Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighborhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that school curricula should include community work, and pupils ought to do it free of charge.

This

essay will show that

such

experience at school can be beneficial for children as they learn to be better people and more responsible citizens of their country. Undoubtedly, volunteering teaches people to empathise with others, not to be indifferent to others’ needs and lend a hand to strangers when it is needed. It is crucial that children acquire these qualities since a very early age, and schools can provide a great opportunity to do that. Looking from my vantage point, I can say that the school where I used to study made me a kinder, more considerate person when my fellow pupils and I participated in a special programme that was aimed at helping older people do housework. Many educators around the world claim that it is important to make even young children aware of the fact that they are citizens of their country, and that they have their rights and responsibilities. Community service can certainly raise

this

awareness by showing that even very young people can improve the world around them.

For example

, in my hometown in Russia,

schoolchildren

Suggestion

school children

are encouraged to collect recyclable materials

such

as plastic, paper and glass, and everything

that is

collected by them accounts for three-quarters of all

recyclables

in the region. In conclusion, unpaid labour for the sake of a better neighbourhood has many advantages

such

as learning to be caring

to

Suggestion

for

others and to be in charge of what happens in one’s community. While some countries

such

as Russia has partly adopted community service for their curricula, more countries can incorporate

this

element in theirs in the future.