SU welcomes 30 international students for 2026 Service-Learning Program
Silliman University (SU) welcomed 30 international students from Hong Kong and Japan for its 2026 International Service-Learning (ISL) Program, reaffirming its commitment to global citizenship, intercultural learning, and community engagement through immersive, service-oriented education.
Organized by the Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning (OCESL), the program brought together student delegates from two long-standing partner institutions in Asia. The first cohort consisted of 16 students from Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who participated from June 10-20, 2026 accompanied by faculty adviser Dr. Angela Wong and program coordinator Ms. Karen Ng. The second cohort comprised 14 students from International Christian University (ICU) in Japan, who joined the program from June 30-July 25, 2026, further strengthening the University’s enduring partnership with ICU.
Dr. Angela Wong (left), faculty adviser from Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Asst. Prof. Novee Maestrecampo Jr. (right), director of Silliman University’s Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning (OCESL), pose with the 16 Chung Chi College student delegates during the 2026 International Service-Learning (ISL) Program, which promotes intercultural learning, global citizenship, and community engagement through immersive service-learning experiences.
A key feature of this year’s program was the participation of 15 Silliman student buddies who served as translators, cultural ambassadors, and peer mentors. Beyond assisting with communication and daily activities, they fostered meaningful intercultural friendships and helped create an environment where learning and service became collaborative experiences.
International Christian University (ICU) student delegates from Japan and Silliman University student buddies are joined by Asst. Prof. Ronald Kinilitan, Asst. Prof. Serlyn Sanson, and Asst. Prof. Noyme Lour Abegil Laviste (ISL Facilitators), Asst. Prof. Novee Maestrecampo Jr. (Director, Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning), and OCESL staff during the 2026 International Service-Learning (ISL) Program. The program brought together 14 ICU students and seven Silliman student buddies in an immersive service-learning experience that fostered intercultural understanding, community engagement, and global citizenship.
Throughout the program, the international delegates and their Silliman counterparts immersed themselves in agency-based and community-based service-learning placements that enabled them to work alongside local organizations while gaining a deeper appreciation of Philippine society, culture, and community development.
The agency-based component included placements at the City Social Welfare and Development Office through La Casa Esperanza and the Dumaguete City Youth Home, the Little Children of the Philippines Foundation through Hope Village and Bloomington Housing Farm Village, and Casa Miani Arvedi.
For the community-based immersion, participants lived with host families and collaborated with residents of Gawad Kalinga Jamalipayon Village in Barangay Jawa, Valencia; Nagkahugpong nga mga Kababayen-an sa Barangay Palinpinon (NAKAPA); HANDCLASP and the PWD Palinpinon Association in Barangay Palinpinon, Valencia; and Barangay Boloc-Boloc in Dauin.
The homestay experience allowed the students to encounter Filipino hospitality firsthand while developing a greater appreciation of local culture, community resilience, and grassroots development initiatives. Through service activities, cultural exchanges, guided reflection sessions, and shared daily experiences, participants deepened their understanding of social issues and discovered the value of mutual learning across cultures.
The 2026 International Service-Learning Program reflects SU’s continuing commitment to developing globally competent, socially responsible, and service-oriented graduates. As the University expands its international partnerships, OCESL continues to provide transformative learning opportunities that bridge cultures, cultivate compassionate leadership, and inspire a lifelong commitment to service.
