Karuna Club is a student-led initiative focused on creating a compassionate and supportive environment for stray dogs. The club aims to promote harmonious co-existence between humans and animals through activities like nutritional support, preventative healthcare, and community awareness. As someone who deeply loves dogs, joining this club felt meaningful and personal. I was fortunate to be part of the core team, where I helped manage the club’s social media presence, particularly by running the Instagram page to spread awareness and engage the community. To raise funds for dog food and medical care, we organized a bake sale. Since baking is one of my passions, I actively contributed and helped make the event a success. The outcome was very rewarding, we raised a significant amount, which directly supported our mission of helping stray dogs. This experience allowed me to combine creativity, service, and leadership, all while supporting a cause I truly care about.
LO 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
Being a part of the Karuna Club allowed me to identify and apply several of my strengths, while also recognising areas where I could grow. One of my key strengths is creativity, especially in activities like baking and designing engaging social media content. I used these skills effectively to contribute to our successful bake sale fundraiser and to run the club’s Instagram page, which helped increase community engagement and awareness. At the same time, I realised the importance of strategic planning and time management, especially while balancing schoolwork with club responsibilities. Managing the social media presence consistently and coordinating with team members required improved organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently under pressure. This experience helped me recognize that while I enjoy being creative and taking initiative, I can further develop by refining my leadership and communication skills, particularly in managing tasks across a team. It encouraged me to be more accountable, reflective, and open to feedback, all of which contribute to personal growth.
LO 3: Initiate and plan a CAS experience
Being part of the Karuna Club core team has given me hands-on experience in initiating and planning service-based activities. Before every drive, we engage in detailed planning and coordination, including identifying the venue, organizing resources, and managing funds. We raise funds through bake sales and are constantly brainstorming new ideas to support our goals more effectively. An important part of our planning process includes ensuring that the nutritional value of the food provided to the stray dogs meets their health needs, this shows our commitment to not just helping, but doing so responsibly and sustainably. Post-drive, we work on social media content, such as creating and uploading Instagram reels, which helps us increase our reach and spread awareness. Through this experience, I’ve developed skills in event planning, teamwork, and digital communication, and learned the importance of thoughtful preparation and follow-through for any successful initiative.
LO 5: Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively
Working as part of the Karuna Club core team allowed me to experience the true value of collaboration. From planning bake sales to organizing service drives and managing our Instagram page, every task required cooperation, communication, and shared responsibility among team members. During our fundraising events, we divided roles based on individual strengths, whether it was baking, handling logistics, managing finances, or designing promotional content. This helped us function efficiently and ensured that everyone contributed meaningfully. Collaborating with others taught me how to listen to different perspectives, resolve disagreements constructively, and work toward a common goal with shared enthusiasm. Through this experience, I strengthened my teamwork skills, learned to trust and rely on others, and understood how collective effort can lead to greater impact, especially when working for a cause as meaningful as animal welfare.
LO 7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions.
Being a part of Karuna Club helped me become more aware of the ethical responsibilities involved in service work, especially when it comes to animal welfare. Every decision we made from the type of food we provided to the stray dogs, to the way we represented our cause on social media required careful thought to ensure that our actions were responsible, respectful, and sustainable. We made a conscious effort to research the nutritional needs of the dogs before purchasing food, rather than choosing cheaper, less healthy options. This choice reflected our commitment to their well-being, not just short-term support. Additionally, when running the bake sale, we ensured transparency in how funds were collected and spent, maintaining honesty and accountability within our team and with the school community. This experience deepened my understanding of how even small actions in service can have ethical implications, and taught me to always consider the long-term impact and intentions behind the work we do.
Overall, my experience with Karuna Club has been both meaningful and transformative. It allowed me to explore my interests, contribute to a cause I deeply care about, and grow as a more responsible and engaged individual. From organizing events and raising funds to managing social media and working with a team, I learned the importance of planning, collaboration, and ethical responsibility. The journey was filled with challenges, but it helped me strengthen my skills, adapt to new situations, and truly understand the impact of compassionate action. I’m grateful to have played a part in supporting animal welfare while learning so much along the way.