Reflection for social engagement (Tan Hui Min) CEB 150155

Reflection 

Name: Tan Hui Min
No Matrik: CEB 150155

Before phase

Planning is the first step in order to success in an event. It reflects how important planning is as it will decide whether the event can success or not. I found it difficult as I need to recall back the first meeting we had for social engagement which is last year. The moment I heard there is a course which is social engagement which is compulsary for us to take on the following semester, I had a feeling that it will be a tough semester for us.

I am lucky enough to belong in the first group of BBA student for social engagement as we have the best group member ever. Everyone will undergo their first time. So does us. The first meeting was
awkward as we doesn't really know among each other. One thing I realised when I enter university is even you are a coursemate to someone, you might dont have the opportunity to get to know them as classes taken a different. As for social engagement is a good platform to get to know more about our coursemate and foster our relationship.  We started with self-introduction followed by the nomination and the installation of our position for the social engagement. Our advicer which is Dr Zalfa take over both group 1 and 2 so we combined and generate our meeting together with group 2.

We did meeting for a few times and came to a decision to do 2 different project suggested by 2 groups which are "Dapur Jalanan" and Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih. We also did fund raising in order to collect some budget for prizes and gift to the students. For fund raising, we sold muffin and it was quite successfully as we manage to sold it very fast in one day.

1) Dapur Jalanan (Soup Kitchen)

I am from the logistic and welfare unit. So before the event day I and few friends of mine went to Bangsar to survey the location, environment and facilities. It was located at Kelab Bangsar Utama which is 5min walking distance from the lrt station. We 3 girls are brave enough to go up to the stairs that was creepy but it ended up we reach to a cozy environment which have place to cook and preparation.

On the day we went for Social Engagement, the menu was malay style chicken rice, fruit salad, sandwiches and juices. We were glad that someone sponsor the main course which is chicken rice then our job have became much easier. We devided our task to 3 small group as each group prepare a menu. I incharged for the fruit salad. There were a variety of food such as melon, watermelon, grapes, apples, guava and so on. I cut some watermelon into small pieces then we mixed with all the fruit and add mayonnaise. We already completed our fruit salad. The others did the smashing of eggs for the sandwiches, spread on the bread and make it a sandwich.

Between the preparation and distribution of food, we have a sharing session about "Dapur Jalanan" by the founder and his members. They said something that deeply touched in the bottom of my heart. We are forbidden to say that those people are poor, something that is negative as some of them may have a stable job but they still come for the food. I realised we are all lucky enough to study in a university by depending on our parents.

Lots of food to be distributed

After that, we headed to Pasar Seni, Jalan Panggung through lrt to distribute our food to those who wants. Distribution of food was smoothly flowed as everyone queue up and follow the sequence.
There weren't that much people as it drizzled that day. However, we managed to complete our first social engagement event successfully.







2) Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (Preschool students)

From this semester, we are only allowed to serve the people, community insteads of animals, environment as our course name is obviously social engagement. We decided to help the children this time. Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK) is a free school supported by the government for child aged from 4years old to 19years old. However these children who studied in SBJK are not a normal kids, as some of them doesn't have identification documents, or come from a under privilege family and other factors.

The students settled down when they watched Upin and Ipin 

This was the first time we visit SBJK. I felt the facilities was good and the environment is conducive. Before we come, we were told that the students are very active as they are not like the usual kids. After we went, they will just the ordinary cute kids for me. We incharged for the preschool kids that day. They were all adorable and cute although some are rebellious. We had a hard time to make them quiet as they were so active all the time. The game I incharge was musical chair. I can see smiles and laughter while they enjoy the game. It make me so happy. As life has it's ups and downs, children have the time when they all active as well as quiet. They behaved so well when we turned on the TV show Upin and Ipin, There are numbers of games we prepared for them such as eagle and hen, colouring contest, Guess-it, moral value watching video session and so on. We were glad that we prepared some small gift and prizes for them. Children always need to be rewarded so that they can behave well.

3) Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (Primary School students)


It was the second time we come to here. Everything was still the same. The noisy crowd of students, the bell ring and also the sound of rooster crowing in the morning. This time we incharge for the primary students and we prepared explore race for them. Before the explore race, we did the aerobic session conducted by me and my friends. Warm-up is always important to start a activity. There were 8 games all together conducted by 2 to 3 person. Firstly, all the students were divided to few groups. As for me, I did the facilitator of one of the group. Our Group was "Batang" which means roots of the tree. I leaded them to every station game and make sure they are in a group. In some station game, even I participate with them as I think that teamwork and sacrifice are really vital. As I am also the part of the team, I contributed my shoes for one of the game so that they can make it. We had lots of fun.

I contributed my shoe for the sake of our team

The games were all interesting. I can see that they all enjoy the games more than doing math and science question as children reflect who they are. There were games such as pull in a line, load the basket with balls, quizzes, built a tower with straws and so on. I helped them collected all the stickers whenever we manage to complete the station games. After we collected all 8, we went to the central station. Unbelievable that our group was actually the second place. How proud was I even more than the students. Our event ended with the prize giving ceremony.


From all the activities we have done for social engagement, I gain lots of valuable experiences that are not attainable in our lecture. It is indeed a memorable and unforgettable one. I get to know more about coursemates, learned to appreciate what we have, love our loved ones, importance of teamworks and many more. I am looking forward for the last event for our social engagement.



4) Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (Closing Ceremony)


Today was the last day of our social engagement session. For appreciation to the school authorities and also for the students, we did a closing ceremony involved all the students including the primary and secondary students. As usual, we started the day with some warm-up which is the aerobic session. This time was different. We played a song "Merdeka" and dance with the students with some simple movement conducted by our students. This reminds me some memories during MHS which is the university orientation week. It was really a tough and tiring moments but really miss those time.

Drawing Session

 After that, we continue our session with the drawing session for decoration at the canteen area. Students are given a paper and can draw anything with their creativity. Most of the students enjoyed drawing but still there are some students which are not. While I pass by the students table, one young girl attracted by attention. You wouldn't believe your eyes that such a young girl can draw such creative drawing. Some really did very well. I realized "God is always fair. Everyone will have their strengths and weaknesses, we need to figure it out ourself.

Fun decoration (student's drawing)

Talented girl in drawing

Emcee of the day

After recess, our closing ceremony is officially began. We started with the headmaster speech, followed by our lecturer from University of Malaya's speech, Dr Yusniza, student leader speech by our group leader Zafran and lastly, Cikgu Nadiah's speech. Our lecturer present them a small gift as a token of appreciation for their willingness to give us such a golden opportunity to be there. We are proud that we are among those who are been chosen. Our emcee suddenly asked for someone to sing. A brave boy volunteered. Cikgu Nadiah said that this is his first time he sang in front of so many people. He doesn't look nervous at all. He was so confident. After that, our multimedia department present a short video of photos taken while conducting activities throughout social engagement project. I feel that time really flies and we are already about to the end. We ended the closing ceremony with the full member photography session.


After the prayer and lunch, is our party session which is one of the highlight of the day. A talented band which are performed by the students from SBJK was amazing. I really fall in love with the music the band performed. I remember on the first day, the headmaster did mention that they found some talented musician in their school and form a band which had performed in many place and events. I was suddenly become their fan  girl. Our member Alex sang with his wonderful voice that amazed the audience. How can a party held without cakes. We get the list of students whose their birthday is on May from Cikgu Nadiah. This was a surprised to them. I can see happy faces from the birthday boy and girl. We also distribute all of the students party bags with snacks.

Cakes for the May born students

It comes to the hardest time. It was the time to leave. I greeted the students with goodbyes and leave the school. I was sure that I will miss it very much and yes I did.

After phase

From all the activities we have done for social engagement, I gain lots of valuable experiences that are not attainable in our lecture. It is indeed a memorable and unforgettable one. I get to know more about coursemates, learned to appreciate what we have, love our loved ones, importance of teamwork and many more. I love children and small kids before and after the social engagement it makes my affection towards them even deeper. I love the way they think innocently but meaningfully and also it reminds my childhood. Whenever I saw happy faces on the students, strangely it makes me happy too.Throughout the activities, I learned something about leadership too when I was the facilitator of the group. leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to "win" as a team or an organization and it is dynamic, exciting, and inspiring. Furthermore, I realized that the best way to give students motivation is by rewarding them. They tend to perform better when they have a goal to achieve. I really glad to have my groupmate as a team. We never have any problem of arguing or conflict. We made it together and helped each other. I am looking forward to work with them in the future.