My Social Action Project

Activity 1.4- Reflection

Background information of the project:

I would like to start of by saying how amazing it was being apart of, conducting and running a project like this for the community. It was called The Shammah House project which was a home for abandoned children from ages as young as one and half years old to 12 years old being the eldest child. There were 14 children in total mixed of boys and girls living in this home that is run by a husband and wife that took in these children that come from all sorts of sad, heartbreaking, rough backgrounds. They do their best and work hard to put these children through school, food on the table, clothes on their backs, beds to sleep on and a roof over their heads. These children do not have the luxury meals and take out foods that we get to have on a regular basis or having the option to have tea and coffee in the morning or top of the range toiletry products such as toothpastes, soaps, shower gels ect, so we decided to run a drive with our school Robertsham Primary to collect non perishable food items and toiletries that these children can use over long periods of times.

The project:

After doing research on this home and contacting the people who run it we came up with the idea to a drive with the school. We ran this idea by the principal explaining what we wanted to do and she gave us the approval but also requested a time frame log which I created for her of what we will be doing on which day ect. So our project took the donation root where we would collect donations from students, teachers and outside organizations or anyone willing to donate towards our cause. Firstly I had prepared/made the power point presentation for a school assembly explaining our project, what we intend to do and what we expect of everyone in the process. A disclaimer, what I am about to mention below was done but due to time not being on our side as the principal could not accommodate us to an assembly for the project which I felt was unfair and unprofessional as a date and time was set for an assembly, however the principal did not stick to her time hence myself and the other students used the alternative and went to each class individually across the entire foundation phase and intermediate phase and explained it in exact detail as we would have done in assembly had we got the chance. In this presentation we spoke about the importance of helping and giving back to the community and less fortunate as well as the reason we are doing this. I had explained to the learners that from a certain date to a certain date will be the period of donation collection where myself and the other students involved will be coming around every morning to each class one by one to collect what they have brought. I explained what the term "non perishable" food meant as they are still young. I made a list of items of what the learners can donate to make it easier for them to understand and I also put pictures of the items on the slides to show them so they have an idea of it. The second part of the project was creating a note jar. I came up with the idea that with each donation a learner writes a small cute message/saying for the children at the home so that we can put it in the jar. The purpose of this jar is that the husband or wife looking after these children can take a note out of the jar everyday to read to the children as an act of positivism and motivation. I gave the learners examples of messages they can write to the kids and reminded them to keep it sweet and short. The third component of the project was posters and creating awareness which I kept to a close of just my grade 3 learners. I asked the children in my class specifically to make posters that creates awareness to donate and help these children. I had made some sample posters at home and brought to show them examples of what to write and do with the posters and how to make it as creative and eye catching as possible.

The effectiveness of each component in this project:

The posters and creating awareness component of the project went really well! My Grade 3 learners had the option to make posters at home over the weekend and during breaks and free time I took some of them in groups to make posters in the school library. They were provided with the paper and necessary materials to make posters and I must say some of the learners did go out of their way and above and beyond considering they are 8 and 9 year old's. The principal wanted to see all the posters for approval before allowing us to place them in the designated areas around the school. I created a flyer as a form of awareness which contained all the details for parents and outside organizations to see what the project was about and what they can donate. I was a bit disappointed with the school for the flyer component as they took a long time to upload the electronic copy of it on their D6 communicator because the donations had started already before they sent it out which was unprofessional on their part as they set times and dates again and did not stick to it. Overall the message of awareness was effective as children started to bring their donations and notes for the jar from the day instructed.

The donations component:

In all honesty the start to the donation process was slow because we collected very little in the first 3 days which made me wonder if the message was effective and got through, however donations picked up immensely from the second week. It was very wholesome to see that the children are so willing and kind to give back to the community. The donations were kept safely in a locked room inside the Media Centre which only myself and team members had access to. I was really touched by these two little girls who are sisters in separate Grade 1 classes where the parents sent separate food items for each child which to me was so amazing because some parents can say "I sent with one of my children which is enough". I found out later on that these same girls parents are actually financially struggling and they do not come from the best home situation which made their donation even more touching to me. In the beginning I made it clear that donating is not a MUST or YOU HAVE TO DONATE, I told the children only if they can afford to take something out of their cupboard to bring and to also not go out their way to buy items specifically for this project yet the turnout was so amazing. For the packaging of the items I went to wholesalers such as Spar, checkers, ect to ask for empty boxes that they weren't using and they were kind enough to give them to me for free. About 2 days before we were going to hand over the donations I stood back and looked at the amount we collected in a short time span which was so heartwarming. The Principal who was also our project supervisor was busy most of the time and in and out of school grounds so she did not have time to come in and physically see the stuff however she did say we must take pictures of it to show her, which again I personally felt was not right because time and accommodation was needed for us and I felt like we never got it which was unfortunately sad.

