Week 5 Activities & Key Contributions

Following the success of the roundtable, my focus this week shifted toward creating a more direct and personal impact, where I can see 'immediate' results from my work. I aimed to leverage my practical skills to empower members of the local community, culminating in the development and delivery of a community-focused workshop.

• Community Skill-Building Initiative

  • Needs Analysis & Conception: I observed that community events were predominantly publicised via posters shared on WhatsApp. Building on the positive reception of my own design work for the NGO, I identified an opportunity to add value by creating a workshop to teach practical digital design skills using Canva.

  • Community-Led Adaptation: The initial concept was a small workshop for women from local NGOs. However, after the Pandit from the roundtable expressed that many others in his community were eager to learn, I expanded the scope. Embracing this community-led approach, the workshop was opened to all, making it more inclusive and responsive to genuine local interest.

  • Workshop Delivery: The workshop was a resounding success. It was incredibly gratifying to facilitate a session for a diverse, intergenerational group and witness participants, some older than my own parents, quickly grasp the new skills. The positive engagement affirmed the value of the initiative. For participants who started with a "Before" score of less than 6, their self-reported skill level increased by an average of 3.2 points on the 10-point scale! 

  • Appreciation and Farewell: On my final day, the NGO leader and her family kindly invited me to a small, personal ceremony where they awarded me a certificate. This thoughtful gesture was a meaningful conclusion to my project, making me feel truly valued for my contributions. They also very, very kindly dropped me off at the airport. Their unwavering support and kindness from day 1 is something I will always be grateful for.

• Reflections and Personal Growth

  • Resilience and Self-Reliance: This week presented unexpected personal challenges that tested my adaptability. My phone was accidentally damaged, leaving me without my primary tool for communication. This was compounded when a planned lift was cancelled at the last minute, requiring me to navigate a taxi journey alone. Successfully managing these situations was a powerful lesson in remaining calm and resourceful under pressure.

  • Igniting a Passion for Teaching: This experience ignited a strong enjoyment for teaching and mentorship. The direct feedback was particularly motivating, with several attendees remarking that I have a "talent for teaching" and should consider becoming a lecturer one day. This was genuinely heartwarming.