Joining the clean up drive was a completely new experience for me.Before this i had never take part in such activity.I saw a message about a wetland clean-up drive and decided to join. On those sunday mornings we arrived with gloves, garbage bags, and a strong goal to make a difference. We started with a briefing discussing the importance of cleaning plastic and waste from the environment. Then we divided into teams and picked up trash from different areas. I focused on collecting plastic and filling large green recyclable bags which we later placed in a designated spot for further disposal. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up participating in three clean-up drives.

LO4- Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experience

Being part of the clean-up drive was not easy but I stayed committed. Waking up early on Sundays was tough and collecting waste for hours was tiring. The bad smell and carrying heavy garbage bags made it even harder but I didn’t give up and realized that how hard working and committed the actual cleaners who clean our city are. Even when i felt exhausted i kept going on because i wanted to make a difference.Seeing the place get cleaner after our efforts made it all worth it. This experience taught me that never giving up is important to make a difference. Even when things were hard staying focused and working as a team helped us create a positive change. The clean-up drive not only helped the environment but also made me more responsible and determined.

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

Teamwork was very important in completing this clean-up drive. We were taken to different polluted areas of the city where there was a lot of garbage and landfills. Cleaning such a huge area was not easy so we worked in small groups to collect waste. Working together helped us collect more trash quickly and efficiently. It also taught us that teamwork and dedication are key to achieving any goal even if the task is difficult. At times we worked individually but teamwork made the process much easier. On the first day my group of five to six people had only one bag to fill and we managed to do it very quickly. This showed how working together made the task much faster. On the second and third days we were given individual bags and thats when we realized how hard it was to collect waste alone. Even then whenever someone finished early they helped others making the process faster and more effective.Many people passing by appreciated our work and it helped spread the message about keeping the environment clean.This experience showed me that teamwork makes difficult tasks easier.

LO6- Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

Plastic waste is a global issue. When plastic piles up on land it leads to pollution and the formation of microplastics which release harmful chemicals and damage the environment. To help with this issue I joined this clean-up drive to protect wetlands and promote sustainability. By doing this I hoped to reduce land pollution and help prevent the loss of biodiversity. Our efforts in the clean-up drive were more than just a local effort they also helped spread awareness and bring small but meaningful change at an individual level. If done on a larger scale such actions can help address major global issues like plastic waste pollution and environmental sustainability. By cleaning public places and rivers we not only improved the surroundings but also encouraged discussions about the impact of human activities on the environment.

LO7- Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

During this clean-up drive I thought about the impact of my choices and actions. I realized how much plastic waste is in our city. The wetland walkway we cleaned was just a small place but had so much plastic. Every few steps there was some kind of waste. This made me think about my own habit of throwing away plastic and made me reflect on my actions. Since then I have been more careful about using and disposing of plastic. I also felt proud of myself for helping the environment and doing something good for society. I believe this was the right thing to do and I want to continue joining such activities in the future whenever possible.

Conclusion

To conclude the clean-up drive was a great experience. I always wanted to join one and after my first time I went for two more. It felt good to help the environment and society while also learning something new. This experience made me more aware of my actions and the waste we create every day. It also motivated me to be more responsible with plastic use and do more for the community. The drive was successful as we collected a lot of garbage and spread awareness among locals who appreciated our work. Seeing the impact we made inspired me to keep making positive changes for the environment.