The note Jar component

The note jar was solely my idea which was one of the aspects that the principal pointed out in our meetings that she really liked which made me feel confident. Majority of the learners did bring notes with their donations but some also did forget but it was okay because we had more than enough to fill the jar. Some children from my class during their spare time wrote more than one note to put in the jar even though they had already given in one with the donation which was really nice to see as it showed me how effective the message and project was. On the day of delivery I decorated the glass jar that I myself had purchased for the notes with cute little colorful pictures and placed all the notes inside.

The packaging and delivery component

The packaging went well, we had enough boxes to separate and package all the goods. We went to deliver on the 21st September after school, we took the boxes in our own cars to go to the home which was based in Turfontein not far from the school. When we got to the Shammah house home the owners welcomed us with smiles and made us feel very comfortable. We were then introduced to all the children before we brought all the boxes into the house. The children each told us their names and how old they are. We had a little tour around the house where they showed us the lounge and kitchen and also their certifications of being allowed to keep the children which I felt was important. They also explained what they do there and how they conduct the household which was informative to me. The experience overall was heartwarming, we got to speak to the children and give them advice and take pictures with them. I gave the lady the note jar which she thought to be one of the sweetest things the children received. This was such a big learning experience for me and it had a big impact on the school as it showed them the importance of giving back and how donating just one item regardless of the type or brand can change an innocent child's life.

How has service-learning changed you personally?

Service learning and giving back to the community has had a profound and positive impact on my personal development. Serving others exposed me to different perspectives and challenges. This experience helped me develop my empathetic side as I gained a better understanding of the struggles and needs of others. I became more attuned to the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds. Engaging in service learning gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It provided a deeper meaning to life, as I saw the direct impact of my actions on others. Taking part in the act of community service enhanced my social and interpersonal skills, helping me to become a better communicator and a more effective team player. The knowledge that you're making a positive difference in my community boosted my self-esteem and self-confidence. It validates my abilities and contributions, making me feel more valuable and competent. By actively participating in community service I became more engaged in the issues and concerns of your community. This awareness can lead to greater civic participation and advocacy for positive change. Service learning and giving back to the community can be a transformative experience that shapes your character, values, and interpersonal skills. It not only benefited the community I served but also lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding for myself and of the world around me.

How has service-learning developed you professionally?

1. Leadership Skills: Service learning often involves taking on leadership roles within a project or organization. It has developed my leadership skills as it was m y project that I saw through from beginning to end. I took on skills such as decision-making, delegation, and motivating my team members.

2. Problem-Solving Abilities: When you work on community service projects, you encounter various challenges and problems that require creative and critical thinking. Service learning has enhanced my problem-solving skills as I had to create alternatives and solutions to problems that would come up along the line of the project.

3. Communication Skills: Effective communication is a crucial skill in both personal and professional life. Service learning has developed my communication skills as I was interacting with diverse groups of people.

4. Cultural Competency: Serving diverse communities exposed me to different cultures and backgrounds. This helped me become more culturally competent and better equipped to work in multicultural environments such as schools in my future.

The benefit of this initiative to the school

Engaging in charitable activities like our drive for the Shammah House fosters a sense of community within the school. It encouraged students, teachers, and staff to work together toward a common goal, creating a more inclusive and compassionate school environment. The initiative taught the students about empathy and social responsibility. It helped them understand the importance of giving back to those in need and fostered a sense of gratitude for what they have. Sustainability was achieved as it was a regular/daily donation process which also served as a constant reminder to the learners. Having dedicated individuals such as myself and team members within the school to organize and lead this project was crucial for sustainability. This ensured that the efforts were coordinated and well-executed for the project.