The Service club I decided to join this year is Hope for Kids, a group that works to support childhood cancer patients in Sri Lanka and their families, working directly with the CCC house- a transit-house for outpatients of the national cancer institute. To say that I am grateful to be allowed the opportunity to get involved with such a cause is an understatement.
The group has found this year to be slightly more challenging than its predecessors due to the ongoing pandemic. As the health of the children is our top priority, we have been made to brainstorm activities and initiatives that do not put them at risk, and have had to persevere and work collaboratively together to come up with suitable ideas. Our to-do list includes the sorting through and allocation of funds as well as other projects to raise awareness in our own community. Our first task of the year was organizing the delivery of craft materials to the CCC house so that the kids could engage in online Christmas decoration tutorials, created by us. We also dropped off other domestic supplies such as tea bags and flour. It was incredibly rewarding to hear that the drop-off went smoothly and we were able to make their Christmas a little brighter.
Additionally, I helped to set up an Instagram account for the group, as we recognized the value of having a strong online presence and engaging with the rest of the OSC community via social media. Working in small teams, we used Canva, an online infographic software, to create eye-catching posts. We also created an interactive story, allowing followers to test their knowledge on childhood cancer statistics in Sri Lanka. By the end of 48 hours, we had amassed 100 followers! We plan to utilize this platform to continue to connect with our target audience and share possible ways of aiding the residents of CCC house.
LO5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively Students are able to identify, demonstrate and critically discuss the benefits and challenges of collaboration gained through CAS experiences.
LO6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance Students are able to identify and demonstrate their understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions, and take appropriate action in response to the issue either locally, nationally, or internationally.