This global learning service project proposal discusses the Books as Bridges program. Team A addresses the rationale for choosing the project, key elements, and implementations and effects on the world by participating in the project.

1. Global Service Learning Project
Proposal
Chris Ambrosius, Michele McKay,
Sherry Nystrom, Laura Skakle
EDL/510
July 2, 2012
Lisa Brizendine

2. Introduction
• List of Ideas
• Rationale
• Outline of Key Points
• Implementation in Classroom
• Effects on Global Learning
• Possible Effects on the World
• Conclusion
• References

3. List of Ideas Considered for
Global Service Learning
Projects

4. Water 1st International - “Safe
Water Saves Lives”
The Water 1st program uses a Water Day curriculum
that includes watching a DVD/film and presentation,
classroom discussions, numerous curricula and
fundraising activities. Through this program, students
learn about the global water crisis and Water 1st’s
responses.
http://www.water1st.org/involved/curriculum_water_day.
html

5. Books as Bridges
The International Book Project was launched in 2007 as
the Books as Bridges program. It was created in
response to the need for greater cultural awareness as
well as a need to increase reading levels in Central
Kentucky. The program pairs classrooms in the United
States with partnered classrooms from other countries to
provide service learning program experiences.
http://www.intlbookproject.org/wrk-bab.php

6. Global Learning Adventure
All programs combine meaningful community service,
hands-on learning and fun, exciting excursions. This is
part of a unique service-learning methodology that
allows students to engage in powerful experiential
learning out in the world. The mission is to inspire the
next generation to realize their potential to transform the
world and their role in it, along with teaching excellent
leadership skills. GLA offers a wide array of programs
along with placement around the world for the
community service learning project.
http://www.experiencegla.com/

7. Global Service Corps
Global Service Corps is an international community
service program offering a variety of opportunities
throughout the world, particularly in Asia.
Participants are able to choose the type of program
to volunteer in from the flo: HIV/AIDS Prevention
Program, International Health Program, Teach
English Abroad, or Orphanage Care.
http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/service-learning-
programs

8. Chosen Project: Books as
Bridges

9. Rationale
• Program may be tailored and implemented with
students from kindergarten to 12th grade
• Includes interactions with peers from another country
through pen pals
• Interdisciplinary lessons can easily be developed
around this program including aspects of reading,
writing, history, and science.
• Promotes cultural literacy
• It encourages classrooms to design and execute their
own projects within the framework of the program.

10. Outline of Key Points
Teachers who participate in this program receive a
systematic curriculum to provide an enriched service
learning project experience. The program furnishes the
following to the participating teacher:
1. A kit with information about the partner country
as well as implementation ideas.
2. A set of resource books with lesson plan samples
from Peace Corps World-Wise Schools.
3. A cultural literacy lesson about the partner
country.
4. A camera so that students can share their day to
day lives with their pen pals.
5. Student participation includes sending packages
and letters to form global friendships.
6. The program encourages classrooms to design
and execute their own projects within the framework
of the program.

11. Implementation in the Classroom
• Classes learn about partner countries by creating a
3-D map, experiencing the food and culture, and
comparing the foreign culture to their own.
• Students learn persuasive writing skills by writing
letters to local businesses asking for school supplies
or donations of books to share with their partner
countries.
• Participants also enhance writing skills by
composing friendly letters about their culture to
share with their pen pals.

12. Effects on Global Learning
When students are introduced to and taught about
another culture in an engaging manner they may want to
continue learning about other countries and their
customs. The service learning program experience will
create a unique bond with other students. They will take
away the information that their pen pals may have many
differences from them but similarities as well.

13. Possible Effects on the World
• This experience will create a new awareness and
empathy for others from differing cultures.
• The global service learning-project experience will
create future employees who have an awareness
and tolerance for fellow employees from other
cultures.
• Students may create non-profit companies that
create and help support communities around the
world.

14. Conclusion
Team A members individually researched global service
learning projects and submitted individual ideas for team
review. The chosen project, Books as Bridges promotes
cultural literacy, promotes interactions with peers from
partner countries, and contains the necessary
components of a good service learning project including
implementation into classroom curricula. This program
encourages students to
become aware and empathetic to people
from different cultures and to support
communities around the world facing
difficult environmental and societal
challenges.

15. References
Water 1st International. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.water1st.org/involved/curriculum_water_day.ht
ml
International Book Project, Inc.. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.intlbookproject.org/wrk-bab.php
Global Leadership Adventures. (2007-2010). Retrieved from
http://www.experiencegla.com/
Global Service Corps. (2008). Retrieved from
http://www.globalservicecorps.org/site/service-learning-
programs