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CAS Reflections
Saturday, 22nd April, 2023.
An Overview
Creativity,
IB Profile
Serial Number Task Activity, or Description Hours Devoted
Characteristics
Service
Teaching Teaching Initially the
underprivileged, children how to activity was from
Principled/
run- away make self- 9 o’clock to 11
Caring,
1. children how to Service watering o’clock however;
Communicators,
make Self- planters, on this event was
Open- Minded
Watering account of Earth extended till 2
Planters Day. o’clock. 5 Hours

IB Learner Profile
Inquirers.

Knowledgeable.

Thinkers.

Communicators.

Principled.

Open-minded.

Caring.

Risk-takers.

Course of Events
1. I had registered for this event on Friday, 14th April 2023.

2. An email regarding the details of the event was shared a day prior to the event.

3. I was asked to carry paint brushes, coloured pens, paint tubes, plastic bottles, and wooden
spoons.

4. I reported at the DMRC Children's Home, there I was shown a demonstration of the process
which I was to teach the children.

CAS Reflections 1
 First, one must cut open the plastic bottle into 2 halves, the one below should be bigger than the
other.

A hole must be made in the cap and a string must be pulled through it.

3/4th of the small portion of the plastic bottle must be filled with cocopeat.

Seeds must be sprinkled on top and finally more cocopeat must be spread over the seeds.

The larger portion must be filled with water ensuring the string is well immersed in the water to
draw it out.

The water drawn out, is then used for providing moisture to the seeds.

5. I alongside my team were made aware that these children were “run- away” children, a term I find
harsh towards them. The instructor explained that these children may have criminal records,
family problems, mental health problems, or have been mentally, sexually or physically abused.

6. I was strictly prohibited to click pictures, any pictures to be clicked was to be done by the
instructor, subsequently the face of the young children must be morphed to conceal the children’s
identity.

7. Upon interacting with the children, felt a sense of joy and happiness which still lingers.

My Personal Realisation
The child I was attending to was Neeraj, of class 1 of six years of age. He had beautiful big eyes and
a childish smirk. His nails had dirt stuck in them, he wore a silver pendant around his neck and old
tattered clothes. I introduced myself in Hindi and spoke about school. I asked him which subject he
loved the most, and what he wanted to become when he grows up. I learnt that half the children were
not “eligible” to go to school therefore they had to receive informal education in the small classrooms
from government teachers. i realised how privileged I was to be able to help them, to even have a
supportive family which children like Neeraj don’t.
However on starting the process to teach them how to make the planter I realised that these children
are no different from a child with a “normal upbringing”. They are just as curious to learn if not more!
They help one another through every situation be it as simple as painting the planters to serious
emotional problems in life.

Characteristics of an IB Learner I Developed.

Communicators: The instructor had strictly set boundaries to abide by, no one was allowed to ask
the children about their personal family lives, the reason they are in this circumstance, or even
mention about our own family members.

Principled/ Caring: After introducing myself and making Neeraj comfortable I made sure to not ask
any questions to him regarding his parents, siblings, hometown or any sensitive personal
information. By conversing I understood that he had a holiday from his government school due to
Eid, and he had many school friends living with him here.

CAS Reflections 2
 Later in the activity I noticed that he had a cut on his finger making it difficult for him to hold the bottle
with his small hurt hands. Therefore, I offered to hold onto the bottle and paint the same, while he
instructs me on the colours and techniques to use.

Open-minded: On gaining in sight on the condition in which the young children lived, I was a bit
sceptical but I did not make any preconceived notions about them. By doing so I could
communicate with them easily, Neeraj was a little shy at first but soon eased out and became
comfortable.

CAS Reflections 3
 https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/fc73941e-cd8b-4b2b-b615-f755
561e1705/WhatsApp_Video_2023-04-22_at_9.03.54_PM.mp4

CAS Reflections 4
 Reflections- Completed on 24th April 2023

CAS Reflections 5