Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera, seronok dapat menyertai
khidmat masyarakat bersama kanak-kanak di Yayasan Chow Kit.
Mereka sangat aktif dan kreatif. Walaupun mereka berasal dari
latar belakang keluarga yang berlainan tetapi mereka seronok tiggal bersama.
Sepanjang aktiviti di sana banyak pengalaman yang saya dapat terutamanya pengalaman
macam mana hendak mengawal kanak-kanak yang sangat aktif, walaupun agak sukar
tetapi ia adalah pengalaman dan satu cabaran untuk saya.
Selain itu, melalui program ini dapat mengajar saya untuk
berkomunikasi baik dengan pihak di sana terutamanya dari segi aturan tarikh dan
masa untuk program bersama kanak-kanak. Tambahan pula untuk menjayakan aktiviti
ini, kerjasama antara kumpulan memainkan peranan yang sangat penting,
masing-masing perlu memberi komitment yang tinggi terhadap tugas masing-masing.
Ini dapat mengajar saya untuk bekerjasama dalam satu kumpulan agar sesuatu
program berjalan lancar walaupun berlainan kaum.
Jadi saya harap dapat melibatkan diri dengan aktiviti
kemasyarakatan sebegini lagi untuk menghiburkan masyarakat dan memahami mereka.
Sekian.
Pertama sekali
saya berasa sangat gembira kerana projek ini dapat dijayakan dengan jayanya.
Semua berjalan lancar dan segala masaalah yang dihadapi dapat dihadapi dengan
baik . Pengalaman bersama-sama adik-adik Yayasan Chow Kit merupakan pengalaman
yang tidak dapat dilupakan. Banyak perkara yang saya belajar apabila bersama
masyarakat terutamanya dalam memperbaiki kemahiran berkomunikasi sesama
masyarakat dan menyelami kekurangan yang mereka alami.
Pertama kali kami berjumpa adik-adik Yayasan
Chow Kit terpamer wajah-wajah riang mereka dalam menyambut kedatangan kami.
Mereka sangat suka apabila mereka disantuni dan diambilberat akan kebajikan
mereka. Terpalit rasa kemanusiaan apabila kita sendiri merasai pengalaman
bersama masyarakat yang hidup dalam serba kekurangan. Kami banyak melakukan
aktiviti yang bertujuan menghiburkan adik-adik Yayasan Chow Kit. Senyuman yang
terukir di wajah mereka sangat menyenangkan kami. Pelbagai teletah mereka
sepanjang kami bersama mereka, ada yang menangis,berkejar-kejaran dan ada yang
petah bercakap.
Perkataan letih memang tidak dapat disangkal
tetapi melihat adik-adik Yayasan Chow Kit gembira dapat melegakan keletihan
yang kami rasai. Sekadar itu refleksi saya. Terima kasih kepada pensyarah iaitu
Dr Anisah dan Dr Siti serta rakan-rakan sekumpulan.
Siti Mazzura Binti Marzuki Biro Teknikal dan Logistik
Through this program, we can understand the
hardships of their lives. They cannot live like normal children because of
family problems. Although the Pusat Asuhan Kanak-kanak ( PAKK ) Chow Kit has
given completely to their needs, but they still need more love from others.
From my own experience, we face difficulties to control the children because they are very active. Although we
were tired, we feel very happy that they still follow what has been planned by
us.
It’s my very first
experience as volunteer in the nursery centre. The children there were came from different
background. Some are Pakistanis, some Cambodians, and most of them are the
local Malays.
They been there, to study, to eat, and to play, together. They had no
sense to differentiate each from the others. What they care about was only that
“he/she is my friend”. Not race or religion’s problem in between them. They
like to help their friends, simply like dancing and drawing . So that’s what we
called children. Everybody like to be “hero”. XD
It's childhood.
Simple, but happy. They always carrying the big smile in their cute face.
“Keep smiling because life is beautiful and
there is so much to smile about.”
From the time I stay with the children there, my memories flashback. The
time when I was a kid, the time without smartphone, without internet. I cycled
with my brother and sister, played kite, badminton, or just simply a running.
That’s all that make me felt nothing to worry about. My happiest time. :)
But life goes on, I need to grow up,and learn something new. I know it's
my responsibility to my own life. For sure, things go harder, maybe I will feel
down, full with frustration, but it's my choice, for my dream, and never regret.
:)
"Sometimes, the key to making progress is to recognize how to take that very first step. Then you start your journey." -Grey's Anatomy
I wish that all the children from Yayasan Chow Kit can always keep their
big and beautiful smile. Keep smiling, not for jobs, not because it’s desire of
other people. Keep smiling, because of happiness.
