Community Service
Community service is a learning opportunity for everyone at AISB. As an international school with families from all over the world, each person comes to AISB with their own unique expectations and experiences about service to others. Helping others and contributing to the community in which we live is an expression of our values of caring and citizenship. It is both a spiritual and a political endeavor.
The goal of our community service program is to develop a balanced student perspective on an individual's responsibilities to society. Each student, by actively participating in this program, becomes aware of the important issues affecting the local community and, in so doing, develops a fuller understanding of those issues in a complex world.
Community service meetings are held each week at AISB. Students in grades 9-12 are required to complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service each year. In addition, IB diploma candidates are required to complete 150 CAS hours during the two-year IB Diploma program.
Projects:
City of Hope
This Romanian organization provides shelters and homes for street children and offers food, clothing, and a stable daily life. City of Hope has one home for girls, housing about 20 children and the equivalent number of boys are in foster care families waiting for construction of the Village of Hope. The City of Hope also has a facility from which they feed a further 200 children a day near the Gara de Nord Train Station.
Victor Babes Hospital
Victor Babes is a state-run hospital for HIV-positive children which houses 50 - 80 children, most without families. AISB has been involved with the program for many years and students visit the hospital each month and provide activities and projects for the children.
Children's Respiratory Hospital
Working with Children's Relief Network, AISB students are trained in infant play therapy. Students visit weekly and encourage the children to engage physically and emotionally with others, thus experiencing the value of human contact.
Jesus Loves Romania Orphanage
This project comprises four orphanages in Bucharest with 100 children ranging in age from infant to 18 years old. This Romanian Foundation also feeds street children at the Gara de Nord Train Station. AISB works to provide games, tutoring in computers, English instruction and other activities. The orphanage provides a stable and calm environment for the children.
Back to School Foundation
This is a tutorial project devoted to re-integrating Romanian students back into the school system. The Foundation operating this program was established to help rescue school dropouts who cannot easily re-enter the Romanian education system if they have missed two or more years of schooling. The Back to School Foundation also trains Romanian teachers in and conducts small classes to bring students up to grade level. Presently, there are over 100 students involved in grades 1 though 8.
Pipera House
This foster care home was recently established near the AISB campus. Students travel weekly to tutor and play with the HIV/AIDS students who are new to family life, having previously spent their years in institutions. The children vary in age from 9 to 16.
International Children's Center
This project is a middle school initiative and is not available as a community service option for senior students. ICC is an orphanage situated outside of Bucharest and is visited regularly by our 8th grade students.
