Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Social Sciences in the 21st Century
Year: 2025
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Development of Life Purpose Among Sociology Undergraduate Students Through Service Learning
Ladhan Mohamed Issack, Peter Kingori
ABSTRACT:
Service-learning programs are essential in promoting the development of a sense of purpose and individual meaning. Engaging undergraduate students in meaningful purposeful activities like Service learning has been recognized as a way to inspire and identify themselves as powerful social actors and civil leaders. Research on service-learning programs have shown that undergraduate students can have a social and community participation in many different ways including assisting in charity work, engagement with environmental justice activities, youth mentoring and talking with teens at juvenile training centers. Service learning enables students to engage with the community at an early stage, begins to build their network, and structures an opportunity to think about possible career pathways. In this study, social capital theory and Positive youth development was used as Sociology undergraduate students who had completed ‘Environmental Sociology’ and ‘Social Psychology’ courses were engaged voluntarily in mentoring urban high school service learners during long holidays (4 months). The study examined possible differences in the life purpose of 21 Sociology undergraduate students before and after their participation in Service learning. Data was collected using pre-post-test Purpose in Life Scale and Semi-structured interviews. Paired t-tests was conducted to see if any significant differences emerged after their participation in Service learning. Results indicated that Sociology undergraduate students reported higher positive changes in life purpose, increased awareness of community social and environmental issues, and identified promising influences on their career development and community civic engagement after their participation in Service learning.
Keywords: Mentorship, Purpose, Service Learning, Sociology, Undergraduate students