Service Learning
Giant Steps' Service Learning program engages students with the world beyond our school. Whether packing boxes of canned goods at St. Louis Area Foodbank, baking and selling dog biscuits to benefit the Shannon Farm Animal Shelter, or packaging, addressing and mailing solar-powered LED flashlights to raise funds to Light Up Africa, Giant Steps students are honing their math and language skills while helping others. Service Learning complements the academic curriculum with hands-on, real-world projects, while giving students the empowering experience of effecting change in their own community and beyond.
After studying energy in Science and learning about sub-Saharan Africa in Social Studies, Giant Steps students knew that:
- 80% of African households lack electricity. The same is true for village schools and health clinics. When the sun goes down, smoky, dangerous kerosene lanterns are the only light source.
- Battery-powered lamps are expensive and batteries don't last long.
- Solar-powered LED lamps are bright, clean, safe and affordable.
- Solar lamps make use of Africa's abundant sunshine and pose no fire hazard.
A new Service Learning project was born!
We're offering solar-powered LED flashlights for sale. Proceeds will go to Village Energy Uganda to purchase and install LED ceiling lamps in village schools and health clinics.