International School Dhaka organized ‘Service Days’

From January 29 to January 31, International School Dhaka (ISD) organized ‘Service Days’ with the participation of the secondary students of the institution. During the Service Days, secondary students of the institution took actions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by designing, collaborating, and volunteering on different community service projects and at the various partner organizations of ISD.

Some of the services were designed in normal classes while others had been taken as extra-curricular activities. Under this project, 40 student leaders along with 235 students from Grades 6 – 12 had been working on projects to serve and learn about the local community. The 40 student leaders had been regularly volunteering for over 6 months in various social organizations in Dhaka. Moreover, 60 teacher mentors were also present during the Service Days.

SDG addresses the global challenges that the world has been facing, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. It has become important that these goals should be achieved by the year 2030.

Sajida Rahman Danny, Founder and Chairman, PFDA-VTC; and Shahriar Caesar Rahman, Co-founder, Creative Conservation Alliance helped to organize the Service Days events. Shahriar Caesar Rahman enlightened the students about wildlife in Bangladesh.

On this occasion, Sarah Harkin, ISD Service Coordinator said, “Our mission for the school is to develop empathic leaders who will be committed to a sustainable future. Our students are encouraged to volunteer for local social organizations or develop their own volunteer initiatives to address SDGs. We are also pleased that our students are interested in helping the local community.”

Caesar Rahman, Co-founder, Creative Conservation Alliance said, “One will think that there is no room for wildlife and wild places in Bangladesh, but it’s amazing that we still have some amazing biodiversity which is worth saving. I am excited to teach the students about the wildlife of Bangladesh as it is our duty to empower the younger generation for a better future. I am also very hopeful to see the grade 12 project connected Environmental Studies course and the excitement among the students about it.”

The three Service Days had taken place with various partner organizations. In Abinta Kabir Foundation, the students have designed a rooftop green space to serve as an outdoor classroom as well as a walled garden in the foundation’s library. This project was developed with the help of GarbageMan, a social initiative turning waste into vermin compost. In Solmaid School, the students have painted walls. Moreover, ISD students have also been volunteering there since 2014.

In Utsho Bangladesh, a team of Grade 9 students painted murals featuring village scenes of Bangladesh. Mahbooba Mahmood Leena, Director of UTSHO was present at the event.

In PFDA Vocational Training Center (founded by Danny Rahman), ISD students have renovated a sensory learning space to teach differently-abled students about traffic rules. Additionally, two Grade 9 students, Faiza Farheen and Serena Anis Salam developed a voluntary initiative last year and they have been regularly volunteering at PFDA-VTC, once per week, with their teacher Ms. Mariig Hamon. In Creative Conservation Alliance, the students had designed and painted a mural around the captive turtle breeding site to make it more welcoming for children.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
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