Service component:
LO 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
LO 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
LO 3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
LO 7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
Unitree Surat as an NPO working for kids with special needs to create a zero isolation community. This idea was initiated by me a year ago and we’ve come along a long way. I basically gather teenagers of my age every Sunday for different activities along with kids with Down syndrome. One of the projects under Unitree is Soul House Cafe. Soul house cafe would be a space where we can provide employment to adults with special needs. For the same, our team needed funding so I decided to organize 2 fund raising events by myself which will be on a small scale (due to the pandemic) and can raise enough funds.
The festivals were on the corner so I decided to throw a Diwali party where people from outside could join in and had a basic amount of fee for a specific person to raise funds. Organizing different events is a hectic job but I decided to create a core team under me and I could divide all the work so that I can self manage along with my academics and extra curricular. So I put up a message in the volunteering group and during the entire process of organizing the Diwali party I’d realized one of my strengths which was supervising. The process required a lot of creativity since working with a bunch of people to make an Indian festival party creative enough for the audience to join in was something new for all of us. Along with my strength I also came to a realization about my weakness. My weakness was communication and commitment. I used to overcommit in all of the projects which led to change in my priorities. As soon as I realized that I started working on my organization skills. I used to face issues communicating with the audience too but during the Diwali party I spoke up in front of more than 100 people which was an achievement for me.
My entire NPO involved a lot of ethical concerns since it is all about creating inclusion. Every step on the way I’ve to make sure no one if offended and that people get what they’re expecting. I used to feel really bad when a few of the people would only come for their school projects or to build up college resumes but I knew I had to accept that Unitree was an NPO and the people voluntarily working are investing their time and that is all that should matter. Along with the Diwali party I also organized the Christmas Prom Party where I did the similar thing.
Christmas prom party picture:
Diwali party:
