comment: "It must be
noted that the need to translate
the definitions as well as local language
usages may require a few changes.
Also, it is probably good to consider them as
interim definitions. Your
suggestions, as well as our future conference
discussions, may produce better
ones." Don Eberly, Honorary President of
IANYS, October 2000.)
1. National Youth Service
"National Youth
Service (NYS) is an organized activity in
which young people serve others and
the environment in ways that contribute
positively to society.
NYS participants
normally serve
full-time for six months to two years and
receive support - whether from NGOs
or government - sufficient to enable them to
serve."
The meaning of national
youth service in different countries varies;
it is increasingly taking a place
alongside education and work as an activity
for young people that is
constructive in itself and is an investment in
the future.
The common feature of
national youth service programs is the
involvement of young people in service
to others and to the environment, usually for
a period of six months to two
years. Major areas of service are health,
education, environmental conservation,
and care for the very old and the very
young.
National youth service
also embraces service-learning, where
students utilize their education
to serve others and where students reflect on
their service experiences to
inform their learning. Service- learning in
secondary school is often a prelude
to full-time national youth
service.
2. International Association of National Youth Service (IANYS)
3. Service Learning
In service-learning,
students at schools and universities, as well
as young people serving in
full-time service programs, use their
education and talents to serve others and
then reflect on their service experiences to
inform their learning. In formal
education, some form of academic recognition,
such as academic credit or
fulfilling a curricular or graduation
requirement, is often given for evidence of
learning acquired.
The (US) Corporation for
National Service defines service-learning as
an educational method:
·
under which students or participants
learn and develop
through active participation in thoughtfully
organized service that is
conducted in and meets the needs of a
community;
·
which is coordinated within an
elementary school,
secondary school, institution of higher
education, or community service
program, and with the community;
·
which helps foster civic
responsibility;
·
which is integrated into and enhances
the academic
curriculum of the students, or the educational
components of the community
service program in which the participant is
enrolled;
·
and which provides structured time
for the students or
participants to reflect on the service
experience.
4.
Voluntary service
UNESCO defines voluntary
service as altruistic commitment by people
who give their time and/or their
expertise voluntarily and free of charge, in a
formal context, for a given
period. Voluntary service requires a number of
practical arrangements, such as
the payment of subsistence and transport costs
and social security coverage for
the volunteer.