My Social Action Project

My social action project, 'Share the Love' consisted of collaborating with the Reach for a Dream Foundation in order to create shoeboxes filled with items that the learners created and old toys that the learners of the school donated and collected that were put into these boxes and given to the children at this foundation, so that a smile could be put on their faces.

The effectiveness of this project

This social action project was effective as many of the learners were eager to participate within it and to help in making a difference in these children's' lives. Many of the learners' had not heard of or did not know the functions of the Reach for a Dream Foundation and through this social action project, these learners' were able to understand the key responsibilities of this organisation and the important work that this foundation does. The first component of this project was effective as the posters that were created were eye-catching and caught the learners' attention as these posters were bright and informative. The second component of this social action project consisted of these learners decorating the outside of their shoeboxes, in their free time, which was a success as a large number of boxes were decorated.

The third component of this social action project was for the learners' to write personal letters to the children at the Reach for a Dream Foundation as well as creating paper objects to include within their shoeboxes, which the learners' enjoyed doing and which was effective as this allowed the learners to integrate their creative abilities within this project. The fourth component of this social action project consisted of the learners' collecting and donating old toys, that could be included, within their shoeboxes, for the children of the Reach for a Dream Foundation, which allowed the learners to understand the importance of donating their old toys to children that may be less fortunate than they are and who are terminally ill.

The last component of this social action project consisted of packaging the shoeboxes up, with all the objects inside and delivering these boxes to the children at the Reach for a Dream Foundation, which was a success as these children received their packages as promised and managed to put a smile on their faces. This social action project had a great impact on the community as children who are terminally ill were able to feel special and appreciated by the learners' of the school and the shoeboxes that were gifted to them bought a smile to their faces. A major impact was also made at the school, where this social action project was conducted at, as this school was able to make a contribution within their community and were introduced to a concept which can be incorporated into every school year going forward.

How service-learning has changed me personally

Service-learning has changed me personally as this project exposed me to the reality that some children face in their everyday lives' and it showed me the importance of adding a bit of happiness and joy to someone's life by just taking some time out of the day to create something simple in order to put a smile on a child's face. This social action project has allowed me to understand how a small act of kindness can go a long way and how this impact can make a big difference in someone's life. Service-learning has changed me personally as it showed me the impact that this social action project had on the learners' at the school as well as the importance of giving back to the community. Seeing how the learners' were enthusiastic to make other children feel special and to put a smile on these children's faces, made me realise the impact that service-learning has on both a school and the wider community.

How service-learning has developed me professionally

Service-learning has developed me professionally as this social action project has allowed me to observe and understand the outcomes of giving back to the community and how this is something that I want to incorporate into my teaching career within the nearby future. The new knowledge that I have acquired from service-learning includes allowing me to learn the important aspects and work that the Reach for a Dream Foundation does for children who are terminally ill. I learnt how there are many different organisations, within the community, that aim at assisting individuals in need and that are willing to aid in making someone's life more enjoyable. The new skills that I learnt within this social action project included the aspects of thinking in a creative manner in order to design low-cost objects as well as how to create eye-catching posters that includes the relevant information of the social action project that is being completed. The attitudes that I have gained through service-learning include having a more positive and appreciative attitude towards NGO's as well as foundations that aim at enriching the lives of the less fortunate. I have also gained a more optimistic attitude towards the work that organisations do for our community.

The benefits that this social action project had on the school

The benefits that this social action project had on the school included introducing the learners' to the important work that the Reach for a Dream Foundation does for children and allowed the school to observe how the learners' were eager to design these shoeboxes and willing to donate their old toys to children in need. The other benefits that this social action project had on the school included how teachers', from all different phases, wanted to participate within this project and how these teachers' encouraged all learners to create a shoebox for the children at the Reach for a Dream Foundation. This social action project is sustainable, within the school that it was conducted at, as it is a low-cost initiative and one that was a huge success amongst the learners. All learners', within the school, enjoyed participating within this social action project and would love to engage with further projects within the future. This social action project is sustainable, within this school, as it also demonstrates the importance of donating objects that learners' do not use anymore to the less fortunate.

This social action project taught the learners' as well as myself the importance of engaging with the wider community and how giving back makes a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This social action project, 'Share the Love', has encouraged me to implement such projects in as many schools as I can, within the nearby future.