For three months, every Sunday, my friend and I volunteered at the Naari Sanrakshan Gruh, a shelter for underprivileged and marginalized women. We dedicated our time to teaching them English and conducting engaging activities to lift their spirits. I chose this service activity because I believe in empowering women and creating positive change within my community. The experience helped me grow, as I was able to contribute to these women’s development while also understanding the challenges they face in society.

LO3: Initiate and plan a CAS experience
Initiating and planning this CAS experience required extensive coordination and communication between my friend and I. We had to tailor our teaching methods and prepare engaging activities that would not only educate but also provide emotional relief. This planning taught me how to balance education with empathy and manage time effectively to meet the shelter’s needs.

LO4: Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience
Volunteering regularly for three months required a high level of perseverance and commitment. There were moments of frustration when our plans didn’t work as expected, but our determination to create a positive impact kept us going. Consistency was key, and it allowed us to build trust and form meaningful connections with the women.

LO5: Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively
Working alongside my friend helped me realize the importance of collaboration. We often divided responsibilities to make our sessions more efficient and effective, whether one was leading the lesson while the other managed group activities. This collaboration enhanced the experience as we could combine our strengths and deliver a more enriching program for the women.

LO6: Engagement with issues of global significance
By volunteering at the shelter, I engaged with the larger global issue of gender inequality and women’s empowerment. Many of the women at the shelter had faced significant hardships, and helping them develop skills like learning English empowered them to improve their future prospects. This experience deepened my understanding of the global challenges women face and how education plays a crucial role in their upliftment.

Learner Profile: Open-minded, communicators, thinkers
This experience helped me become more open-minded, as I was exposed to diverse backgrounds and stories that widened my perspective on life’s challenges. It also developed my communication skills, as I had to explain complex concepts in simple terms to ensure the women understood. Finally, the experience encouraged me to be a thinker, constantly reflecting on how to improve our teaching approach and adapt it to the specific needs of the women.