Lauren Hichaaba
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Lauren Hichaaba is the Director and Co-Founder of the Cagliero Project, a long-term international volunteer program run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Cagliero Project places volunteers for 6-12 months in Salesian communities with a focus on the South East Asia and Oceania regions. The Salesians are well known throughout the world for their work with disadvantaged young people. The Cagliero Project also offers short-term immersion experiences in Cambodia and Samoa that are run by Lauren and her team.
Lauren grew up in Melbourne, however, lived in the United States for her high school and university schooling. After completing her Bachelor Degree in Religion and Drama, Lauren spent two years as a teacher in Zambia. This experience inspired her to obtain her teaching degree back in Melbourne and then followed this with a Masters in Development Studies a few years later. Her expertise in service learning is based on lived experience and through making many mistakes! She believes wholeheartedly in the value of service learning, particularly in an international context, when it is done in an appropriate way and inspired by the Gospel message. |
About Lauren's Keynote:
Trials and Tribulations – Living Service Learning
Service Learning, particularly in an international context, can often be tokenistic and intrusive, however, when it is done well it can be transformative for the young person and local community. How do we ensure that service learning is mutually beneficial and a positive experience for everyone involved? Utilising her experience designing and running international immersions, Lauren will discuss three key principles to ensuring service learning is done effectively.
The first principle will focus on creating and maintaining an authentic relationship with the host community. Lauren will share both successes and mistakes in this area. The second principle is the formation and learning of the young people engaged in service learning before, during and after their experience. The focus on this aspect is the quality of the information and preparation that young people undertake. Alongside this important message is also ensuring that those leading the young people are also properly trained in all aspects needed for a successful experience. The third principle is making sure that the relationship, formation and the experience itself is centred in the gospel.
The key message is that service learning can be effective, transformative and even life changing for all involved when approached in the right way with openness, humility and an attitude of love.
Service Learning, particularly in an international context, can often be tokenistic and intrusive, however, when it is done well it can be transformative for the young person and local community. How do we ensure that service learning is mutually beneficial and a positive experience for everyone involved? Utilising her experience designing and running international immersions, Lauren will discuss three key principles to ensuring service learning is done effectively.
The first principle will focus on creating and maintaining an authentic relationship with the host community. Lauren will share both successes and mistakes in this area. The second principle is the formation and learning of the young people engaged in service learning before, during and after their experience. The focus on this aspect is the quality of the information and preparation that young people undertake. Alongside this important message is also ensuring that those leading the young people are also properly trained in all aspects needed for a successful experience. The third principle is making sure that the relationship, formation and the experience itself is centred in the gospel.
The key message is that service learning can be effective, transformative and even life changing for all involved when approached in the right way with openness, humility and an attitude of love.