Bal Mela is an annual event where our school welcomes students from underprivileged schools for a day filled with fun activities like sports and arts. This was my third year participating, and I was involved in organizing and running different activities. I was mainly part of football and basketball shooting games, ensuring that the children had an enjoyable experience. I also spent some time at the origami stall, guiding the students while learning the art myself.

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills
I had to manage a large group of students and most of them didn’t have any experience in sports. Hence, I had to teach them from the very basics of football shooting, which was a challenge. In fact, when I talked to some students I realised some were playing football for the very first time, so I had to explain them the game in a simple and engaging way. This improved my communicationg and leadership skills. I had to ensure that every child was involved and having fun.

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience
This event required constant effort throughout the day. I helped in setting up the activity along with interacting with the children and keeping them involved. I stayed committed to ensure all students had a great time. Even when activities got crowded and chaotic, I remained focused and actively participated in different activities.

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively
This event wouldn’t have been possible without teamwork. I taught the students alongside my classmates who also took over the activities when I went on breaks in between. On the origami stall, my peers helped me learn the origami which we then taught to the students as well as a team. On the origami stalll, teamwork was even more required because it involved various steps such as teaching, folding, and cutting. Overall, we all supported each other to give the children a memorable experience.

LO6 – Engagement with issues of global significance
Bal Mela allowed me to directly engage with the issue of educational inequality. The students who attended did not have access to the same resources and extracurricular activities as we do. By organising fun and interactive activities, we helped bridge this gap. Even if only for a day, we gave them an experience they might not get otherwise. I met students this year which I had met last year in the same event and the smiles on their faces were truly heartwarming. This event would also inspire the teachers in these schools to introduce extracurricular activities in their schools.

LO7 – Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
While leading the activities, I had to be mindful of how I interacted with the students. Many students were shy or hesistant, so I had to encourage them without making them feel uncomfortable. Also, I had to ensure fairness by making sure that every child was included and not felt left behind. I wanted them to leave with positive memories of the event along with learnings.