As the African proverb goes -
It takes a village to raise a child
Children form and are part of the community. Children grow in the community.
A community is much more than just a location. When we talk about a ‘sense of community’, we are actually referring to the quality of relationships and connections that connect people together.
As early childhood educators, creating opportunities to build a ‘sense of community’ is an important part of what we do. One way in which we strive to build a sense of community is through involvement, which supports us as advocates of service learning.
Community involvement is beneficial in all areas of life. It supports and produces long-term benefits for everyone as we engage with the community. Community involvement sends a powerful message to children. It spreads the message that each one of us is important and that we have a purpose and sense of belonging to the community.
In addition, it empowers children as it binds children to the world they live in. It gives children a voice to be seen and heard as they are active members who can make a difference to the community.
