It's only three words - a total of six letters. But the “Me to We” slogan helps students understand what service is all about, says the principal of Maxwell International School, Canada, located in the woods of Vancouver Island. “By adopting what Canadian youth activist Craig Kielberger calls the 'Me to We' philosophy, we help our students to be less 'me' -cantered and more cantered on the needs of others” said the principal, Dan Vaillancourt. “Through service to others, students develop empathy and understanding while being exposed to many of the social issues that plague society,” he said. “Working with the elderly, the handicapped, the homeless, the sick, the less fortunate - both here and abroad - will reinforce in our children the belief that we are all responsible for creating a better world.”
Since its founding by the Baha'is of Canada nearly two decades ago, Maxwell International School - a college-preparatory institution, grades 7 to 12, with an enrolment of 150 students from some 25 countries - has placed heavy emphasis on service.
Many schools around the world offer academic credit for service projects, but Maxwell does not. Involvement in the greater community is simply a part of who they are - and a key part of what comprises a Maxwell education. Overall, programs at the school reflect a spiritual view of humanity; use of practical, integrative and theme-based projects; the encouragement of creative and artistic expression in all aspects of school life; and the use of service as a tool for learning.
“Maxwell's aim is to encourage students to become servants to humanity, to see the world as an arena for community action, and to determine their active roles as transformers of society,” the principal said.
The school has devised mechanisms to make service projects more effective and also to help students understand the nature of service, especially as a way of life. A key component is students being divided into groups of 12 or so, of different ages and backgrounds, and assigned a teacher as an adviser. “The role of the adviser is to encourage, mentor, empower, and accompany the students on their journey of learning through service,” said Mr Vaillancourt. “Each Adviser Group chooses a service project of some kind to work on throughout the year. These service projects may be local, regional, national, or international in scope.”
Visit www.bahaiworldnews.org for this and other reports of the Bahá'í community and what’s going on throughout the world.
The following NI Believers have passed to the Abhá Kingdom:
Linda Dunlop (Banbridge), Ivan Leslie (Comber).
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