Learning Through Experience

While a voluntary service project is the central activity of SFP programs, it is the lessons that are learned from the experience that are actually the major objective. Our main goal is the “transformation” of the participants so that they develop a sense of responsibility and caring for others, confidence in their own ability to make a difference in their communities, and an ability to work together with people from different backgrounds to their own. Much of the learning is experiential but we also provide training in the areas of leadership, community development and peacemaking.

Impact on Our Volunteers

We offer character education and leadership training for our volunteers. We provide skill-based education helping our volunteers develop civic mindedness and a personal sense of responsibility, personal character development, conflict resolution skills, and tools to help them make a contribution to the community and society. We also train young leaders in project development, volunteer management and capacity building through interactive, peer-led hands-on educational programs.

Effectiveness of Our Programs

The unique ability of SFP is helping diverse groups cross barriers of race, religion, creed, or national origin. We help communities organize meaningful service learning programs that promote local interests and build a culture of service. SFP ensures the most efficient and effective use of volunteers through preliminary community surveys determining and prioritizing compelling community needs. SFP interviews community leaders involved in education, public safety and health and human services to ensure programs are crafted to meet community wants needs.

SFP links service to education by involving secondary schools and institutions of higher education to create lasting community change and provide opportunities for intensive commitments to service that foster civic responsibility. To strengthen grass root coalitions SFP provides technical support and outcome-based evaluation measuring positive community change and helping to build capacity and sustainability. SFP continues to reach underserved populations by forming partnerships with agencies that serve such groups.