The first CLEFT session - 06.09.12

Today was the first session/C.S for CLEFT, LIP & PALLET.
Our leaders are Imran Akbarally (my brother) and Nadeera. Both of who are in the 12th grade.
The first thing we did was introduce ourselves. And then Nadeera started to tell us about our main goals for the near future.
OUr biggest goal would be the 'Battle of the Bands' which is a music concert performed by various bands in the country. This same concert was done last year as well. We are doing it again as many people enjoyed it and we raised alot of money (enough for 30 operations).
Our main C.S goal is to raise money for the CLEFT AND LIP operations, and since they are very expensive we had to think of numerous differernt ideas on ways to collect money and get funds.
Today we were also asked in what way we were going to help organize 'The battle of the bands'. I chose the job as 'band advertising' this meaning that I will ask my friends from different schools in the country whether they have a band and they like to audition for battle of the bands and so on. This way I will also be spreading the awareness of cleft alone, thus more people might be interested in giving donations and so on. So far I have informed a band called CRUNKS, they all go to the Asian International school.
Next lesson we hope to focus mainly on the Battle of the Bands, however also possibly do a simple immediate action/project (eg. bake sale, movie night and so on), before the October break.

2012
GRADE 9

CLEFT LIP & PALET

This year I have decided to try a complete new C.S.  Initially I thought I was going to continue RCCI, however then things changed. After an assembly put up by the Cleft c.s, I realised that the women who was our connection to the hospital, was also my dentist. This was a big shock however then I thought of some advantages. I googled CLEFT to get some back ground information and I relized what a serious condition it was. I was very enthusiastic to help. However at first I had no idea that i would actually join the C.S. Instead I had a discussion with my dentist. In summer 2011, I held a Garage sale, in which I was going to somehow help the Lady Ridge Way Hospital, one of the most common local hospitals in Colombo. Coincidentally being the same hospital as the the CLEFT operations are held. I raised 40,000 rupees, in which I could fund for 2 operations to cure these children. Recently I relised that, that is what I want to do. Thus I went and had a visit to the hospital with my dentist. I learnt so much about the condition. The doctors had to explain about the condition to the parents of these children suffereing from CLEFT, during this explanation I also learned alot.  After the visit I was sure that I was going to help these children. Now we are currently planning a date for two children who need the operation the most, and I shall fund for it using the money I collected last summer.
Then when school started I realized that it would only make sense for me to join CLEFT, as i already new so much about the condition. However I am still not going to make these two operations I do part of school or involve the C.S group, as they are working to a different level. Instead im going to go to the C.S and be happy about the two children I saved.

New CAS, new term...

22.03.12

Last term I started a new cas DAWG, which I managed to mention about. I was planning to complete it for the next year since I enjoyed helping the dogs and the fund raiser, however about a month ago, beginning of 2/4 of the year, I found out that DAWG would only be going for one semester a year, this was disappointing since I had to change my cas, however it was also another opportunity to try a new cas and help different people. The last fundraiser/ task that we did for DAWG was the actual sterilisation that took place in January. We used the money that we collected over the last semester, from the food drive and bake sale to buy the steralizations. We managed to sterilise 50 dogs and about 20 cats. Everyone from our cas was very proud and so was I :). Unfortuneately it was time to say good bye to my amazing team mates in DAWG and the dogs themselves, however not forever since I hope to continue this cas next year and possibly become the leader, the year after :)

Either way I had to chose another cas, which I have already had to sessions of. The new cas I chose was RICC. It is basically a school/organization of disabled children. They have various conditions and diseases; dyslexia and Autisum, that prevent them from: Living there fullest life spend, growing, talking and even intellectual capacity. Every Thusday these children come to our school. We play ball, try and have conversation, play tag and even listen to music. The more active these kids are, the longer they have to live which is why we keep our activities more energetic. I have made new friends in my two new sessions of this cas and I really enjoy spending time with them! Unfortunately there is nothing we can give or buy them thus a fundraiser would not help. In this way RCCI is very different from DAWG, where we can only raise funds and not interact with them. This cas is the complete opposite which is a good change. However I wish there was something other than time and affection I could give to these children, I know how much they appreciate that, however I still feel that its not enough. In comparison to our lives they are very very different in a bad way, thus I want to do all I can to change it for them. At the end of each cas, usually after about 45 minutes of playing. We provide each student with a drink, usually a milk or something cold. This is one thing we give to them, as a token of consideration, something that will make the children know we are truly their friends. Unfortuneately each cas session is pretty much the same. I would prefer if each session had a slight plan or structure, thus we wouldn't be bored,which occasionally happens. Yesterday during the cas session three girls told me they were bored and I felt really bad! I didn't know what to say. I would like to have a word with the leader, which will maybe persuade him to do soothing about it. This is some self advice which will help me when I hope to be the leader of any cas, either RCCI or DAWG.

I look forward to seeing the children next week and I hope to organise some paper and crayons so we can entertain them with some art however this is not a very physical activity, thus I will ask my leader for permission. If this is not possible I will try and ask the sports department for some more advanced sports equipment that should keep them entertained for longer :D