Having been to Gir forest twice with family and friends, I was jumping with joy when I came to know we (class) were being taken to Gir Forest (wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India). The motive of our class trip to Gir Forest was to volunteer for the project “Save Lion by covering well”, gain experience of making a mental cover (after manufacturing processes such as welding, cutting and drilling) and install it over the well. I was extremely excited for this trip as it was the perfect opportunity to get away from academic stress, reconnect with nature and rejuvenate. The 13 hour bus journey felt exhausting however, I formed new friendships and interacted with people I hadn’t in a long time regardless of being in the same class. After tiring day of physical work, night treks seemed to be a challenge, however, they were fun and evoked a sense of tranquility.
The learning outcomes I achieved were:
LO1- Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth: This trip made me realise how passionate I am about trekking and that it brings me great amount of joy to take a walk in the beautiful scenery along with good company. Due to lack of stamina, I sometimes felt unmotivated however, my friends waited for me and motivated me to complete the trek; teaching me the importance of perseverance in completion of any task. I learnt I need to improve on my stamina so that I have enough capacity to complete the trek.
LO2- Demonstrate that new challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills: This trip taught me how to make a metal cover by following manufacturing processes such as- welding, drilling, cutting etc. I had never learnt how to do welding, cutting or drilling. I learnt how to follow the process in the right manner under supervision from people who hold expertise in such processes. Seeing the equipments was scary at first, however, this was a new challenge and I embraced it which further resulted into the development of new skills.
LO4- Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience: During the trip, I wasn’t feeling well however, I had to complete the task given to me (welding and drilling). I had to practice perseverance and had to be disciplined enough to complete the task as the other group members were occupied in some other work. I learnt the importance of being a good team player.
LO5: Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively: We all were divided into groups of two where in each group had to make one metal cover. Regardless of feeling unwell throughout the trip, I tried my best to complete the work I had been assigned. I learnt the importance of being a good team player and to take responsibility of the work given especially when the deadline had to be met. I was working in a team where we (the team members) shared a good rapport with each other; this enabled us to complete tasks effectively. I also realised different people have different skills (for instance- a friend of mine had excellent drilling skills). Identifying our skills and delegating work accordingly helped us complete our task on time without compromising on the quality.
LO6: Engagement with issues of global significance: As the endangered Asiatic Lions only exist in West India and Africa, they hold global significance. With about 250 lions dying in the past half decade, it is difficult to maintain a (acceptable) level of biodiversity. Hence, saving lions is an issue of global significance. The primary reason of this trip was to make metal covers to save lions from falling into the well. The lack of (protective) metal cover enabled lions falling into the well and being extinct as a result. Installation of the metal covers made by us help save lions from being extinct. Furthermore, through our evening sessions with experts, we learnt about how important it is to give back to the community and help save animals.
LO7- Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions: During this trip, I realised the importance of wildlife conservation. Loss of endangered species and wildlife disturbs the ecosystem. In order to make a positive impact in the community and make decisions based on ethical grounds, we made protective metal covering (keeping in mind ethics while making choices).
During this trip, the tents we were staying at consisted of air conditioners and sufficient lights. We were strongly instructed to switch on electrical appliances only when required. We tried our best to reduce carbon footprint through deliberately thinking about our actions.
Overall, the trip was a memorable one as I learnt so much about making metal covers and went out of my way to contribute positively towards the community.
