(LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth, LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken to develop new skills, LO5-. Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively, LO6-engagement with issues of global significance, LO7-Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions)

The Karma Kitchen is a completely volunteer-run event whose sole purpose is to give of one’s self for the benefit of others; it is an attempt to create a culture of paying it forward to grow in generosity. In today’s economy, where everything has a monetary value, Karma Kitchen has tried to remove the price tag. This has helped to bring gratitude to the guests as well as to the volunteers. The volunteers were given a restaurant and had to prepare food, and additional services like cleaning, waitressing, post-cleaning, and managing.

I chose to volunteer as a waitress for this event. It was difficult for me as I didn’t have any experience of being a waitress so everything about it was a new challenge for me. It was a challenge as I had to learn how to serve, greet and interact with guests. I had to learn how to have a calm tone and to be patient when guests questioned or complained. I had to constantly be in motion, meaning, I had to run back and forth to take orders, serve customers and talk to the kitchen about orders. Working on your feet for the entire shift is very tiring and exhausting. The work gets more difficult during rush hour. As a waitress, I must be attentive, tactful, friendly, and polite to everyone. I also needed a sharp memory to remember names, faces, and preferences.

Furthermore, I had to work together with other volunteers who were waitering. We had to work together to serve well. We sometimes had to communicate with each other in signals and had to sometimes take each other’s orders to ensure smooth function. We also had to coordinate with the kitchen head who had to communicate between the cooks and the waiters and ensure we received the right orders. As a team, all the volunteers worked together to make this event a success.

Working on ethics, Karma Kitchen as mentioned above is a fully volunteer-led event, and the actions we as volunteers take directly reflect on the organization itself. We have to maintain our tone and our words and ensure we maintain a positive profile that reflects all the things that are being taught. Furthermore, the idea of paying according to the guest’s gratitude. The meals are cooked and served with love and offered to the guest as a genuine gift. To complete the full circle of giving and sustain this experiment, guests make contributions in the spirit of pay-it-forward to those who will come after them.

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