duration: 5th August to 20th august (weekends)

Underprivileged learners from several surrounding schools participate in FS’s community service initiative. For three weekends in a row, these kids come to our school to spend time with us and take part in various activities including science projects, dance, football, ICT, and arts and crafts.

As volunteers for the community service programme, we were all requested to learn various dance choreographies and teach the kids the same. During my three weekends of community service, we taught the kids 3 different choreographies. Overall, the impoverished students’ and our community service experience was rewarding, enjoyable, and a little chaotic. Although, in the beginning most kids who came to our school were unfamiliar with us therefore it took us some time to get to know one another. One of the main issue was the communication gap; since not all of the FS students spoke Gujarati, and not majority of the kids completely understood Hindi, the communication between us was not very fruitful. Although, after we had been properly acquainted with each other, they were able to recognise us after the first weekends.

LO5: Demonstrate off your skills and recognise the benefits of collaboratively

Collaborating with all the other members that were present there was essential to provide the underprivileged kids attending FS with proper guidance during this three-week event. We split up our group into two halves in order to provide the kids a better learning experience. We would teach the kids certain skills together that didn’t require as much confusion or one-on-one time with each kid.

LO4: Show commitment and perseverance in the CAS experience

The aim for this CAS experience was to teach the impoverished kids new dance techniques, let them learn to enjoy dance and have fun every weekend. While it may seem simple to show up every weekend, as students we are not accustomed to rising early and attending class on Sundays, so after the first weekend things become phlegmatic. The difference we, as volunteers, were able to make in the lives of these impoverished kids by teaching them new skills on the weekends inspired me to continue to do this for 3 weekends consecutively.

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.

LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

Despite coming from an affluent household, I realised from working with these deprived kids that I had access to a good education and a secure environment in which to develop. These kids, however, lack what I possess. It is my belief that the youngsters benefited much from this three-day session. The event taught me to feel gratitude towards what I had.