Description of the Experience
On 25th September, Fountainhead School hosted its annual Garba Fest, and I participated by setting up a food stall with my friends. We created a menu of Gujarati fusion dishes, combining traditional flavors with modern presentation so the food would appeal to both students and parents. Our primary goal was to raise money for donation, and every rupee earned from the stall was contributed to support people in need.
We were responsible for the entire process—brainstorming dishes, preparing ingredients, arranging the stall, managing sales, and interacting with customers. The event was very crowded, so handling orders efficiently and maintaining food quality became our biggest challenge, but we worked together to deliver a meaningful service.
Learning Outcomes Reflection
LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
This experience helped me understand my strengths in communication and customer interaction. I was confident while explaining our dishes and convincing people to try them. I also realized I need to improve my time management and multitasking skills, especially when the stall became busy. This event helped me see where I am strong and where I need further growth.
LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills
Managing a live food stall was quite challenging because customers arrived in groups, and we had to take orders, serve quickly, and keep everything hygienic. I learned new skills such as handling money responsibly, coordinating workflow, and managing pressure during rush hours. These are skills I rarely use in academics, so the experience pushed me outside my comfort zone.
LO3 – Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
Our team planned the experience over several days. We researched fusion dishes, finalized a menu based on cost and feasibility, bought ingredients, and divided responsibilities. I helped in creating the pricing strategy, arranging material, and setting up the table layout for maximum crowd visibility. The success of our stall showed how effective planning makes execution smoother.
LO4 – Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experience
Even though the event lasted only a few hours, the preparation started much earlier. We had to coordinate after school, manage shopping, and prepare ingredients. On the event day, we reached early to set up the stall and stayed until the end of the fest. Despite tiredness, we continued serving with energy. This taught me the importance of commitment and consistency in service activities.
LO5 – Demonstrate skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
This experience would not have been possible without teamwork. Each member contributed—some handled cooking, others did packaging, and some managed money and customer engagement. We relied on each other continuously. Collaboration made our stall efficient and enjoyable, and the event helped me understand how teamwork makes problems easier to solve.
LO6 – Engagement with issues of global significance
Food insecurity and poverty are global issues, and by donating our earnings we contributed (on a small scale) to reducing inequality. This event helped me reflect on how community initiatives can address larger social problems. Our stall was not just about selling food; it was a way to support people in need and become more aware of the challenges faced by underprivileged communities.
LO7 – Recognize and consider ethics of choices and actions
We made sure our service was ethical by maintaining hygiene, using clean utensils, charging fair prices, and ensuring complete transparency about donations. We consciously avoided food waste and donated responsibly. Every action—from sourcing ingredients to distributing earnings—was guided by the idea of doing what is right, not just what is easy or profitable.
Overall Reflection
The Garba Fest stall was more than a school event—it was an experience that taught me teamwork, planning, responsibility, and empathy. Serving food, managing crowds, and donating profits made me feel connected to the community. I realized that small acts of service can create meaningful impact, and I look forward to engaging in more such opportunities.