It's been an interesting journey so far, Lot's of uncertainty and challenges are faced.That's unsurprising since it's a pilot project. We have to slowly take one step at a time and learn from our mistakes and success in order to guide the future volunteers
But I do hope what we're doing is helping them, All we can do is be here and provide and of course make this fun for them,It is really up to them to really want to learn.
It's a good experience, now i know how my mum feels when she teaches at school (*what's worse than teaching children? teaching teenagers..LOL*) I now really respect people who do teach full time and are fully dedicated to teaching (Teachers, lecturers, etc)
I really hope that the children will enjoy this programme and really learn something out of it.Nice to know that we really can Make A Difference (United) in someone else's life and take part in their life and helping them be best that they can be in this world
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
What runs in Kristin's mind.......
I personally do agree of the fun part being able to join such a meaningful project. Even though these sessions does eat up my extra sleeping hours on Saturdays, but I do admit that joining the MADU team and get to teach kids how to read is really an awesome job. I never even think i'll be able to teach anyone to read but now i totally feel great when i'm doing so!
It was a scary thought at first when i found out that what we will be doing is to teach KIDS! I almost freaked out and i actually think deep before i make the decision to attend the training session (go training session = NO TURNING BACK!). but, i made up my mind and give myself a chance to go along with the project and see how can i make an impact on these kids. The end results may not be what i'm expecting, but, at least i tried my best in helping these kids.
This project gives me a whole new experience and a new meaning on teaching. Now, i can truly undersand how my mom (she is a kindergarten teacher) teaches her kids tiredlessly. To educate the children and to help them build a better future for themselves. Although I'm still new to this, i truly believe as time goes by, i'll get use to it and make myself more comfortable dealing with the kids (luckily, my group has many little quiet ones ^_^) and of course, helping them improve their reading!
It was a scary thought at first when i found out that what we will be doing is to teach KIDS! I almost freaked out and i actually think deep before i make the decision to attend the training session (go training session = NO TURNING BACK!). but, i made up my mind and give myself a chance to go along with the project and see how can i make an impact on these kids. The end results may not be what i'm expecting, but, at least i tried my best in helping these kids.
This project gives me a whole new experience and a new meaning on teaching. Now, i can truly undersand how my mom (she is a kindergarten teacher) teaches her kids tiredlessly. To educate the children and to help them build a better future for themselves. Although I'm still new to this, i truly believe as time goes by, i'll get use to it and make myself more comfortable dealing with the kids (luckily, my group has many little quiet ones ^_^) and of course, helping them improve their reading!
Jonathan's comments
i agree with hani.. eventho i know what we're doing is right, and that i know that i do want to enjoy it. it's hard for me to spawn true interest in what's doing. in that sense, i trully admire hani. i wish not just me but everyother volunteer will have the same passion for this program and bring it to next the next level so to speak
hani's experience
i promise that i'll type something brief... (yeah ryte :P)
how do i feel about the community that i am serving?
let me be honest. at first i was really sceptical. i mean: KIDS?!!! i can imagine all the trouble and burden that i was about to carry on these small shoulders of mine. i was scared (i still remember that first session, and i was in the stuffed van, and i was getting this PANIC attack as if i was about to go for a scholarship interview... i was so NERVOUS meeting the KIDS!!!) i just had no clue what i was going to do with them, if say.. they gave me their tantrums or started doing things that i did not like. i felt too young to be a 'parent' and what?!! dealing with KIDS!!! (the sound of the word KIDS just makes me tremble at times..haha)
but guess what???? i found this community that i am serving, (yes, the KIDS) are AWESOME!!!. it shocks me to find that they have so much POTENTIAL at a very YOUNG age. the kids in my group are SO CLEVER!!! little-EINSTEINs!!! i compare myself to them at their age, and i think that they are way better of than me in terms of knowledge and reading. serious. i'm in AWE seeing how they are so THIRSTY for KNOWLEDGE and FACTS. they have this CURIOSITY that no, does not kill the cat, but kills me... because i am so FASCINATED at how their little minds work and ABSORB so fast. i'm all "WOW!"
it really does render me speechless. and happy.. to know that i am a part of something 'NOBLE'. i am actually one of the individuals that are (and hopefully..remain for a long time) shaping the future of these KIDS. they may grow up to be someone really GREAT someday and i was a part of it all (haha, tumpang gembira). i taught them how to READ. i INSPIREd them. (i think/i hope?)
