ELEMENTARY
ENKA Schools expects all students from preschool to high school to develop an awareness of service to the community and to take active roles in projects.
In primary school, students in all grades actively participate in community service projects. At these ages, students start developing an awareness of service to the community. They launch initiatives based on the needs of the community, and work towards achieving their goals with enthusiasm. In Grade 4, students also select a real-world issue of local or global significance, and conduct an in-depth inquiry into it as part of their Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition, which is a compulsory component of the PYP. Based on their learning, they take actions to contribute to the solution of the issue.
The Community Service Project, which is a Grade 7 requirement, is spread out to other years too, as our school is now an official Middle Years Programme (MYP) candidate school. Students engage in community service projects which are appropriate to their ages and grades. Teachers supervise students in this process. The projects change as students advance to higher grade levels. For example, we expect Grade 5 students to prepare bulletin boards about endangered animals, whereas Grade 8 students cooperate with students who study at special needs schools and prepare a fair for them.
Service to the community is also included in all grades of high school. Grade 10 students have to complete at least 40 hours of community service by the end of year. Students start these projects and continue them as a part of their Creativity Activity Service (CAS) studies in Grade 11. The guiding principle for the projects is sustainability.
By engaging in community service projects, students achieve the following learning outcomes:
- They develop a sense of social responsibility.
- They are introduced to different socio-economic cultures.
- They develop increased self-confidence.
- They develop responsibility skills.
- They develop organizational skills.
- They experience teamwork and develop the related skills.
- They enrich their communication skills.
- The students’ strengths are revealed and they are provided with opportunities to work on their weaknesses.
- They develop the ability to take the initiative.
- They develop creative-thinking and problem-solving skills.
- They come to understand the universality of needs around the World.
- They get the chance of experiencing and acquiring some of the skills which make an important difference in higher education and in business life.
ENKA students have completed many community service projects in the past. Some of the community service projects are still active. Some examples are:
- The Urfa Project
- The Bayburt Baksı Project
- The Nepal Project
- The Alp Şen İyilik Project
- The Antalya Fenike Project
- The Beyoğlu Anatolia Culture Foundation Project
- The Şehit Üsteğmen Ali Büyükdicle Special Education School Project
- The Sarıyer Municipality Youth Centre Project
- The Girls in the Field Project
- The Support for the Visually Handicapped School Project
- No Handicaps Tennis
- The Dreamcatcher Club
- Community volunteers Club – Support Project for Aziz Nesin Foundation