PINKTOBER

CAS Learning Outcomes: 2) Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process 3) Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience 5)Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively 6) Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance7)Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Duration: October 1st 2023 ~ Februrary 20th 2024

1. Investigation 

Since I became the leader of SerWIS, a club dedicated to providing service to the community, I got many chances to participate in service related activities. Pinktober was an event I got engaged in 2020 from Community Engagement Committee. Through this event, I could raise awareness about breast cancer and women empowerment in the school community. Knowing the significance of the event, I brought up the idea of Pinktober events with the club advisor, leader, and members. We began planning different activities for the whole month of October inside school. Opportunely, we got a request for inter-school collaborative project for Pinktober. This collborative project was led through the connection made between students during the ServICE conference.Then we began planning for another event for Pinktober. 

2. Preparation 

• Firstly, we planned to make morning announcements with SerWIS members to inform the school community about the purpose of celebrating PINKtober and facts about diagnosis. We prepared morning announcements about early prevention, survivor stories, and statsitcs about breast cancer spread knowledge about breast cancer that is not widely known to the school community. Besides the morning announcement, SerWIS organized 'Pink Shirts Day'. Pink has been chosen as the color of breast cancer awareness by Susan G.Komen for the Cure Foundation since the 1990s. By wearing pink shirts, students and teachers could celebrate Pinktober. We sent out emails to the school community to inform about the Pink Shirt Day. 

• For the inter-school collaborative project, we had an online meeting and various discussions in group chat with students from ICS and NIST international schools. We decided to plan 'Pinktober Music Festival' with the aim of 'Harmony in Health'. This mission is to celebrate physical & mental health through music and unite international schools to promote and advocate for quality health. We carefully contacted the performers, teachers, and supporters to organize the events. 

3. Action

• Every week, the morning announcements were shared to the school community. Pink Shirt Days were held every Thursdays/Fridays. Moreover, the school community to contribute in improving research for breast cancer and support the diagnosis through donation to Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation. The donation box was placed in the lobby and over 1000 THB was donated. 

• For primary school, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students danced along to the 'Fight Song' by Rachel Platten to show positive and powerful energy to honor people fighting against breast cancer. For middle and high schoolers, Mr.Richie sang a song 'Soon You'll Get Better' by Taylor Swift to raise awarness about breast cancer with the comforting lyrics and guitar sounds. Students gathered in the coliseum to sing along with Mr.Richie and celebrate Pinktober. 

• By taking pictures and videos during these events, we produced 'Pink Movie' which summarizes the pink music festival from three schools. Along with the pictures and videos, we recorded interviews which delivers purpose of celebrating Pinktober and benefits of inter-school collaborative activities. The Pink Movie was released on Instagram to raise awareness about breast cancer globally during February. Through this inter-collaborative event, I could realize that we can contribute in service event in a bigger scale and effectively raise awareness about issues with global significance. I could learn further about how to initiate inter-school collaborative events and take important steps to spread the information to the community. 

4. Reflection 

Through this event, I could learn how to organize school events more deeply. By contacting different teachers, students, and supporters for the event, I realized the importance of communication. I was grateful for many people who supported the Pinktober events. Also, I learned the benefit of inter-school collaborative event. Together with like-minded change-makers, we got impressive ideas on how to raise awareness about breast cancer and spread these information to a wider community. Benefit of working collaboratively could be greatly shown from Pink Movie as each school hosted activities for Pinktober and creatively raised awarness to the community. 

5. Demonstration

• Pink Movie

• Post on Wells International School Website