My Social Action Project

The problem that inspired the initiative for my social action project involved pet safety and proper pet care. The primary objective in my initiative was spreading awareness of animal abuse and educating others on proper care for pets as well as the resources available to assist them in doing so. The project involved various activities that took place over the course of a 3 week period with each activity aimed at spreading awareness, inspiring a want for change, and involving the community in creating that change. These activities included a creativity competition on pets and pet care, a school visit from an SPCA rescue (Honey, pictured left), and a donation drive for the Kempton Park SPCA.

Honey

The project was far more effective than I had initially expected it to

be which left me pleasantly surprised. I had initially feared that the socio-economic position of the surrounding community would negatively affect the involvement and interest in the project. However, the community showed a great interest in the project and went above and beyond to ensure its success. The learners took to the various in-school activities with enthusiasm and some even continued the project in an individual capacity after the project's conclusion. Many staff members at Cresslawn Primary School got involved with the project without request and took it upon themselves to include aspects of the project in the daily curriculum and inspire their learners to participating. Community member involvement was also high, with the community gathering over 260 items and R760 in donations for the Kempton Park SPCA.

Undertaking this project has taught me a great many things, both about myself and running community initiatives. Throughout this project I have had the opportunity to grow my organization and management skills. I have been able to further develop my design and creativity skills in making posters and presentations. Additionally, this project has helped me to address where I'm lacking with regards to various people skills including communication, task delegation, and public speaking. Overall, this project has been a great learning opportunity for me and I look forward to implementing the things I have learned in future projects.