Our first day of grade 11 started with a good task, we went to a nearby beach with an aim to clean it. We were handed with garbage bags and gloves and were divided into groups and were expected to pick up any visible garbage present on the beach.
The learning outcomes I accomplished are:
Learning Outcome 6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
Being an ESS student I know that pollution is a big threat and harms many animals and also causes issues like global warming to an extent. The beach we went to was full of garbage and required a lot of cleaning. Looking at the beach the first thought that arose in my mind was that even after the government trying so hard to control pollution through campaigns like Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, we the citizen never understand the importance of cleanliness and keep on spreading litter where ever we go.
Pollution causes several diseases like malaria, various infections, etc. This happens because this contaminates the water and the land. Leaving in such areas is very risky as you are prone to so many diseases. This not only causes humans but also innocent animals and plants, such an approach is devastating for the globe. This CAS experience left me with the importance of nature and environment in my life and made me realize that throwing garbage is easy but cleaning up the mess is very difficult. As a matter of fact, whenever I’m about to throw something on the ground which pollutes the surrounding, this activity strikes in my mind and I simply just wait for a dustbin or keep it in my backpack.
Learning Outcome 7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions
With a primary aim to influence the people around by collecting garbage thrown on the beach, we had to be ethical to make them realize their deeds and to influence them. Instead of playing games and enjoying the weather, we were busy cleaning the beach. We had a choice to make, either be ethical and work a global issue or to be irresponsible and make no use of the opportunity. Enthusiasm was the key, as collecting garbage can’t be done with a fading interest cause then we would not achieve our aim. Keeping in my mind that we ourselves were not littering anything cause that would create a false impression and our aim would be unsuccessful.
When we were about to leave all we felt was responsible and pride cause now the beach looked way lot cleaner and most importantly, we all were left with a lesson.
