My Social Action Project

Reflections on my service learning component:

The effectiveness of my project.

Overall this project was extremely effective. The initiative I was involved in, covered and shed light on mental health. This is a very common occurrence with children in schools, however the topic is often not addressed. This initiative was able to bring awareness to educators as well as students, which in turn has a major positive effect when everyone involved in a school is aware of an aspect that needs more attention bought to it. Mental health has a direct effect on a students performance and therefore was a huge drive for me to get involved. In this initiative students were given the space to learn about mental health, discover coping mechanisms as well as ways to support a friend who may be struggling. This initiative was effective in the way that it shed light on all the different avenues of mental health, as well as the strength it takes to be vulnerable and seek help. The initiative not only shed light on mental health awareness but also taught learners that you are not weak when you are struggling and seeking help, but rather brave. This initiative successfully taught educators and learners how to deal with their own mental health, as well as what the school offers for assistance in mental health challenges and lastly how to be there and support a person who struggles with mental health. Overall this initiative was effective through the thorough planning and preparation it took to launch it.

How service learning has changed me personally.

This service learning changed me personally as I came to realise I am not alone. I was also effected in the sense of being able to be vulnerable and help students where necessary. I am a natural 'fixer' and this initiative taught me to listen before I try and fix. To listen with concern and genuine interest is often what a child needs and wants, to feel heard. This initiative also taught me to be open minded and that everyone doesn't experience mental health in the same way. This is great to know as an educator as you deal with many different children all experiencing their own experiences. Throughout the initiative I also saw that when learners have the support they need they are able to succeed easier which has a direct influence on a students education and success. Overall on a personal level this service learning has taught me to always react calmly and with an open mind no matter what a child comes to me for. I also learnt to be more sensitive and kind to situations and lastly to be a better listener so a child feels they can speak and be heard.

How service learning developed me professionally.

Service learning developed me professionally in the sense that I was able to experience the ins and outs of what a social action project involves in a school. This gave me great experience in the professionalism needed in running an initiative such as this one. I was able to learn about procedures as well as all the steps involved in a successful initiative which I am able to take with me into my teaching career in future schools to come.

The benefits of this initiative to the school as well as its sustainability.

There are major benefits to introducing and shading light on mental health in a school. Some of these benefits include the lessoning of the stigma through parting knowledge on what mental health is and how common it actually is. Speaking about a topic in a school makes a topic less strange and uncommon. This was a major benefit of the program. This initiative also made way for learners to speak up as well as about mental health and gain a better understanding. As well as for educators to understand different methods and tools in helping learners as well as themselves in mental health struggles. In schools specifically it is vital that learners are aware and able to communicate on mental health. Especially now a days with the loss the country felt during the pandemic. This can seriously effect children, especially if they had loss in their own homes. This initiative is sustainable as it is an on going topic that will need light shed constantly.