Chapter 5: A Case Study in China: Teaching “Children’s Rights and Protections” Through Service-Learning

Service-learning is a pedagogy initiated by the United States in the past 50 years. Through cooperation of schools and the society, it combines community service with academic courses to increase students’ knowledge and skills and enhances their sense of social responsibility. China Youth University of Political Studies began to integrate community services to the Children’s Rights and Protection course from 2011. Clear learning goals and participatory learning approaches help students apply their knowledge and skills on children’s rights and protection in community service; group discussion, WeChat communication, presentation, and essay writing provoke students’ regular reflections; observation and interviews develop students’ various abilities, stimulates their learning initiative and enthusiasm, and deepens their understanding and application of the course. In addition, it is also conducive to cultivating their teamwork and civic responsibility.