That's all. :D
And here come to end of the project of Social Engagement! Hooray!
Special thanks to our advisor and all my teammates, you all had really
really done a good jobs! 👍
Appreciate:)
Kek Zhong Chee
Bureau of Publicity and Public Relations
As usual, some of us reach earlier to have breakfast before the activity begin. Spotting this notice on their notice board simply made us surprised and sad at the same time. It was like the farewell for us and the children. Thank you for coming and support us, children at PAKK!
So we started with the colouring session with the children. The plan to paint mural at a corner of PAKK is cancelled because we don't have enough paint and brushes to do so. Too bad that we could not leave a good memory over there :( The children are very happy when we took out the colouring paper. They form into small groups to share the colour pencils.
After all the colourings and small chats and also many photograph sessions, they proceed to have their lunch since the cathering has arrived. Then, the committee, which is us, split into two groups to have our lunch outside, to keep the children company. While the children is eating, those who had finish their meal came to have a small talk with us, some even want us to show them the photos we took during the colouring session!
After both groups finish their lunch, we proceed to set up the projector, and it is movie time for the children! After a small discussion with the committess during the meeting last night, we decided to play Despicable Me for the session. We've downloaded subtitle for them too for more understanding purposes! Also, there are puddings as refreshment for everyone!
After the movie credits, we proceed to the video prepared by one of our committee, where we flashback all the activities we've done throughout the course with all the photos and videos we took during the activity.
After that, we distribute some questionnaire for the children to fill up, about what is the most liked and disliked activities throughout our programme, and also about what to improve and some comments.
Today is also the Teachers' Day! Some volunteered to speak out in front of all to dedicate their appreciation and gratitude to their teacher, which almost made her shed her tears in front of all of us. Even a simple thank you will made one smile. Spread the love and positivity around you, people!
We did proceed to give some presents to the best artist of the day, and also we gave them sweets and cupcakes, a small thank you for YCK and for the children.
And there are a big surprise for them! Some of us went downstairs to prepare some balloons during the movie time. And when they enter the room with all the colourful balloons, some of them shouted with joy which caught all attention and all of them approaches them to get their balloon.
Lastly, out team leader, Danson Lee gave a short speech to the teacher at YCK and we gave her a hamper as a token of appreciation.
Thank you YCK, thank you Social Engagement, to give us this opportunity to expose to this small corner of the society. We sure will miss them a lot, through all the happiness and sorrows, and how important is communication, teamwork, and our passion.
From the last two posts, we can only picture the performance part for the children and the games for the parents. But there is more in the carnival! The essential part of the carnival is of course, the foods and entertainments! (p/s: hyperlinks to the previous posts are available!)
Yes, there are many food prepared in the carnival! All the stalls are managed by the parents or invited by the management to sell some foods such as hot dog bun, doughnuts, fishball and sausages and many more! Of course some refreshing beverages like limau asam boi and coconut milk shake is also available there!
There are also some booth set up by Yayasan Chow Kit and also from Pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat. An exhibition is set up by them, showing the photos and also some information about fire and accidents, and what is more interesting is, there is a bomba truck available for visit! Parents and children had this chance to see what is inside the truck, which is a fascinating experience because, you won't know how many things are fit inside to handle emergency situations in the truck!
Also, Yayasan Chow Kit also set up a booth, some merchandise is sold and also donation are available there.
A group photo of the committees with YCK staff!
In another corner of the carnival is a place where little kids are fascinated with. A ball crawl and a moonbounce slide is set up especially for them! A ball crawl is a structure filled with air and inside is filled with thousand of balls for children' enjoyment! The slide is also a favourite, where the children slide down the bouncy slide. There are also a few volunteers having their duty there to ensure the children' safety.
The children are having fun with the volunteers too!
Face painting is also available during carnival! Some children can choose to paint on their face or their hand. The person-on-duty are very busy because of the long queue! This was the children' favourite before all the games set up on the other booths such as pop the balloon, or "fear factor" game.
This post pretty summarizes how the carnival is going throughout the day. The happy face indicates the success of the carnival! Good job and a hand of applause to the committee, the parents who are willing to set up a booth for just a little income, and also the volunteers!
While the magic show for the children is happening, the parents queued up to sign up for the games we designed for them. Almost every apparatus and materials needed for the games are recyclable and reusable, encouraged by the person-in-charge of YCK.
The team is busy preparing for the games before the session starts! And also.. some discussion because of some issues that we are not prepared. Luckily we can find a solution to the problem! Bravo!
