Duration: 17th September 2023 – 20th February 2024

Community cleanup was a totally new experience for me as I had never been part of clean up drives before and hence I decided to enroll myself for this clean up drive to gain a new experience. As we were not habituated to clean these areas, it was difficult to clean those areas at first. The first location was Dumas beach clean up on a Sunday. We cleaned the areas that the people there in other drives were not. Then next 2 drives we cleaned up a pond filled with Duckweed. We not only cleaned up some part of the pond but also learnt from the mentors that how the duckweed is stopping the birds to come to the pond because of lack of oxygen and how is it impacting entire ecosystem. When we were told to get down the pond, no one at first was ready to do that but some of them did go eventually. But I decided that I would not get down the pond and instead helped them from outside the pond. The last drive was cleaning up the Lala Bapa Madhi in Jahangirpura. At the end of the drives I realised how our actions though they were only 4 drives had benefited the ecosystem to some extent.

LO2:Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills 

As we came through early in and then continued the drive for 2 long hours, the main challenge was when I started to feel the heat. It was then very challenging for me to work as I had started to loose the strength due to heat. Moreover, as I had not done this kind of drive earlier, the challenge was to consistently participate in the drive without complaining. I developed inquiring skills and ensured I work with hard work.

LO4:Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience 

I tried my best to always be persistent in the drives and give my best in participating in the drive as continuously cleaning for 2 hours was very tough yet possible. I ensured that I wake up for the 4 sessions, come to early in and clean till 10:30. Finally I was able to complete the drive and tried making a small change by cleaning up.

LO6:Engagement with issues of global significance

The global issue that we addressed through the drive was related to the waste that we throw without thinking. While cleaning I realised how cleaning up waste by each individual plays a role globally. Moreover, making me also realise that we only cleaned up during these drives but there a people that do it daily. Hence, through clean up drives, we contributed to the issue of waste being spread all around the world, starting with local areas.

LO7:Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Though we were cleaning and contributing to the environment, we did destroy microorganisms while going down the water we harmed microorganisms which are also part of the food chain and ecosystem and moreover, gloves and masks were also used which did generate more waste though we did not throw them here and there. Through this I recognised how each action even though benneficial for some, harms some other at a point.