Program Overview
At GHCIS, community service is an integral part of our students’ personal development and leadership training. The GHCIS Volunteer Passport Program encourages students to engage actively in meaningful service both within the school and in the broader community. Through their service, students develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, leadership, and civic awareness that will serve them throughout their lives.

Each student’s volunteer contributions are recorded through the Volunteer Passport system, where service hours are documented with official stamps. The program not only recognizes students’ commitment to service but also provides meaningful incentives that encourage continuous engagement.

Service Opportunities
On-Campus Service Roles
GHCIS offers a wide range of volunteer roles within the school community, allowing students to contribute to the smooth operation of campus activities while developing valuable interpersonal and organizational skills. Examples include:
• Parent Conference Assistants
• Laboratory Assistants
• Peer Academic Mentorship Program
• Event Support for Sports Competitions and Performing Arts Programs
• Lawson Convenience Store Volunteers
• GHCIS Café Volunteers
• Library Volunteers
• Other school-approved campus service positions

Off-Campus Community Partnerships
To help students broaden their understanding of social responsibility, GHCIS partners with a variety of community organizations where students can participate in supervised service activities. Current partner organizations include:
• Shanghai Tongzhi Exhibition Hall
• Wufeng Academy (Nanyangjing Road)
• Fenglin Subdistrict Tianlong Community Center (Xuhui District)
• Siping Subdistrict Elderly Care Home (Yangpu District)
• Cao Peng Foundation
• Other school-approved community service providers
All off-campus service activities are officially coordinated and supervised by the school to ensure safety and quality of experience.

Volunteer Passport & Recognition
The Volunteer Passport system not only tracks service hours but also provides meaningful recognition for students’ contributions:
• Students earn 1 stamp for each hour of service.
• Stamps may be accumulated and redeemed for a variety of recognitions:
◦ School cultural gifts and merchandise
◦ Exemptions from certain FAD sessions
◦ Clearing of previous FAD records (subject to program regulations)
• Students can redeem stamps at designated milestones throughout the academic year.
• Stamps are valid for the current academic year and reset at the beginning of each new school year.

Program Values

The GHCIS Volunteer Passport Program reflects the school’s strong commitment to holistic education, nurturing not only academic excellence but also personal integrity, leadership, and social responsibility. Through sustained community engagement, our students develop the mindset and skills needed to become compassionate, responsible global citizens.

Program Overview
TheGHCIS - Yunnan Teaching Fellowship, initiated and organized by the GHCIS Foundation, is a signature public service project that embodies the spirit of compassion, responsibility, and cross-cultural learning. Through this program, GHCIS students travel to the remote region of Yunnan Province each summer to serve as volunteer teachers, bringing knowledge, new perspectives, and heartfelt care to local children while growing as individuals through hands-on service.

Teaching & Learning Experience
Each summer, a team of passionate and committed GHCIS student volunteers design and deliver a diverse curriculum tailored to the needs of Yunnan students. The courses cover a variety of subjects, including:
• History
• Visual Arts & Crafts
• Poetry & Literature
• Music & Performing Arts
• Hands-on interactive activities and creative projects
Through engaging lessons, colorful visuals, and interactive learning, the student teachers broaden the horizons of local children, introducing them to the world beyond their immediate surroundings and inspiring dreams for their futures.

Home Visits & Scholarship Support
In addition to teaching, GHCIS volunteers conduct home visits alongside local school leaders to better understand the personal and family situations of Yunnan students. During these visits:
• Care packages and essential supplies are delivered to families in need.
• Emotional support and encouragement are provided to help students overcome personal and financial challenges.
• Scholarships are awarded to high-performing and motivated students, offering them greater opportunities for continued education and personal development.

A Journey of Mutual Growth
The Yunnan Teaching Fellowship represents a meaningful exchange — one where knowledge meets compassion, and hope meets opportunity. Every class taught, every home visited, and every act of kindness helps plant seeds of hope in the hearts of local children, while providing unforgettable growth experiences for the student volunteers.
 

Hand-in-Hand Scholarship Program
The Hand-in-Hand Scholarship Program, proudly initiated by the GHCIS Foundation, has grown into one of the school’s most enduring and impactful philanthropic initiatives over the past decade. Dedicated to providing financial and emotional support to children in underprivileged regions, the program helps remove economic barriers and empowers students to pursue their academic dreams. To date, nearly 500 students have benefited from this long-term scholarship program — many supported from childhood through to university graduation. Behind each student’s success story is a dedicated network of GHCIS families, alumni, faculty, and student donors who contribute financial aid and encouragement.

The program not only changes the lives of individual students but has also contributed to broader social transformation in supported communities, where increasing numbers of students are now entering high school and university, and outdated social norms such as early marriage are gradually being replaced by higher educational aspirations.

In addition to financial support, the scholarship program offers consistent emotional and academic encouragement. GHCIS student volunteers regularly update sponsors on scholarship recipients' academic progress, allowing sponsors to witness firsthand the impact of their generosity. The Hand-in-Hand Scholarship Program is a true embodiment of GHCIS’s value: Be the Best of Yourself.

GHCIS Online Teaching Club
The GHCIS Online Teaching Club is a student-led organization under the GHCIS Foundation, committed to expanding access to quality education in rural and remote regions. Leveraging modern technology, the program breaks through geographic barriers by delivering a wide variety of interactive online courses to underserved students.

Through video-based instruction, real-time discussions, and virtual mentoring, GHCIS volunteers provide personalized educational experiences that broaden the horizons of children in rural areas while enhancing their own skills in teaching, communication, and teamwork.

This hands-on teaching experience allows GHCIS students to develop not only their academic knowledge but also their leadership, empathy, and problem-solving abilities, which prepares them for future academic and professional pursuits while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Peer Academic Mentorship Program
The Peer Academic Mentorship Program is an academic support initiative led by the GHCIS Student Council’s Academic Division, designed to help students overcome academic challenges and reach their full potential.

Each year, top-performing students volunteer their time to provide one-on-one or small group tutoring to fellow students facing difficulties in specific academic areas. These peer mentors offer subject-specific guidance across disciplines including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, etc.
Beyond subject knowledge, mentors share personal study strategies, time management skills, test-taking techniques, and motivational advice, helping mentees develop effective learning habits and build academic confidence. This collaborative learning environment fosters a strong sense of mutual encouragement, academic excellence, and community spirit within the GHCIS student community.