The parents are divided into 5 groups and they will play a series of games with the same team. Each game will have a winner and so, may the odds be ever in your favour!
On your mark, get set, GO!
Game #1 The Damaged
The game started like this: All the teams are gathered at one side of the game area in rows. The first member of the team is given a cup and they are required to fill the cup with water in the pail provided, then run to the other side of the game area and fill a plastic bottle up with the water. Sounds easy? The twist is, all the cups are purposely damaged, with holes at the bottom of the cup!
We are surprised to see the parents are as energetic as their children!
Game #2 Dodge!
After a short break, the parents are told to form a big circle. The first team are required to stand in the circle. Then, a ball is given to the players and they are required to "attack" the players in the circle with the ball. Once the player is hit, then the player is out of the game. The game continues until the last person is defeated, and then is the next group's turn to be "attacked". Time is taken for each team and the winner will be the team who stands the longest!
Unfortunately, there is a casualty for this game, one of the parents accidentally sprained her leg when she tried to avoid the ball. Luckily there are first aid on the run!
Game #3 Follow the Music
Due to the hot day, the parents are given ample time to rest and to accompany their children to walk around the carnival during their break time. Yet when the whistle is blown, the parents rush back on the spot to continue the game marathon!
For this game, we got help from the technical team of the carnival to play some music! Yes, you guessed it right, we played the musical chair!
The rules of the game are pretty much self explanatory, the players are required to sit on the chair in the circle when the music stops, those who fails to do so will not proceed to the next round. Some twist we might add will be, when the music is playing, we will play around with the speaker, to turn to volume softer, or those music that has some quick stops in the music. Sounds evil, isn't it?
Game #4 Want Some Splash?
Undeniable that the weather is very hot! Nonetheless that all of us are having activities under the hot sun! This game is designed that the balloons are filled with water, the same team are required to pass the water balloon by throwing it to the partner, standing with some distance in between them. The balloon are not supposed to break during their catch, or miss the balloon and it break on the ground. Of course, the longest team standing wins.
At first we are worried that the parents might not participate in this game because it might wet themselves, but they are willing to play it, some of them even took of their shoes to avoid them from soaking wet and the game proceed smoothly!
This marks the end of the parents' play time! Looking at them playing makes us wanting to go back to our childhood, where there are less thing to be worried, and problems are usually not a problem. Growing up is painful, but it is a necessity of our life. This always remind me of a story of a girl diagnosed with neuroblastoma. After five years of battling with the disease, Talia Castellano, a Youtube star, a beauty guru, and also a cancer warrior, passed away on July 16, 2013. However, her optimism always inspires us. During her interview in the Ellen show, this quote hits me,
"What do you want me to do? Be depressed? A little fishy told me to 'Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!'"
--Talia
Thank you Talia, for inspiring us, for sharing the positive energy and the strength to the world.
Back to the carnival, after a lucky draw session, the carnival proceeds with children' performance! The performances is getting excited with taekwondo show and also capoeira!
As mentioned before in the blog, YCK hires a Taekwondo teacher for the children to learn some martial arts, which act as a protection to the children, especially in the busy country like this. Their training and also hard work are presented in front of their parents, hoping them to be rest assured with them and not to be over protective.
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines the elements of dance, acrobatics and music. It can be played anywhere, but it is usually done in a roda. The roda is not the wheel, but a circle formed by capoeiristas and capoeira musical instruments, where every participant sings the typical songs and claps their hand following the music.
This game is modified with the children sitting in the circle and sing a typical song and clap their hand, and two children came in the circle at a time to perform some moves. This session is gets even exciting when some teenagers joined the game and sings some more interesting songs!
After the two sessions, another lucky draw is held. Then, for the last session, the final singing competition! The children had audition back in the activity centre, and some of the best singers are chosen to perform their favourite songs on the stage!
One of the participants, dedicate the song to his mother, showered with love and passion, shed his tears in front of the stage. However, he managed to finish the song and expressed how he missed his mother in spite that his parents are busy with work. Praise him for his courage and his love towards his family :)
Finally, the closing ceremony! It started with giving out the gifts to the parents and also some awards to the children.
The surprising thing is that at the end of the ceremony, there is a award giving ceremony to the volunteers! We received a certificate, a small cereal box, and also a handmade gift from the children, which is irreplaceable and very heart warming.
You don't have to open your wallet to show your love. It is not the expense of the gift that really matters. It's the thought and time spent on the gift that counts. Thank you children, thank you YCK, thank you for letting us learn some lifetime lessons.
.jpg)
.jpg)
