My Social Action Project

By: Tawonga Banda

My social action project was called “Wellness Warriors”, and it aimed to support the mental health of children aged 10 to 13. My project was divided into two parts. The first part involved having a talk with the Grade 7 learners about their transition to high school. I asked all the Grade 7 learners to write down any questions that they had about high school, and I held a small assembly where I answered their questions and others that came up during our discussion. The second part of my project was the Intersen assembly, where I taught the learners about mental health, different coping mechanisms, and a powerful affirmation. I also created posters for the Grade 4 to 6 learners to help them understand their own mental health better and gave them an opportunity to create their own affirmations.

Showcase of my social action project

I learned a lot during my social action project. The first thing I discovered was that many learners know what mental health is, but not what it truly means. I noticed that learners often say they are “depressed” or “anxious” without having a deeper understanding of what those words mean, and I saw that as an opportunity to educate them. I also learned that even teachers who smile every day may struggle with their mental health but are afraid to speak up because it is not common to discuss such issues openly. Through my own experiences with bullying and mental health challenges, I realised that I could turn those experiences into something positive that shines a light on other children’s lives.

I feel that my social action project made a positive impact on the school as it helped break the barrier around talking about mental health. Being a young student teacher that learners could approach to talk about bullying and their emotions opened a new space for them to understand and manage their feelings better. I believe that the rate of bullying in the school will decrease as learners now have more knowledge about this topic and have learned new ways to handle it. I also see this project as a stepping stone for future initiatives, such as making the Grade 7 talk an annual event and celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month to further highlight its importance.

Service learning has changed me personally by helping me realise that I can make an impact beyond the classroom as a pre-service teacher. During lectures or class time, the main focus is usually on teaching curriculum content, and that is what I initially focused on during teaching experience. However, service learning encouraged me to look at the social and cultural challenges faced by learners and teachers and to research ways to address them. It also helped me build confidence in public speaking, as I presented my assembly to over 150 learners and teachers. In addition, it made me more aware of my own mental health, which I sometimes overlook when I’m busy planning lessons and worksheets.

It has also developed me professionally by improving my public speaking confidence, as I am no longer afraid to speak in front of people, even those I don’t know. It has strengthened my research skills, as I now understand the importance of researching and consulting others before speaking about sensitive topics like mental health. This ensures that my information is relevant and accurate. I have also gained a deeper appreciation for today’s learners, who face many challenges that I did not face growing up, such as social media influence and cyberbullying. I have gained great respect for how they handle these situations at such a young age.

My initiative has benefited the school by helping both teachers and learners understand mental health better while preparing the Grade 7 learners for their upcoming transition to high school. It also provided a safe space for vulnerable learners to express how they feel and to better understand themselves, as well as ways to keep their minds healthy and happy. I truly believe that this initiative will be sustained, especially since there was such a positive response from both teachers and learners. It was evident that everyone learned something valuable, and as mentioned above, there is an entire month dedicated to mental health awareness. I believe that this initiative could grow even further if implemented during that month, alongside an annual Grade 7 talk in December.

Link to my social action project video: https://youtu.be/MpDZz6Vq30I