Our children are an enormous source of energy and creativity - change-makers, and trailblazers with the potential to positively impact the world around them. No doubt, they are the key to our future, and investments in their emotional, mental and spiritual selves are as important as the academic. However, while the current education systems in place emphasize academic excellence, little efforts are made to develop and inculcate in the students a desire to go beyond the self and contribute to society. In a culture so focused around ‘wants’ and ‘achievements,’ our children grow up lacking a sense of gratitude for what they have, and a sense of empathy for the people around them. Success is recognized more by what ‘I achieved’ rather than what ‘we did’ and college and career success valued above happiness and all else.

The result? A world which has become one where individual aspirations are taking precedence over the social well-being and it’s about selfish instead of selfless, individualistic instead of collaborative and materialistic instead of humanitarian. This kind of barometer is resulting in limiting possibilities of collaborative innovation, higher corruption and plundering of natural resources with catastrophic consequences. To become true leaders, our children need to become free from the narrow definition of success, from digital addiction that drives self-centeredness and from yearning to fit in with the ‘cool’ crowd. Our children require a holistic development approach. This is an approach that goes beyond mental development and embraces social, psychological as well as emotional growth. The adoption of such an approach stimulates children to not only identify, understand and envision avenues for growth and development, but also enable them to actualize them. A holistic approach also stimulates children to make

connections between subjects. For instance children can use their knowledge and creative skills to solve social problems.

For decades, there has been a call for an education system in India that encourages critical thinking and problem solving skills. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been a significant growth with a number of new schools embracing international boards and curriculums, bringing in a student centric learning approach. Education is becoming more concepts based and is even more stimulating. Some traditional schools are also changing their long standing teaching methods and models. Through these forward thinking schools, there is an imminent opportunity to get our children to embrace Service Learning. What is Service Learning? It is an educational approach where learning is combined with community service in order to provide a practical learning experience while meeting the needs of the community around. The Service Learning offers great benefits. While students give their time and efforts and apply themselves in order to gain deeper understanding of the nuances of social issues, they also develop a sense of meaning and purpose in their classroom learning.

This kind of barometer is resulting in limiting possibilities of collaborative innovation, higher corruption and plundering of natural resources with catastrophic consequences

India is a land of opportunities for social interventions. One can develop and implement solutions and drive social innovations in fields such as education, health, environment and poverty alleviation just about anywhere. When students participate in Service Learning, they get an opportunity to broaden their perspective. Students experience diversity that in turn reduces many stereotypes. While engaging in projects and interacting with people, they develop an appreciation of different backgrounds, cultures and motivations. They also get a real life experience opportunity to develop and enhance problem solving, critical thinking, public speaking, and interpersonal skills and organizational leadership skills necessary to manage projects.

As a natural outcome of participating in Service Learning projects, the student’s mind is shaped as that of a leader. Through these opportunities students pursue goals with entrepreneurial zeal, develop innovative solutions and develop the courage to overcome obstacles and traditional practices. They learn to look at community issues as opportunities to improve present conditions through sustainable solutions. Building this perspective in our future generation will help cultivate new definitions of success and give us new tools for development-Ignited minds who will think about society in whatever they do, whether or not they are actively engaged directly in a social project. We can indeed transform our society, our country, and the world into a better place by kindling the idea of social well being in thoughts and actions of our younger generations.

“How wonderful it is that we need not wait a single moment before starting to change the world.” - Anne Frank