Learning to Lead and Serve with the Heart | Oak International School
As October closes at Oak International School (OIS) Benin, our students have just completed a month dedicated to leadership, highlighted by a dynamic Leadership Bootcamp. This experience equipped them with practical skills in communication, teamwork, and decision-making, tools they are now ready to put into action as we begin our new monthly theme: “Service with the Heart.”
Learning to Lead with the Heart
At OIS Benin, education goes far beyond books and classrooms. Each month, our students are encouraged to grow in character, compassion, and leadership. This November, we invite them to transform leadership into meaningful service, to lead not only with their minds, but with their hearts.
Leadership at OIS is rooted in empathy. We believe that every act of service, whether big or small, builds the foundation for lifelong leadership and integrity.
Serving with Purpose
Service is one of the cornerstones of the OIS learning experience. Throughout the month, students will engage in activities that nurture empathy, teamwork, and responsibility. From classroom initiatives to community outreach, every project reminds learners that true leadership begins with a heart willing to serve.
Our goal is simple: to inspire students to see service not as a duty, but as a joy. Whether helping a classmate, showing kindness to teachers and staff, or contributing to a local cause, every gesture reinforces the values that define global citizenship.
Service as Action: A Core of the IB MYP
As an IB World School, OIS Benin integrates Service as Action into its Middle Years Programme (MYP), a vital part of the International Baccalaureate curriculum that connects classroom learning to real-world experience.
Through Service as Action, students:
- Identify community needs
- Plan and implement meaningful service projects
- Reflect on their impact and learning journey
This hands-on approach cultivates empathy, initiative, and global responsibility — key traits for lifelong learners and compassionate leaders.
Learn more about Service as Action in the IB curriculum here.
Leadership in Action: School Prefect Elections
November also marks one of the most exciting events of the school year, the OIS School Prefect Elections. Students will campaign, debate, and vote for peers who best represent our values of integrity, respect, excellence, and service.
More than a simple election, this process is a real-life lesson in democracy, teamwork, and accountability. Candidates are encouraged to lead by example, demonstrating that true leadership is not about privilege, but about service, courage, and humility.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Both the Month of Service and the Prefect Elections reflect OIS Benin’s holistic approach to education, one that balances academic excellence with character development. By empowering students to serve and lead, we prepare them not just for school success, but for meaningful, impactful lives beyond it.
Our mission remains clear, to nurture students who lead with purpose and serve with compassion.
Stay Connected: Follow the Journey!
Want to see our students in action?
Follow OIS Benin on social media to discover inspiring stories, videos, and highlights from our Service with the Heart projects all month long!
Follow OIS Benin:
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube
At OIS Benin, we don’t just teach leaders, we nurture hearts that lead.
For more information on admissions, visit our Admissions Page.
