Service & Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility
The goal of the Social Responsibility program at Cofton House School is to provide students with an opportunity to have a better understanding of issues and take a responsible role in society. Students are engaged in activities in a meaningful way such that they may be motivated towards continued personal growth and development.
The Senior School Social Responsibility Program seeks to educate and engage students regarding social issues and to encourage a sense of commitment to incorporating social responsibility into one's life. To generate a true appreciation for issues, our program seeks to explore a deeper understanding of issues. For example, one could consider involvement with the local food bank at various levels: level one – contributes food to the food bank; level two – organizes a drive to collect food for the food bank; and level three – explores why the food bank is necessary, why people are hungry, and seeks to find solutions to root causes.
The CHS program seeks to engage our students at this deeper level of understanding, while also providing opportunity for meaningful action-oriented involvement.
The CHS program seeks to encourage responsible action at the local, provincial, national, and international level – appreciating our sense of both local and global responsibility. While the school supports a number of long-standing relationships (e.g., Run for the Cure, Unicef, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Aga Khan, Union Gospel Mission, Free the Children, etc..) each year our student leadership team selects additional organizations that are in dire need of support and/or with whom our school can offer a distinct connection.
More recently the senior school has established meaningful and involved relationships with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (in a local context) and Free the Children (in a more global context). In 2006, the school launched its international service trip program with trips going to Mozambique and Ecuador.
In both locations, students were involved in activities that deepened their understanding and appreciation of issues and were able to offer their support to agencies (orphanages and support centers) in need. In the 2008/2009 school year, Crofton House students are headed to China and Africa to engage in service oriented projects that include the building of a new school (with funds that have come from CHS student fund-raising efforts). Additionally, in 2008/2009 students are involved in service trip projects right here in Vancouver (e.g., Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre during spring break).
The focus of social responsibility programs extends from working with people, to working with animals, to understanding peace efforts, to supporting the sustainability of environment, and so much more. Indeed, historically service has always been a focus at Crofton House School and the letters “CHS” are often associated with our core values of Courtesy, Honour, and Service. Today, as our students see their role in being responsible citizens in this dynamic global society, the social responsibility program is growing at an exponential rate. There is no doubt that Crofton House students are making – and will continue to make – a difference in the world.
Service Trips
The CHS Service Trips provide students with the opportunity to work in a hands-on service capacity outside of the local community. Students and teachers travel to a developing country and offer assistance to the needs of development facilities in those countries. The activities engaged by CHS students while on these trips include teaching, coaching, playing, building, sharing caring and learning.
Afterwards, students reflect on their experiences and commemorate the trip. To maintain a continuous connection to the people and organizations that they served, the students plan fundraisers for the facilities where they volunteered.
Below are some student comments about the Service Program:
"Service is not only giving people material things, but sharing our love and laughs with them"
"Before going on this trip, I didn’t realize how much I had to offer in service with just myself"
"Service is not just feeding the starving, curing the sick, or freeing the oppressed. Service is loving those who do not feel loved and by doing so, making a difference."
"When doing service work with people in such situations, the only attitude you can have is one of no pretence or selfishness"
