Numerous activities that benefit disadvantaged kids are held at our school. They seek volunteers from our school to help with events they organize for impoverished kids from other schools. These include different sports, science-related activities, and arts and crafts, of which I participated in the bracelet-making activity under the arts and crafts category. My friends who had engaged in the same activity as me were seated next to me. The school logistics staff provided us with beads, which we used to make bracelets that we offered to the kids who wanted one.

LO1 – identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

With children, I’ve always been good. I like to hang out and play a lot with them. This event needs a lot of experience working with children. Being able to engage with them was a strength of mine as we talked to them and asked how they wanted their bracelets to look. However, I still have a long way to go in terms of artistic development. I ended up breaking quite a few bracelet strands by accident; with this specific situation, I could have grown and improved with a little more practice and precision.

LO2 – demonstrate challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

For my part, I won’t consider myself as very artistic or creative. Being in the arts category was a problem for me because I have never been good at arts and crafts. Nevertheless, my friends were there to support me in overcoming this weakness, and with a little perseverance and practice, I was able to use the beads to make bracelets for the kids. 

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively

From the arts and crafts area, each of us was placed into separate groups. To make this event successful for the kids who came, perhaps six or seven of us collaborated. Although a few of us had prior knowledge, the majority of us didn’t know how to create bracelets flawlessly before the event. They guided us and assisted us all along the way. Our ability to assist one another, from adding beads to the strands to tying knots to keep it together, was a strength that helped to make this event a success. 

LO6 – Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance  

Poverty is a serious global issue. We are surrounded by it, especially those of us from highly populated countries like India. By taking part in these events, one can provide facilities that otherwise disadvantaged children would not be able to afford.