Swim to Fight Cancer

International School Breda

As an IB World School, Service Learning is at the core of the curriculum at the International School Breda in The Netherlands. Students are encouraged to look for volunteering activities and ‘Swim to Fight Cancer’, an annual charity event held across the country is one of the opportunities the ISB school community embraces.

‘’When the Dutch charity ‘Swim to Fight Cancer’ announced an event in our city of Breda, several students and staff members got together and formed a school team. For some participants, the motivation to take part was very personal. For example, our mother-and-daughter team Yvonne and Abigail, had not only seen from close-up that cancer can take and destroy lives, but also that it can be beaten, and that research is needed to allow this to happen’’, explains Alison Stark, ISB’s Head of Secondary.

It’s the second time the school took part in the swim event that challenges the participants to swim 2km in open water to raise funds for cancer research. The charity event takes place in different cities and has one goal: to raise awareness and funds for research to help beat cancer. ISB families not only donated but also became actively involved, in and out of the water, and turned this opportunity into a real school community event.

‘’Participants were creative in how they raised money, with ideas ranging from organizing bake sales to selling artwork or taking on special chores to help others. We couldn’t be more proud of the students, staff, and families who took part in this challenge to raise almost 5000 Euros for the charity. It’s service learning at its best and it shows that the concepts of helping others and being challenged to dare and learn something new are not mutually exclusive and that you can have fun while doing both too!’’

For more information about learning at International School Breda visit: www.internationalschoolbreda.nl