Civic education sparks connection in the classroom and beyond

Respect for diversity, empathy for others and a commitment to the common good – essential qualities for participation in a healthy, functioning democracy – can be nurtured by combining learning with community service, teaching civic values and promoting volunteering.

Civic participation in and out of the classroom

Civic education helps young people understand their rights and duties as members of a society, encouraging active participation in local, national and global issues. It promotes critical thinking about government, law and social issues.

Civic knowledge and citizenship skills can be developed effectively in the classroom, but also through experience-based programmes outside the classroom. Civic education programmes exist throughout Europe and can include:

• Community involvement programmes
• Participatory budgeting
• Media literacy

Service learning connects education with citizenship

Service learning is an educational approach that uses community service to meet learning objectives and societal needs. Service learning programmes deepen pupils' understanding of civic values by linking classroom education with community service.

These programmes enable teachers and pupils to apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems, reinforcing the connection between education and active citizenship. Whether through projects addressing environmental concerns or learning about cultural heritage, service learning empowers pupils to be active change-makers.

Volunteering in the classroom empowers real-world learning  

Volunteering is a powerful way to engage students in learning while helping them develop essential life skills. By connecting classroom lessons with real-world projects, students contribute to their communities and gain valuable experiences that shape their understanding of social issues.

Volunteering can help empower pupils to deal with real-world challenges while developing vital skills including leadership, collaboration and empathy, and helps to motivate and support young people to find and pursue constructive pathways in life.

When pupils engage in voluntary activities, they learn to develop partnerships with peers, local and international organisations and communities. These experiences help to strengthen their problem-solving abilities and communication and teamwork skills.

Tips for volunteering activities in the classroom

Erasmus+ and Scientix ambassador and English teacher Romina Marchesani has suggested some tips for introducing volunteering activities in the classroom:

1. Start small, dream big: Begin with simple, fun projects like a school clean-up, then more ambitious initiatives that challenge their skills and expand their impact.
2. Make it matter: Link projects to what students are already learning: connect an environmental initiative to science lessons, a local history project or supporting people with disabilities to social studies and lessons on social inclusion and empathy.
3. Reflect, connect, grow: After the activity, create opportunities for students to reflect on their journey: group discussions, written reflections on their personal growth or the value of diverse perspectives, integration and teamwork.

Do you want to know more? On 23 January 2025, Romina will present the European Commission webinar ‘Building bridges: How volunteering transforms classrooms’, exploring how volunteering enhances education by fostering connections between schools, communities and global networks. Register for the webinar today.