Criteria for Student SelectionGlobal Experience ProgramDurban, South Africa (NOAH) - July 30 to August 21, 2010

Objectives of community-based experiences for Havergal students in South Africa:

1. Enable students to: (i) experience progression in their relationships with young people outside the Havergal community, (ii) participate in medium to long term problem solving as their contribution to another community evolves, and (iii) experience working in mutual partnerships.

2. Enable students to develop the attributes of 21st century leaders: global capability (to be effective anytime, anywhere with anyone), together with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to be effective in making a difference.

3. Provide an opportunity to: i) challenge one’s usual ways of thinking,ii) promote respect and develop a deeper understanding of diversity and our shared humanity,iii) develop a sense of social and personal responsibility to contribute to the world we want, and iv) provide rich, meaningful and transformational learning experiences that foster personal development: increase self-awareness, self-confidence, self- reliance, self-advocacy, communications skills, and adaptability.

Project Partnership: NOAH (Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity), Durban Girls’ College and Havergal College

Where and When?

Ten students and two staff will travel to Durban from July 30 to August 21, 2010 to work at the NOAH Ark community in Molweni and at a nearby NOAH Ark day care. Building on last year’s experience, our role will be to create and participate in a games and songs program three mornings a week at the day care, and in play and sports programs two afternoons a week in Molweni. We will continue to visit Molweni to ensure continuity following last year’s trip, and have added the day care so that we exend our learning and contribution by being involved with more than one community.

The project group will create and update a project blog on a daily basis to share their ongoing learning from the project. Ongoing connections will be fostered through letter writing and photo exchanges. If each Havergal student partners with a NOAH child and commits to four letters per year (perhaps the theme of the correspondence can be about shared experiences of school or community) students who visit in the years to follow could travel well informed and already connected. The NOAH office in Umhlanga (Durban) has offered to ensure the letters are delivered to the Arks. As a long term goal, Havergal could assist NOAH with the funds to develop 3G connectivity for the Arks in the area to enable ongoing communication via the Internet.

How?Havergal students will be billeted with Durban Girls’ College families. The Havergal group will travel by van (with a driver) to the Ark on a daily basis from Durban Girls’ College. Travel to the Ark is safe and the roads are excellent. The community in which the Ark is located is also safe and small, rural, on a hill above the Umgeni river valley. Homes in the community are small, mainly built of mud, but clean, with large yards and gardens. The one necessity will be to return to Durban by 4:00 pm each afternoon.

Student Selection:This experience is to supplement and enrich classroom learning by enabling students to learn to work effectively in other than the Havergal or home environment. The selection of candidates is based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

Maturity, attitude, character and academic abilities Independent thinker, creative, flexible Ability to adapt to new situations and environments Experience in community outreach Enjoy working with children Active member of the Havergal school community and Institute activities Desire to make a difference Excellent ambassador for Havergal College

Process: 1. Students will submit application form, available online and in the Forum for Change, to Melanie MacDonald by Thursday, October 22, 2009. 2. Interested students and their parents are invited to a parent information evening on Thursday, October 15, 2009. 3. Interviews begin on Monday, October 26, 20094. The teaching staff, guidance counselors and administrators will be asked to comment on the suitability of each candidate based on the above criteria.5. Student selection completed by Friday, November 13, 2009.

Expectations: 1. Students will be required to attend preparatory workshops.2. Students will play an ambassadorial and leadership role in the academic year

2010/11 for debriefing, ongoing integration of learning and extension of the relationship with the NOAH communities, and mentoring and training of Havergal students going to South Africa in July 2011.

3. Students will be required to keep a daily diary while in South AfricaAnd write and submit a reflection about their experience.