As part of the final stretch of DP, I have begun to plan and explore possible CAS Project topics. A key skill I developed through the IB, and that I hope to carry on implementing as I go into university, is collaboration. In order to truly strengthen my CAS Project, I feel that collaborating with a peer would be useful, as a combination of skills, ideas, and connections can allow me to achieve my goals more efficiently.
My CAS Project will focus on the service aspect of CAS as I will be working with Zoe, leader of the Room to Read service group at school. Our idea is to combine my art skills as well as her service space to create a book shop located on school campus. The book shop itself will resell old books, giving them a home to be read and enjoyed again. All funds raised within this book shop will be reinvested into the Room to Read service group, which donates funds to local Sri Lankan schools in need of key learning facilities, like libraries or computer labs.
In light of this CAS Project, I created a set of S.M.A.R.T goals to guide my decision making and efficiency as I go into tasks:
S – Setting realistic goals, that are conscious
M – Make sure the goal is trackable
A – Work towards a goal that is challenging but attainable
R – Be realistic in the goals you are setting for yourself and the people around you
T – Give yourself mini and larger deadlines (time-bound)
1- I firstly hope to set up a meeting with Zoe, who I will be collaborating with to achieve this CAS experience. Ideally, this meeting will take place within the next week in order to discuss key concepts to be highlighted for the sale, as well as brainstorm design ideas to make our project unique.
2- Set goals; target fund for the sale would be around 25-50 thousand rupees, which would then be donated into the Room to Read service as well as to external charities within Sri Lanka. For example, in relation to my own service Girls for Girls, funds raised could be donated to the Emerge Lanka organisation, which works with survivors of sexual assault.
3- Come up with a selling time schedule i.e. Primary lunch, break, after school – to optimise funds raised
Personal Goals:
– I will use my artistic skills to contribute to this project by creating both a logo for the book shop and a poster, which will be distributed around school to promote the shop and develop the cause/brand. Before distributing a confirmed poster for the shop, I along with the leaders of Room to Read, printed and hung A3 promotional posters to spread word of the shop.
Promotional poster for the bookstore: made by Room to Read service member
My poster made for when the shop is running
To prepare for the startup of the book shop, Zoe and I decided it would be beneficial if we scheduled meetings with both the head of school as well as the head of the library – for permission and planning advice. Additionally to prepare, I will be creating a digital poster using Canva which will not only be used to advertise the book shop, but also bring light to the causes behind its start. The poster would ideally be placed in the daily bulletin as well as printed and distributed around campus.
The process of implementing a shop on campus may take time, so Zoe and I have been aware of this as we develop our project. The key goal behind the project is to acquire the necessary permission, advertising, and equipment (a space for the shop and the books to sell). This will be valuable as our contributions to the Room to Read service before we depart from school, setting up the store for the future Room to Read leaders to manage.
Thus far, the primary goal set has already been achieved, as the Room to Read service group and I met with the Head of School to pitch the idea of an on-campus book shop as well as consolidate a plan to acquire a space for the shop. This meeting was successful towards the accomplishment of my CAS project, as the Head of School supported the idea and provided us with a room to house the shop.
Photo taken my myself: Room to Read service leaders presenting the book shop concept to the Head of School
Since this meeting, additional key goals for implementing the shop have been made to be achieved:
- Decorate and tidy the provided room for the shop: During the meeting with the Head of School, a room was obtained for the shop. This room however needs to be redecorated. I will use my art skills to collaborate with Room to Read members, as I will be repainting the walls using vibrant, welcoming colours. Additionally I will be painting designs on the walls to establish the themes of the shop. I plan to use free periods as well as time after school to work on this. Other members from campus have additionally offered to contribute to the shop, the schools Housing and Habitat service group which focuses on building, will be providing shelves to display the books. This not only enhances the collaborative nature of this CAS project, but also integrates a good use of resources, so as not to buy from larger corporations, but to integrate other service groups; a cheaper and more environmentally-conscious solution as materials will be reused and sourced efficiently.