I served as a volunteer for Bal Mela an event hosted by Fountainhead School for underprivileged children from governmental schools across the city. My roles as a volunteer for the Arts and Craft segment involved devising creative coloring activities, and make them learn how to make news paper flowers and hats for the kids and moreover allow them to express themselves authentically

LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

Helping at the Bal Mela was a real learning curve. Seeing the kids’ faces light up as they proudly wore their creations was so rewarding. I learned I have patience for explaining things one-on-one, which is a strength. However, keeping a big group focused was tough. I need to find better ways to organize activities and make them super engaging for everyone. Their happiness motivates me to improve.

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience

Volunteering at the Bal Mela wasn’t always easy, but my commitment to bringing joy to the children kept me going. There was one day when the art supplies were completely disorganized, and it felt overwhelming. Instead of giving up, I spent extra time sorting everything, creating labeled boxes so the next session would run smoothly. Seeing the kids’ excited faces each day, even after a tiring setup, reinforced my perseverance. I learned that commitment means pushing through the challenges to make a positive impact, and that’s a lesson I’ll carry forward.

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively.

At the Bal Mela, making paper hats and flower crafts was definitely a team effort! I worked with other volunteers, and we quickly learned to divide tasks based on our strengths. Some were great at cutting, others at explaining, and I found I enjoyed helping with the trickier folding bits. When we hit a snag, like running out of a certain color, we brainstormed solutions together. Sharing ideas and helping each other meant we could handle more kids and create a more fun and organized environment. Seeing how much more we achieved together really showed me the power and benefits of collaboration more smiles, more hats, and a much smoother day