Student-led Service Initiatives Reach Far Corners of the Globe
Despite a difficult year of canceled trips and disruptions to regularly scheduled activities, Principia students were able to continue giving back, eagerly taking on opportunities to serve their school, community, and the world.
While School students of all levels regularly participate in community service, Upper School students take service into their own hands. This past academic year, 100 percent of Upper School students participated in service-related activities. In total, they contributed 4,400 hours to support veterans, the homeless, food collections, student-identified campus projects, and more. As part of their senior projects, many Upper School seniors completed service-related work, contributing 1,835 hours helping with cleanup in the wake of the California wildfires, raising awareness surrounding plastic pollution in our oceans, etc.
During the annual Impact Challenge Showcase, Kaya Equivilley (US’ 21) and Gracen Huffman (US’22), shared how they spent the semester gathering feminine hygiene products for girls in need and working with an organization to support girls’ education in South Africa. Both Kaya and Gracen are passionate about supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development goal of “Education for All.”
Traditionally, Upper School students have the opportunity to travel to South Africa for an 18-day service trip and provide support through hands-on work and bringing supplies to underserved areas. Although the Simunye group wasn’t able to travel this year due to the pandemic, the group was not deterred in its commitment to help. They raised more than $30,000 on their own. When combined with a matching contribution from Principia, the group contributed a total of $60,000 to fund vital projects in South African communities.
“Each year, the inclusion of service-centered projects in the classroom grows. Service is no longer a siloed activity, but integrated into conversations, projects, and thought processes,” Student Life Programs Director and Trips Coordinator Lisa Johnson says. “Last year, more than ever, service projects were completely student-led. Students continue to be more engaged in and aware of needs in the community and are compelled to create opportunities to aid those in need.”
Due to pandemic protocols, students were encouraged to think creatively about service and engaged remotely by researching and advocating for local organizations to support this year. In the spring, Upper School crews created videos to educate their peers about St. Louis-based service organizations and ways to help.
Students also served the School campus by participating in several beautification projects. Last fall, more than 300 trees were planted on campus by students. Other projects included sewing masks for those in need, organizing clothing and food drives, creating care packages for military service members, and collecting books for children in underserved schools.
“Students are learning to think more deeply and problem solve about challenges that face our communities,” Johnson says. “They are becoming more invested in the process of serving by developing and implementing solutions.”
At Principia, service is successful because students engage in projects that mean something to them. They’re able to see the direct impact of their actions and feel the reward of giving back to a cause that affects where they live, learn, and play. While things may have looked a little different this year, students were not only proactive in their pursuit to make a difference but eager to help at a time when help was most needed.