i learned one big lesson through all this mixing around with the kids. i learnt that when we all were kids, we all were just the SAME. we all were INQUISITIVE little creatures that are NATURALLY born GOOD in person. and i see that in all the kids in the room at the community centre. then i think, why is that some of us turn out to be useful beings and some others turn out to be criminals, addicts, rapists? when to think again, we started out the same: nice, sweet, innocent, good when we were little children. i guess people change due to their environment, influences through out their life. but if we are able to SET GOOD FOUNDATION, GOOD VALUES in these kids from a YOUNG age, then perhaps ALL will turn out to be GREAT society members someday.
i hope to instill values in these kids so that they would not be influenced by whateva BAD things in their years to come. i seriuously want to see them successful someday. cuz they are just AMAZING!! (thought naughty+irritating+evil at times... sorry.. i just needed to spill that..haha)
conclusion... i love this community that i am working with ryte now. FANTASTIC!!
hani
how do i feel about the community that i am serving?
let me be honest. at first i was really sceptical. i mean: KIDS?!!! i can imagine all the trouble and burden that i was about to carry on these small shoulders of mine. i was scared (i still remember that first session, and i was in the stuffed van, and i was getting this PANIC attack as if i was about to go for a scholarship interview... i was so NERVOUS meeting the KIDS!!!) i just had no clue what i was going to do with them, if say.. they gave me their tantrums or started doing things that i did not like. i felt too young to be a 'parent' and what?!! dealing with KIDS!!! (the sound of the word KIDS just makes me tremble at times..haha)
but guess what???? i found this community that i am serving, (yes, the KIDS) are AWESOME!!!. it shocks me to find that they have so much POTENTIAL at a very YOUNG age. the kids in my group are SO CLEVER!!! little-EINSTEINs!!! i compare myself to them at their age, and i think that they are way better of than me in terms of knowledge and reading. serious. i'm in AWE seeing how they are so THIRSTY for KNOWLEDGE and FACTS. they have this CURIOSITY that no, does not kill the cat, but kills me... because i am so FASCINATED at how their little minds work and ABSORB so fast. i'm all "WOW!"
it really does render me speechless. and happy.. to know that i am a part of something 'NOBLE'. i am actually one of the individuals that are (and hopefully..remain for a long time) shaping the future of these KIDS. they may grow up to be someone really GREAT someday and i was a part of it all (haha, tumpang gembira). i taught them how to READ. i INSPIREd them. (i think/i hope?)
i learned one big lesson through all this mixing around with the kids. i learnt that when we all were kids, we all were just the SAME. we all were INQUISITIVE little creatures that are NATURALLY born GOOD in person. and i see that in all the kids in the room at the community centre. then i think, why is that some of us turn out to be useful beings and some others turn out to be criminals, addicts, rapists? when to think again, we started out the same: nice, sweet, innocent, good when we were little children. i guess people change due to their environment, influences through out their life. but if we are able to SET GOOD FOUNDATION, GOOD VALUES in these kids from a YOUNG age, then perhaps ALL will turn out to be GREAT society members someday.
i hope to instill values in these kids so that they would not be influenced by whateva BAD things in their years to come. i seriuously want to see them successful someday. cuz they are just AMAZING!! (thought naughty+irritating+evil at times... sorry.. i just needed to spill that..haha)
conclusion... i love this community that i am working with ryte now. FANTASTIC!!
hani
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
my experience
hello. just thought i'll share a bit of my experience on the reading programme.
the kids seem to like it when we bring props to liven up story telling session.
i brought things that may seem as ridiculous - a crown made out of newspaper, a tupperware which "thinks" it is a drum, a guitar which consists of a box and a few rubber bands!!!
i think the kids went along with me just because i told them to! (though i really hope they enjoyed themselves)
riman really caught the children's attention through some magic tricks during the "get to know you" session. He will make a great magician!!!
