Our CAS project, “Sanitary Pad Making, Education, and Awareness,” was initiated by the school and carried out through a collaboration with Kamakhya, a community based organization focused on menstrual health. Over a few weeks, our group of 5 people worked on making eco-friendly pads, conducting awareness sessions, and distributing them to a local school. This project aimed to address menstrual hygiene, break taboos, and encourage open discussion about women’s health.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
One of the biggest challenges I faced was talking about menstruation openly, as it is often treated as a taboo subject. Though it was a topic I wanted to talk about, I initially thought if I would be able to speak publicly about it without feeling hesitant and awkward. However, I realized that breaking this discomfort was essential to truly create awareness. Through repeated discussions and interactive sessions, I developed stronger communication and confidence-building skills.
I also faced coordination challenges, managing time, organizing materials, and ensuring our group stayed on track required patience and adaptability. By the end, I learned how to express my thoughts clearly and sensitively. This challenge taught me to step out of my comfort zone, and now I feel more confident engaging in open conversations about topics that are often avoid or neglected. I believe this skill will be useful in the future for advocacy, teamwork.
LO3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
Although our school initiated the project, the responsibility of executing it was left to us. Our teacher gave us the freedom to plan the process — from contacting Kamakhya, to organizing the pad-making session and planning the awareness campaign. Initially, planning felt overwhelming because we were unsure where to begin, but once we divided roles and coordinated systematically, everything started falling into place.
This experience helped me recognize my ability to take initiative, plan effectively, and think critically when things didn’t go as expected. I also realized that good planning requires both structure and flexibility. This project has made me more confident about planning and leading initiatives independently in the future.
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
Working with my group was mostly easy and enjoyable because we shared a similar vision. There were minor differences in ideas, but we resolved them through open discussion. Collaboration was especially important when managing meet up addresses, date and schools to distribute in with what to say about the topic. We also had to communicate with external members from Kamakhya and coordinate the distribution process efficiently.
This experience reinforced the importance of teamwork, active listening, and compromise. By working collaboratively, we achieved much more than we could have individually.
LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
Our project addressed the global issue of women’s health and menstrual hygiene, which connects directly to access to sanitation, key parts of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through this project, I understood how deeply social taboos and lack of awareness can affect women’s dignity and education.
What surprised and encouraged me was discovering that many schoolgirls we met were already informed and comfortable discussing menstrual hygiene. It made me feel hopeful about progress in breaking long standing taboos. Engaging with this issue made me more empathetic and aware of how global challenges manifest in local contexts.
conclusion and Learner Profile Attributes
Through this experience, I developed as an Open-minded and Caring individual, able to approach sensitive topics with respect and empathy. I became a Communicator by learning to express ideas confidently and sensitively, and a Thinker by finding creative ways to make discussions engaging and educational. I also became more Knowledgeable, not just about menstrual health but also about the power of collective community action. This project truly helped me grow as a globally aware and socially responsible individual.
