Final thoughts...
Remember that you all are about to be guests in what is essentially someone else’s home. Carefully read the agency’s website (if applicable) to learn more about its mission and requirements of outside guests.
If this is your first visit to a certain agency or community, ask your family what they already know or think they know about it and how they’re feeling about visiting there. Validate all feelings, even those of uncertainty or discomfort, and share when you’ve experienced similar emotions and what you’ve done with them.
Using the “ABCD” or “Asset-Based Community Development” model, ask your family to really try to notice what assets there are in the place that you’re going to be visiting. What opportunities may be there that are different from where you usually spend time? What skills does it seem like people need there to thrive? What personal assets does each member of your family bring to a service experience and what skills and habits of mind can they learn from it?
Reflecting afterwards on what surprised each of you, how you were challenged, how you were inspired and questions that you may still have deepens and extends the service experience beyond merely inquiring “So, did you have fun?”
Truly embracing the reciprocity inherent in any meaningful service experience is key to moving from charity to change.
Remember that you all are about to be guests in what is essentially someone else’s home. Carefully read the agency’s website (if applicable) to learn more about its mission and requirements of outside guests.
- Are there age limits?
- What should you wear?
- What should you bring or not bring?
- What are some of the things that you will be asked to do?
- What time should you arrive and how long should you plan to stay?
- Exactly where should you first go to check in and who should you ask for?
- Are there any special forms or waivers that you need to sign before arriving?
If this is your first visit to a certain agency or community, ask your family what they already know or think they know about it and how they’re feeling about visiting there. Validate all feelings, even those of uncertainty or discomfort, and share when you’ve experienced similar emotions and what you’ve done with them.
Using the “ABCD” or “Asset-Based Community Development” model, ask your family to really try to notice what assets there are in the place that you’re going to be visiting. What opportunities may be there that are different from where you usually spend time? What skills does it seem like people need there to thrive? What personal assets does each member of your family bring to a service experience and what skills and habits of mind can they learn from it?
Reflecting afterwards on what surprised each of you, how you were challenged, how you were inspired and questions that you may still have deepens and extends the service experience beyond merely inquiring “So, did you have fun?”
Truly embracing the reciprocity inherent in any meaningful service experience is key to moving from charity to change.