The Social Experience program at K.I.S aims to blend a comprehensive classroom teaching program with a variety of community oriented activities providing students with abundant opportunities for enriching personal growth, enhanced civic awareness, and a progressive global outlook. Classroom teaching focuses on topics as diverse as climate change, child labor, tribal culture and village justice, the digital divide, animal rights, deforestation, women’s issues etc, through seminars, video presentations, “take a stand” activities, story telling and lectures. The emphasis is on sustainability and empowerment. Students are encouraged to develop an approach of mutual and reciprocal interaction with the community. 

Activities include visits to the local orphanages where students play games with the little ones, read to them, do maintenance work and gardening. The Green team focuses on environmental issues and is involved in tree planting, developing nurseries for seedlings from the indigenous “shola” forests, recycling and waste management. Food distribution teams distribute excess food from the school kitchen to the needy. Computer classes are conducted on a regular basis for students from local schools that lack computer facilities. The “English for Ayahs” program is involved in teaching English to the school’s support staff [ayahs, security personnel].

A very successful Dining hall supervision program has resulted in a dramatic reduction in tray wastage. Visits to organic farms orient students towards alternative farming techniques and healthy eating. “Mercy Home”, a residence for the elderly destitute, is a popular weekend destination where students check blood pressure on residents, learn about their health problems, massage aching limbs, work in the kitchen garden, help collect firewood and do plumbing and other maintenance work. Students are encouraged to take ownership and plan fund raising ventures and campaigns for these projects.

The creative aspect of community service is always encouraged. Students are assigned to teams and tasked with developing multi-media presentations on topics of interest. This develops team building and communication skills, hones leadership qualities and is of great value in nurturing interest in community service. Students generally see “SoEx” as a refreshingly different subject and the majority involve themselves in the various activities to a far greater extent than their “required hours”.

The Social Experience department also oversees and co-ordinates the annual field trip week when all students leave the school environs with staff chaperones to widespread destinations for a fun-filled week of social experience involving special needs schools, hospitals, rural health programs, wilderness excursions, drama programs, ancient ruins, endangered coral reefs, business and management tours, cultural tours, canoeing trips, building houses, spiritual retreats – the list goes on.

“SoEx” at K.I.S seeks to walk with its’ students along the road to self –discovery, nurturing at every opportunity the immense potential that unfolds within them during their school years through the vast palette of community service and social interaction.