The kids were also impressed with his "sound effects" during story telling.
from a scale of 1 to 10, this experience certainly gets 100 hundred!!! i like the fact that i help out in any way that i can (big or small) and now i look forward to each saturday!!!
the kids are really great and it really means a lot when they give us a warm greeting before each meeting. it is as though we are making a real difference in their life even in a short amount of time. the greatest part of all is that not only am i giving, i am receiving as well. the kids have shown me that it is important for me to still retain my "inner child" and have fun! life is not all about exams and amount of a's. it is also to live life to the fullest! we need to smile more, laugh more and care more about others.
on a last note, i would like to ask everyone who is reading this post for a little favour.
i am hoping to get an article on this activity published on the college magazine (though it is subjected to the editorial approval first).
I hope that everyone can contribute by sharing their personal experience and any pictures of the kids or yourself during the activities.
if mr law and ms tifanny can also share on the process involved in journaling, that would be a great addition to the article as well.
thnx in advance to all!!!! hope that all of u read this and will encourage others to do the same!!!
the kids seem to like it when we bring props to liven up story telling session.
i brought things that may seem as ridiculous - a crown made out of newspaper, a tupperware which "thinks" it is a drum, a guitar which consists of a box and a few rubber bands!!!
i think the kids went along with me just because i told them to! (though i really hope they enjoyed themselves)
riman really caught the children's attention through some magic tricks during the "get to know you" session. He will make a great magician!!!
The kids were also impressed with his "sound effects" during story telling.
from a scale of 1 to 10, this experience certainly gets 100 hundred!!! i like the fact that i help out in any way that i can (big or small) and now i look forward to each saturday!!!
the kids are really great and it really means a lot when they give us a warm greeting before each meeting. it is as though we are making a real difference in their life even in a short amount of time. the greatest part of all is that not only am i giving, i am receiving as well. the kids have shown me that it is important for me to still retain my "inner child" and have fun! life is not all about exams and amount of a's. it is also to live life to the fullest! we need to smile more, laugh more and care more about others.
on a last note, i would like to ask everyone who is reading this post for a little favour.
i am hoping to get an article on this activity published on the college magazine (though it is subjected to the editorial approval first).
I hope that everyone can contribute by sharing their personal experience and any pictures of the kids or yourself during the activities.
if mr law and ms tifanny can also share on the process involved in journaling, that would be a great addition to the article as well.
thnx in advance to all!!!! hope that all of u read this and will encourage others to do the same!!!
Hi everyone
Can we meet up this Friday at C27, 3pm for a short meeting to discuss some items for the enxt session on the 22nd. I know that some of you are planning to go back to your hometowns. If you can't make it it's ok. We'll just discuss with whomever's there.
The main focus will be to get a general idea of what to do for the 22nd. We will meet again after the break to finalise things.
Yong
The main focus will be to get a general idea of what to do for the 22nd. We will meet again after the break to finalise things.
Yong
Hi
Dear Everyone,
Now that we have conducted three sessions of the reading program with the kids in Sentul, I would like to start contributing my feedback and more so, I hope all of you, the volunteers, will make an initiative to give feedback. It's really convenient as we are already using this blog as a platform. Now it's time to make full use of it. As an incentive, first 8 (eight) contributors gets a prize (serious!) from me!
I'd like to find out how you would rate this service experience, so let's start with this first question: How do you feel about the community you are serving?
Personally I am quite inspired by the kids. It's amazing to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn from you. Their appreciation is most apparent through their welcoming faces, their punctuality and responsive (most of them) attitude throughout the session. Some may be more active and playful than the others but that's normal. I hope by sticking to the program for the months to come, they will experience a transformation in character towards not only reading, but school performance, behaviour at home and more.
===========================================================
--
Kind Regards,
Tiffany Tang
Now that we have conducted three sessions of the reading program with the kids in Sentul, I would like to start contributing my feedback and more so, I hope all of you, the volunteers, will make an initiative to give feedback. It's really convenient as we are already using this blog as a platform. Now it's time to make full use of it. As an incentive, first 8 (eight) contributors gets a prize (serious!) from me!
I'd like to find out how you would rate this service experience, so let's start with this first question: How do you feel about the community you are serving?
Personally I am quite inspired by the kids. It's amazing to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn from you. Their appreciation is most apparent through their welcoming faces, their punctuality and responsive (most of them) attitude throughout the session. Some may be more active and playful than the others but that's normal. I hope by sticking to the program for the months to come, they will experience a transformation in character towards not only reading, but school performance, behaviour at home and more.
===========================================================
--
Kind Regards,
Tiffany Tang
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