About the Event: Monsoon musing was a charity event as well as a platform to promote literature. It was organized in Fountainhead school, Surat. Through this event students, teachers and parents were given the exposure of presenting a literary work of their own. Seva Cafe was assembled to treat all the guests with delicious food and to the area was set up with artworks by students across grades for pleasing the eyes of our guests. There was a donation box kept at every table for the guests to pay as per their willingness after eating their dishes. There were several artworks which were on sale and price were to be paid as per the choice of the buyer. This is how we aimed to raise funds as well as promote literature.

My role: Coordinator of Seva Cafe

Learning Outcome 1:

Strengths: I understood the idea of the event when the briefing was given. I had a clear understanding of the role a coordinator will have to play. It was clear to me that I will have to work in a pair as there were two coordinators going to be assigned so I made up my mind to be flexible enough to adjust. I started with a heads up on my work hence the brainstorming for ideas for cooking, organizing our output did not consume time and the discussions with my co-partner Shloka happened smoothly. My interest in cooking and event managing became my strengths to make my role a success.

Weakness: Stepping to a leadership role helped me develop patience, empathy towards everyone on the team( as there were people who didn’t want to work and I tried to understand their point of views)and self-motivation. I generally lose my calm when under pressure and my team does not perform well hence this leadership opportunity made it mandatory for me to maintain temper and helped me learn how to have control over my emotions. The strategy we used to handle the group members involved assigning the motivated members with extra work and resources that they had to bring and we as leaders made sure the resources are arranged by us with the help of school staff. Taking up the task of leadership I knew beforehand will be challenging as I will have to work with students who are of my age and with managing them I will have to manage the event as well. This event has helped me understand how can my weakness be overcome when given an opportunity next time I will make be prepared to deal with my weakness. 

Learning Outcome 3:

I was working with my co-partner Shloka on the project. As segment coordinators, our role was to plan the look out of our segment: how it will function? what will the elements of the segment? how will the participants be managed? how will the on-day event be handled? was all planned and worked out by us as a team. Our initiation was possible as we made plans, to-do list to organize our work, ensured to follow the deadlines and help the participants out in all ways possible. 

Initiation of the planning according to me is the most difficult part, as this is the final step and you need to ensure not only you but your team as a whole performs up to the mark and accepts the idea as if it is their own. The experience of segment coordinator has given me experience that will help me initiate my CAS project with ease.

Importance of planning and then initiating: Planning helps organize work and highlights the aims and objectives. These attributes of planning make the process of initiation convenient to carry out.

Learning Outcome 5:

Teamwork, leadership, and collaboration: Dealt with a few stubborn and difficult people. (factors which made it difficult to: age, willingness, attitude towards performance)  We provided alternatives like sharing the work with another member in the team, doing on day work only, etc. to the ones who tried to escape from their work and showed the least interest. 

Importance of teamwork: helps put across a great execution on the event day as well as planning becomes easier and hassle-free as many ideas come into the picture. The best ideas can be combined to put up a good show and productivity increases. 

Leadership Importance: It makes management efficient and maximizes the success of the event. A leader guides, help and ensures the team functions as one. This enables the work to happen according to the plan and the productivity is maximized. 

Learning Outcome 7:

The event was held in school and as part of that, the school rules and regulation come into place indirectly. As per the policy for food-related enterprise the students are allowed to bring only homemade food. Sugar based confectionery like candies, chocolate toffees, chocolate bars and drinks like colas, aerated drinks, ready juices, energy drinks are not permitted. As segment coordinator Shloka and I ensured that the menu prepared for the event contains food items which are feasible to make at home without much hassle, this helped us ensure the policy is not violated.

Initially when it was revealed that school policies will be in play even when it a non-working Saturday both of us were skeptical about how would we put up a good show as the policy limits the opportunity to be creative with our menu. The responses in the event by visitors changed my view, I now believe that the presentation and quality it what matters. 

Take Away:

We succeeded in our project work. The food for all out of stock till the end of the event. Not only seva cafe was a hit but the literary event was filled with guests and participants. The audience was motivated to share their stories and poems after listening to the participants of the event and hence there was some more sharing then expected. It makes me feel proud of myself my grade mates for being able to put up a great show and exhibiting the synergy we share to one and all present for the event. Through all ups and downs that took place before and also on the event we came out like shining stars and it makes me feel touched. This activity benefits the children who are getting educated by UNICEF, as money collected by our grade through this event and by grade 4 students were clubbed and donated. The details about the transition in mentioned the screenshot attached.