Service learning and community development in KSA

During Ramadan, as our community gathers in reflection and generosity, we embrace the chance to blend learning with meaningful service.

Service learning bridges classroom theory with real world challenges. Students not only enhance their academic skills but also develop empathy, leadership, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

By connecting with local culture and history, including special Ramadan initiatives, our students build lasting bonds with the community and learn to lead with compassion.

Service learning is an educational approach that uses community service to meet classroom learning objectives and societal needs. Programs are established to help students build connections with the wider community and create positive, lasting impact.

But what does this look like in practice and how should initiatives be implemented to optimize student success?

At the British International School Riyadh, service learning is at the heart of our educational approach, enabling students to engage meaningfully with the local community while developing essential skills and values.

Through hands-on projects, our students connect classroom learning with real-world impact, fostering a deep sense of responsibility, empathy, and global citizenship. This process encourages active, engaged citizens while addressing community needs in Saudi Arabia. 

Service learning enhances students’ intellectual and personal development with a global outlook.

For example, BISR collaborates with local artists, who bring our campus to life by painting murals for Saudi National Day — an opportunity for students to celebrate culture and creativity.

Additionally, our Year 2 students have engaged with the mayor of Tabuk, investigating similarities and differences between cultures, particularly in relation to transport. This connection has sparked meaningful discussions, deepening their understanding of the world around them.

We also immerse our students in the local culture and history through partnerships with businesses and institutions such as the Tabuk Cultural Center.

Here, students engage with local Saudis to explore the history of the region, including visits to landmarks such as Tabuk Castle and the Al-Walidain Mosque. This deepens their sense of belonging to Saudi Arabia, fostering a stronger connection to their host country.

In turn, this cultural understanding strengthens the foundation for service learning, as students develop a personal investment in the community they serve.

Other ways in which BISR fosters meaningful, wider community engagement include cultural awareness school trips and religious initiatives around Ramadan.

All seven BISR campuses hold iftar events for the immediate community, providing financial support for dinners and recognizing  those who support our daily lives. 

Beyond structured projects, BISR encourages students to actively seek opportunities to initiate their own service-learning efforts.

From redesigning the school cleaner’s office space to improve his working conditions, to upcycling coffee cups and repurposing them for local workers, children at BISR take ownership of real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions.

Each year, we organize a trip to Nepal where senior student groups visit and assist several children’s homes and orphanages. This experience allows them to experience the effects of their actions on a very personal and humbling level. 

The benefits of service learning go far beyond the immediate impact on the community. In the spirit of Ramadan, students engage in initiatives that help them acquire essential life skills such as collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving.

They learn the values of empathy, leadership and taking initiative — qualities that not only guide them during this sacred season but will serve them throughout their lives.

More importantly, these experiences cultivate a deep-rooted understanding of civic responsibility, empowering them to shape a more inclusive and compassionate world.

At BISR, service learning is more than just an activity — it is a mindset. By applying classroom concepts to real-world situations, our students do not just learn; they lead, connect, and create lasting change, echoing the spirit of renewal and generosity that Ramadan inspires.

• Paul Retzlaff is the service learning and eco leader at Al Hamra & Al Waha Campus, BISR.