COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROJECT - 2021-2024
The Community Engagement Project (CEP), launched in 2022 at OMNES Education London School (OELS), is a transformative service learning initiative that places learning through serving at its core. Designed to cultivate global citizenship and a commitment to sustainable development, CEP integrates active community engagement into the curriculum, connecting students with a vibrant network of London-based charities, social enterprises, and cultural organizations. From urban farms and food rescue missions to refugee support centers and community arts projects, students engage in hands-on service that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CEP is built on the belief that education deepens when students move beyond the classroom to serve real communities—where knowledge and compassion meet. Renowned educator Parker Palmer, a pioneer in transformative learning, reminds us that:
“Compassionate action is fostered in students when they learn not only with the intellect but also with the heart.”
He continues:
“An epistemology of love bridges the divide between intellect and feelings, between objectivity and participation. Once knowing activates our feelings, we are moved to action. We move from being a bystander to being a neighbor or friend. Our intimate understanding of others and their needs prompts compassionate action.”
Reading students reflective reports, I I noticed how students would mention “love”, as an important force, igniting the depth of personal and intellectual growth, that had been sparked by their community placements.
The program culminates in a campus-wide event that celebrates students’ journeys, bringing together partner organizations, university staff, and the broader student body to reflect on the shared work of building a more sustainable, compassionate world.
CEP stands as a model of service learning in higher education—a powerful testament to the transformative potential of learning by serving.
CEP program also fosters wisdom, healing, and deeper community ties, becoming a transformative journey—one that equips students not only to act but to reflect, relate, and grow in wholeness.