For me, the rural immersion trip was really memorable since it was the first time I had ever experienced and learned about the different aspects of rural life. We were there for the duration of 6 days. I wasn’t really excited about the trip when we heard that we will have to be in a farm most of the time, but once we arrived, a lot of my thoughts were changed. We met Maganbhai Ahir on Day 1. He is a born farmer and the main person of an Organic company GirOrganic.Creativity was when we taught the children to play football and show them different things in the sport. We did farming by feeding cows sugarcane as part of our activity. Serving lunch to those in the ashramshala and cleaning the Ashramshala class was service.

Living with just basic amenities was quite a culture shock compared to my urban upbringing. However, it provided remarkable learning opportunities that helped me meet several CAS outcomes. We stayed in simple accommodation at the village school, sleeping on matresses on the floor with just electric fans for comfort. Our days involved tasks like fetching water, milking cows, cutting grass, harvesting crops and more. At first I struggled with the physical labor having little experience.

LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth Being outside my comfort zone highlighted strengths in problem-solving practically. However, it also showed weaknesses in my stamina and handwork abilities. By pushing myself to keep improving each day, I gained self-awareness and confidence in my capabilities. This rural immersion helped me better understand the realities of subsistence farming and running a household with few resources.

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills I stepped out of my normal routine to face unprecedented challenges like basic living conditions, communal lifestyle and manual labor. This allowed me to develop new competencies that will help me better appreciate different perspectives and cultures. The trip also gave valuable lessons in grit, resourcefulness and collaboration which I can apply to future goals.

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience Fully immersing myself in village life for 6 days tested my perseverance and commitment. The physical labor was challenging for someone from an urban background. I would often wake sore and tired each morning, wanting to quit. However, seeing the villagers’ dedicated hard work and their welcoming hospitality motivated me to push through difficulties each day. Staying focused on learning from this experience helped me fulfill my commitment to the CAS trip aims.

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboartively Collaborating closely with my peers and classmates was integral to accomplishing farming tasks and everyday living. Dividing labor efficiently and relying on translators to bridge the language gap allowed beneficial teamwork. For activities like harvesting crops with classmates, cooperation and compromise were necessary for success. By putting individual needs aside for the greater communal good, I witnessed firsthand collaboration’s true power. These lessons in cooperation, effective communication and flexible problem solving will serve me well in future group projects.

LO6 – Engagement with issues of global significance My daily interactions and observations in Sankheda exposed me to local issues surrounding food/water security, healthcare access, education quality, and poverty impacts. Witnessing agriculture’s difficulties amid changing climate and market demands illuminated global sustainability challenges. Discussing such matters respectfully with villagers broadened my awareness of interconnected societal problems worldwide. This immersive experience significantly increased my cultural competence and motivation to responsibly address global concerns through open-mindedness and community participation going forward.

LO7 – Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions Interacting closely with the village community gave insights into the ethics behind their choices and way of life. Small decisions have consequences, and prioritizing community over individual needs showed an admirable work ethic. This experience will influence me to carefully consider broader impacts and make choices respecting cultural norms going forward.

To conclude, being pushed outside my comfort zone in Sankheda provided profoundly impactful life lessons. I feel this trip achieved its aims of fostering personal growth and global citizenship values through meaningful cultural exposure and a really good experience.