Being part of Bal Mela was a meaningful experience for me. The event is all about giving underprivileged children a day filled with fun, learning, and sports at our school. My role was to teach them how to shoot a football, helping them learn a new skill while making sure they felt confident and included. I encouraged them to enjoy the game and stay excited while also improving my own communication and leadership skills. This experience allowed me to make a positive impact on their lives and better understand the challenges they face.

LO1: Identifying Strengths and Areas for Growth

Through this experience, I realized that I have a natural ability to connect with children and create an encouraging and enthusiastic environment for them. However, when children from outside our school joined, managing the crowd became challenging, especially when everyone wanted to kick football. This made me recognize the need to improve my crowd management skills. It has motivated me to work on better organizing strategies and develop more patience in high-pressure situations.

LO2: Undertaking Challenges and Developing New Skills

One of the biggest challenges was teaching football to children who had little to no prior experience with the sport. We had to simplify our approach, breaking down each skill into easy-to-follow steps. Many of the kids were hesitant at first, unsure of how to kick or control the ball. Patience, adaptability, and clear communication were key in helping them understand the basics. By the end of the session, seeing their excitement when they successfully kicked the ball into the goal was extremely rewarding.

LO3: Demonstrate how to Initiate and plan a CAS experience

Planning my session for the children required a well-structured and thoughtful approach. I had to come up with simple yet engaging ways to teach football shooting while considering the different skill levels of the children. This experience reinforced the importance of thorough preparation, as I needed to design drills that were easy to follow but still enjoyable. Additionally, I had to be adaptable, making quick adjustments based on the children’s responses and enthusiasm. Time management was also crucial, as I needed to ensure that every child had an equal opportunity to participate, learn, and feel encouraged throughout the session.

LO4: Showing Commitment to and Perseverance in CAS experiences

At a certain point, in the middle of Bal Mela, I felt like a machine. I was teaching the same football shooting technique over and over again, using the same instructions, the same drills, and answering the same questions repeatedly. I was constantly demonstrating how to shoot, correcting mistakes, and encouraging each child to try again. Sitting in the same position for so long, I started feeling exhausted and wanted to take a long break. But just as I thought about stepping away, I saw another group of students from a different school approaching. This could have been the moment when I said, “I’m done,” but instead, I embraced the situation. Rather than giving up, I pushed myself to stay committed and show perseverance. For the sake of the students, so they could experience the joy of learning football, I remained patient, gathered more footballs, and continued teaching with the same enthusiasm, ensuring that every child got a chance to learn and enjoy the game.

LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

While I was in charge of football shooting, my fellow volunteers and I worked together to ensure a seamless experience. We took turns teaching, goalkeeping, organizing students, and maintaining decorum to create an engaging and structured session. This experience strengthened my teamwork skills and highlighted how collaboration enhances problem-solving, adaptability, and overall effectiveness in achieving a shared goal.

LO6: Demonstrate Engagment with issues of Global Significance

This experience shed light on the significant gap in access to recreational and educational opportunities for underprivileged children. Sports and arts, which should be a source of joy and learning, are often out of reach due to financial and social barriers. Through my interactions with these children, I gained a deeper understanding of the real-world effects of inequality and the crucial role that inclusive initiatives like Bal Mela play in bridging this gap. It reinforced the importance of creating opportunities where every child, regardless of their background, can explore, learn, and enjoy new experiences.

LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and action

Ethical considerations were crucial, as the event was about more than just having fun—it was about making a meaningful impact. Treating the children with respect, ensuring fairness, and fostering a safe environment were key responsibilities. I became more conscious of the privilege I hold and the responsibility to use it for positive change.