The LIFE programme – University students learning leadership and teamwork through service learning in El Salvador

ABSTRACT The programme LIFE (Líderes Inspirando Futuro y Éxito/Leaders Inspiring Future and Success) was developed to foster socio-emotional development of university students and pupils from urban marginalised schools in El Salvador. Youth in this region grow up facing many challenges, including a high rate of violence and a lack of access to opportunities. In LIFE, university students implement a workshop on teamwork and entrepreneurism for pupils from the 8th and 9th grades. They work in teams and become mentors for the pupils. The 8th and 9th graders also work in teams to develop a project plan. This article focuses on the perspectives and experiences of the university students, as documented through focus group interviews and learning diaries. The analyses revealed that students perceived learning outcomes in the areas of leadership, teamwork, strategic thinking/problem solving and personal growth.