What is one thing you will do to improve your community

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

You have decided to give several hours of your time each month to improve the community where you live. What is one thing you will do to improve your community? Why?

Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

You should write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1:
A community brings people from a diverse culture and economic background together. In my community, many predicaments persist such as illiteracy, health problems, and environmental issues. However, I feel that an ever-increasing gap between rich and poor is most tragic and this can only be curbed by ensuring education for all. Therefore, if I get free time to serve my community, I will educate poor and lower-middle class children.

A problem at home affects the whole family. A sheer number of problems in a community also affect people belong to this! Though common problems are being addressed by the authority and their efforts are appreciable, nothing has been done to reduce the social gap in my community. In reality, rich are amassing wealth while poor are becoming poorer. I would like to spend 12-15 hours a month to educate less privileged children to contribute to ensuring their education so that someday they can change their fate. I came from a middle-class family and my parents worked really hard to secure my education. The chance I got made me realise it can change our community and our life.

I think the initiative will bring families together and encourage others to help deprived children. In India, the literacy rate is not satisfactory and most poor are illiterate. They do not send their offsprings to schools, while children from rich families study in the best school in town. Thus, the gap between rich and poor is increasing generation after generation and the only education can change the wind.

In conclusion, social gaps can only be abridged by education. Hence, I will spend my free times to educate children in my beloved community.

[Written by – Bhikshukkumar Patel]

Model Answer 2:
I think the question what would I do if I had a chance to improve my community is difficult. I have in my mind many things, the improvement of which will make our community better place to live but they all require the participation of many people and, moreover, they require investments, which I can not provide. For example, my community is quite noisy. We have the huge mall just in front of our community, so traffic jams are very common for this place. I think that the construction of a few pass-by roads will benefit all people who live here as well as people who drive by every day.

Unfortunately, the question is what I can do for my community giving a few hours of my time every month. I think I can not do much, but I still can help someone in my community. For example, I can babysit. I know a couple of families with little children, who can not afford to spend much money on the babysitter. One of these families is a single mom with a little girl. Julia, this is her name, is a waitress in a restaurant. She is a great person and we became close friends. So, sometimes I offer her help with her child when she has to work in the evenings. Another family has two funny little twins. One time their parents asked me to babysit their children because they had to attend an unexpected presentation.

I think this kind of help brings many benefits to my community. First of all, people become friendlier. For example, those families, which I mentioned above, became friends after I introduced them to each other. Secondly, people get to know each other and feel more secure in their houses and apartments. Finally, I am ready to help those people because I am sure that they will help me too. One time I lost the keys from my car and Julia offered me her car for a while.

To conclude, I believe that the babysitting is a great way to help my community in many aspects.

(This model answer has been prepared by the site developer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible answers.You should be able to pick up the main points from this essay and organise in your own style)
 

Model Answer 3:
Historically humans have dwelled in a community which sets them apart from the other species on earth. Communities have existed in different forms and can be the epicentre for any grown civilisation. Any community is made up of individuals who contribute towards the growth and well-being of the overall community.  Since I am an integral part of my community, I equally share the ownership and duty towards my community. I have decided to spend few hours every month to contribute towards building up fitness facility in my community.

I consider ‘Fitness’ as a very important aspect of an individual’s life. It doesn’t have a very high priority in our day-to-day life due to our busy work schedule and thus it always takes a back seat in terms of our daily itinerary. To quote the famous saying, “A healthy mind in a healthy body”, exercising is the best way to keep our body and mind healthy. Besides keeping us healthy, we can bring freshness into our daily routine by exercising every day. Having fitness equipment in the community just a few footsteps away can have very motivating results. People can exercise at their convenience without spending unnecessary time on the commute.

Another reason to set up fitness equipment in the community is the affordability. Not every family can afford the Gyms and fitness centres. Since these commercial fitness centres charge a lot of fees, fitness at times is perceived as a luxury commodity, thus depriving the people of the best of the class equipment. But, in this world of technology, world-class equipment with the best design are available at low prices too. To give an example, Singapore government has deployed fitness equipment at every 100 meters for their Housing Development Board Units. Thus, the success of Singapore can be repeated in my society.

To conclude, I consider fitness as a daily need and not a once in a blue moon activity. Having fitness in a community is the best way to push ourselves to the treadmill every day. I recommend having fitness in the community to enjoy the benefits of a healthy body.

(by Deep Kagda)