INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Our humble experiment with the College Youth and Rural Communities has attracted the attention of the parents, the public and the Government so much so; the SHEPEHRD model of outreach by our College youth has been appreciated and projected as a viable and effective community work model by students. Many educational institutions are now at the threshold of adopting a similar venture. Meanwhile, organizations abroad also evince keen interest in collaborating with our College youth through the SHEPHERD outreach program. The Singapore International Foundation (SIF, supported by the Government of Singapore) has been partnering with the Extension Department since 2003 towards organizing International Youth Expedition Projects (YEP). The YEP aims at a 3-way Service Learning process - Singapore youth and St Joseph's youth learning mutually, and they both as a composite team learning with the chosen community in one of the SHEPHERD-adopted rural hamlets. So far three such YEPs have been accomplished.

These mutually beneficial YEPs are oriented towards the youth learning from the rural community, and hence during the 3-week expedition there are a number of learning and exchange activities designed. They include Community & College Cultural Festivals, Community Meetings, Plantations, Health & Dietetic Survey, School Teaching and Games with Village Youth. Members of the youth teams henceforth establish a long standing communication and exchange. Prior to each YEP an advance team of SIF officials descend on the adopted villages to look for appropriate campsites so as to plan and design the logistics of the YEP. The rural communities that have been privileged to host the YEPs have been extra-ordinarily pleased to have the guests for the learning exchange process. Many more such YEPs are to be organized in the years to come.

Youth Expedition Projects

These mutually beneficial YEPs are oriented towards the youth learning from the rural community, and hence during the 3-week expedition there are a number of learning and exchange activities designed.  They include Community & College Cultural Festivals, Community Meetings, Plantations, Health & Dietetic Survey, School Teaching and Games with Village Youth.  Members of the youth teams henceforth establish a long standing communication and exchange.  Prior to each YEP an advance team of SIF officials descend on the adopted villages to look for appropriate campsites so as to plan and design the logistics of the YEP.  The rural communities that have been privileged to host the YEPs have been extra-ordinarily pleased to have the guests for the learning exchange process.Many more such YEPs are to be organized in the years to come.