Making the Most of Your CAS India Participation Students, the 2013 trip to India provided you with

numerous opportunities for meaningful CAS activities. It is now up to you to develop these for your all-important CAS journals. As you know, CAS credit is not something that you purchase by attending an activity or trip, but something you earn through self-reflexive learning and by making meaningful connections between personal experience, understanding and the application of new skills. It is from undertaking this intellectual task that you will grow and develop. There are a huge range of opportunities for gaining CAS recognition before, during and now, after the CAS India trip. For example, by developing understanding and knowledge of comparative urban and rural lifestyles in India (Dharavi contrasted with Saguna Baug). Socio-cultural reflections e.g. wedding rituals (Arjav Diamonds v. the wedding procession in Dharavi). Architectural styles and the extent to which cultural values are expressed in building and land use planning e.g. Taj Mahal and the Moghul Court, Imperial India and the Indo-Saracenic style, Free market economics and modern Mumbai. How does access to transport influence peoples lives? Think travelling by JetAir, August Kranti Express (2nd Class), bullock carts the Volkswagen of the Indian rural poor. Creativity artistic and architectural comparisons Taj Mahal, Fatephur Sikri, Kanheri Caves, Elephanta, Malabar Hill. Work of Lockwood Kipling (father of Rudyard Kipling). What did you learn about India art, architecture and history from our two excellent guides? Nayana Thakkur and Mr Sonalki? Were there any common themes? Any common imagery? If so, why? Understanding what did you learn about slums and land use planning politics from Simpreet Singh? Have you followed up on your discussion with him by watching the special programme about him and his work in Dharavi first shown on Al Jazeera TV? What about other forms of grassroots activism and civil society? How does grassroots activism fit into the whole question of globalization and free markets v. anti-globalization and localism? What did Gandhi believe? What was he trying to achieve? What is satyagraha? What part (if any) might it play in modern civil disobedience campaigns? To what extent could Gandhi have gained his political ends through other means? (Mani Bhavan) What about the attempt at Saguna Baug to develop an alternative to a farming income through grassroots tourism? How does this compare with other civil society initiatives to diversity rural incomes? What did you learn from the presentation about Vatsalya that you watched? What is the policy and values that underpin Vatsalya? To what extent do you agree with them? How do they compare with

other, similar initiatives elsewhere (or in India)? What is rights based advocacy? How does this compare with philanthropic advocacy? How can you raise money and awareness of the issues that Vatsalya is trying to address? Write an article or blog about CAS India FOR one of the school communications media. Choose between the AIS website, marketing office, Yearbook, Headmasters Reflections etc. Make an educational video about the CAS India trip and post it on Youtube. Develop an assembly to showcase the CAS India trip please note that the only opportunity to do this will be on Monday 11th March all other dates are pre-booked!

Please remember that the 8 CAS OUTCOMES are to:

Increase awareness of own strengths and identify areas for growth Undertake new challenges Plan and initiate activities Work collaboratively with others Show perseverance and commitment in activities Engage with issues of global importance Consider the ethical implications of their actions Develop new skills
If you need any help, come and see us. We would always be pleased to guide you. Good luck. Dr Law & Mr Laird 1 March 2013