End of MYP Reflection

I've been involved with two services in the past year, Bethlehem Creche and Alzheimers, the first one more so. I began with Alzheimer's while at the same time still working with the Creche. The Creche is a daycare run by a group of nuns, the sister in charge being Sister Florella. It is for children ranging from 6 months to 5 years of age who have one parent either in jail or unable to care for them. The sisters take them in during the day on the condition that their one parent will work throughout the day. I got involved with this daycare because I wrote a book of poetry for my Personal Project and sold it in order to raise money for the Creche. By the end I had raised $500. They were able to use this money at a time when the monsoons had hit hard and the daycare had been flooded. I became much more of a risk taker through this project. I've never gotten involved with a CAS on my own, been able to make such a difference on my own. It's taught me that I really can do a lot by myself, I can start something, I don't need someone else to start it as I simply follow behind. I later began speaking with Ms. Shameela about possibly incorporating the Creche with our CAS program. Prison Babies, a CAS already established at the school, was being dropped and needed to be replaced and Ms. Shameela thought that this would be a good institution to work with. I was incredibly happy with this idea. To have simply worked with the Creche for a school project and have made such a difference to their lives was amazing. I was overwhelmed by the fact that really, I could do so much. It's true when they say that one person can make a difference. We've had 5 or 6 meetings for this CAS and it will continue next year. We attempted to raise money at the Food and Fun Fair by blowing balloons and selling cotton candy and actually quite a significant amount however this money was donated to Japan. We then visited the Creche twice, creating books in order to help teach the children English. I formed a booklet with different sports with pictures to define them. The kids also visited the school twice, one time we simply played with them and the next we held a party to wrap up the year. We handed out candy and food as well as watching Tom and Jerry with them and making puzzles. I really enjoyed making the puzzles as it was interesting to see whether they could match the pieces themselves. Two of the girls were very sweet and helped me clean up afterwards. Although I cannot really speak with them as I don't understand Sinhalese and they do not understand English it's nice to know we are still able to interact. I've attempted to learn a bit of Sinhalese in order to talk to them, I've learnt how to tell them my name, ask what there's is and say 'what is this?' which was helpful when we were using the English booklets with them. I'm so glad I got involved with this Creche. It's been such a great experience for me and I now have a good relationship with Sister Florella who is an incredible person. She's sacrificed so much for these children and deserves to be commended.