Sewa.

Sewa, a Punjabi term meaning ‘selfless service’, is more than just a religious concept in Sikhism; it’s a universal principle of helping others without expecting anything in return. Being married to someone who belongs to the Sikh faith opened my eyes to this, allowing me to truly understand its significance. In the context of education, we can strip Sewa of its religious associations and embrace its core essence—the spirit of selfless service. This principle resonates across cultures and beliefs, providing a solid foundation for service learning in schools.

Why Sewa?

Sewa-inspired service learning isn’t just relevant during school years; it’s a lifelong ethos. It nurtures responsible, empathetic individuals who carry the spirit of service into every aspect of their lives—whether in further education, their careers, or within their communities. For many Sikhs, this is a natural way of life, but I only had the privilege of being exposed to it as an adult.

I was enlightened by the acts of kindness and the philosophy of Sewa during visits to the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) in the early years of my relationship. The Gurdwara is a community hub where everyone pitches in—cleaning, organising, cooking, serving, and teaching—all done by volunteers with no expectation of anything in return. It’s a profound example of what can be achieved when people act selflessly, without any need for recognition.

One moment stands out vividly: an elderly woman, about the same age as my grandmother, was serving in the dining hall. She quietly served everyone who entered, with no expectation of thanks. Her age and status didn’t matter—what mattered was her dedication to helping others.

Over the years, as I continued to visit, my understanding of Sewa deepened. Through conversations with community members, I came to appreciate the sense of fulfilment that comes from leaving behind the stresses of daily life and immersing oneself in selfless service. I realised that Sewa shouldn’t be something you do occasionally; it should be part of how you live and your value system. This realisation led me to move away from the textbook frameworks of service learning I had encountered early in my teaching career.

The Scope for Service Learning

As an educator, I started to ask myself: How do we teach service to be a way of life?

It’s a tough question. Can something as profound as a way of life really be taught? The answer depends on how much emphasis is placed on service learning in schools. In some curricula, like the IB, service learning is deeply embedded. For example, in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), service learning is a core component. In other systems, service might be promoted through student action groups or as an integrated part of school culture.

But how do Sikhs so naturally embody the philosophy of Sewa? It’s because they see it modelled from a young age. Children are encouraged to volunteer and serve others, and the Gurdwara is an institution that embodies inclusivity and selfless service. This is exactly what we need in schools—a structure that makes service an intrinsic part of the culture, not an optional extra.

Service learning shouldn’t be something that’s tacked on to the curriculum. It’s not about organising a monthly clothes drive or pushing students to find volunteer opportunities. Sewa is a way of life.

The culture of a school—shaped by its leadership, staff, and students—should centre around the idea of helping others simply for the sake of fulfilment. Unfortunately, service learning is treated as a box to tick rather than a meaningful experience. Having worked extensively in service learning, I’ve seen that service means different things to different people. When service learning isn’t properly implemented, it becomes a chore, rather than a meaningful practice.

Takeaways and Recommendations for Service Learning in Schools

Service projects don’t have to be global; true service starts at home. Serving your local community and fostering a compassionate mindset is authentic service. As a leader, service-learning coordinator, or pastoral tutor, your mindset is key to creating a culture of genuine service. It all begins with you.

Service has the power to transform school culture and, more importantly, to develop empathy in young people. Empathy can shift mindsets and transform societies. By fostering inclusion through understanding, acceptance, compassion, and tolerance, we equip young people with the tools to build, with hope, a more peaceful and connected world.

I hope you, like me, can learn about Sewa, and adopt this in your life, especially in education, embodying and embellishing a values system that every learner can benefit from. What are you most compassionate for? Act on that, then talk about it with your students. That is where culture starts.