At Stamford American, we believe that each child’s personal development is an important part of helping our students grow into responsible global citizens. All students at Stamford American are exposed to community service activities at levels of involvement appropriate to their age, through the IB’s Service Learning programs (PYP Taking Action, MYP Service as Action and DP Creativity, Action Service). Through this approach, students explore issues and possibly engage in direct action in and outside of Singapore. Crucially, it allows them to develop personal skills by reflecting on their place in the world, then planning and driving meaningful initiatives to help those who are in need. In addition to cultivating empathy, understanding and awareness, our students learn to be effective leaders, thinkers and communicators, in and outside of the classroom.
The Stamford American community, in partnership with World Assistance for Cambodia, built the Cambodia Hope School in the Boribo Province of Cambodia. The school was set up to give disadvantaged children in Kampong Chhnang a chance at education and a brighter future. In 2016, students and teachers from Stamford American visited the school armed with lesson plans and school supplies. Students at Hope School received stationery and sports equipment, while English as a Second Language (ESL) resources were distributed to local teachers to guide them in integrating English into lessons.
In 2017, together with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Stamford American students helped to make some dreams come true through the Christmas Giving Tree. They fulfilled the wishes of families and children from these charities: Singapore Cancer Society, SOSD, Make a Wish Foundation, Waterways, Willing Hearts, Ronald McDonald House and Autism Resource Center (ARC). This grew into the Month of Giving initiative in 2021 which was initiated by a variety of our High School Service clubs to provide resources and assistance to our wider community. The main beneficiaries of this event were our service partners at Community Chest and It’s Raining Raincoats who work with underprivileged groups in Singapore, and migrant workers respectively.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 are a common area for discussion in the school curriculum. There is a range of curricular and co-curricular connections to the SDGs, so that our students are encouraged to play their part in developing a fairer, cleaner world for all. We offer a range of student-led clubs whose mission is to address the most pressing issues of our time.
