Besharam cookies is a brand that one of my peers and I set into action in September of 2024 when I tasted one of cookies and the idea emerged. That is when we decided to kickstart this brand of ours without any aim and just to earn profit. Although that changed when we met to bake a batch of cookies and had a discussion on what are we doing to give back to the society as the youth, and that is when our aim changed from personal gains to giving back to the community and we decided to donate to the blind school.

LO 1: Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.

I often lack behind in management and marketing, two of the most important factors in running the brand and I had to learn them in order to make Besharam a success. That is when I consulted my parents in different situations where I faced problems and they helped me out. On the other hand, I was strong in finding suppliers and creating a network, and I used that to our benefit to reduce the costs of production.

LO 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

The challenge that we faced were getting the first few initial orders, no matter how many stories we uploaded, no one noticed. After consulting my parents about the same, they said that we had to get in field, meaning we must spread word in our target audience, and we did. We told teachers and students about our cookie business and while initially we did not get any response, when the news reached the correct audience, orders started coming in.

LO 3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

This is my CAS project. So in order to make it a success, we had to do some market research and we got to know that while home bakers like us do bake cakes and other confectioneries, no one does cookies, or at least cookies that our generation wants to eat. Then we had to search for different recipes online for eggless cookies that were as gooey and as tasty. Then we had to find suppliers for the raw material. Then we had to find the per cookie cost. And then we had to figure out cheap yet effective packaging and then a way to deliver the cookies.

LO 4: Show perseverance and commitment towards a CAS experience

This brand required us to constantly meet up each weekend and sometimes during the weeks to source cheap yet quality raw material, finding new recipes to keep up with the trend, to find per piece cost and to bake the goods. We had to continue this cycle for over 4 months in order to collect enough profits to donate.

LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

This LO fits really well with our brand story because as my partner was skilled and passionate about baking, we started the brand. Although he lacked in networking and social media, areas where I was good at. Hence we started the brand where he baked and I marketed.

LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

By this project, we aim to challenge the global issue of Quality education and Inequality.

Quality education: By donating to the blind school, we will be able to help them get quality resources allowing them for a better quality of education

Reducing inequality: When the blind people will be more skilled, the inequality that they face will significantly reduce because they will have a respected space in the society allowing them to be treated equally, reducing inequality. 

Collaboration to achieve goals: Because the blind people will have a greater skillset due to them having a quality education, they will be able to help us achieve the goals.

LO 7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

Initially we were supposed to keep the profits to our selves, but then we thought how ethical was that, me and my friend had a family that could fulfil our needs and wants but what about the kids who might not be able to that. Additional we thought what about the kids that are differently abled, and what challenges they face that we don’t. Hence we decided to donate 50% of our profits, and while not much, small drops make the ocean.