Reflection by Wong Loo Yee

Wong Loo Yee

CEB150168

Phase 1

My name is Wong Loo Yee, a first-year student who study Business Administration and I’m the member of Group 1. Firstly, I would like to thank my group supervisor lecturer Dr. Zalfa Laili Binti Hamzah and also my group mates who have made this social engagement project succeeded. I still remember on the first day we have the briefing about what the Social Engagement about. It was quite unfamiliar for me to join those volunteering project since I’m more to academic person. We have introduced ourselves on the first day of the meeting and position was distributed for the whole project to make sure that every event can carry out efficiently. I was under the Logistic and Welfare Department and my partner is Tan Hui Min. After that, Group 2 has joined our meeting to cooperate with each other in the 2 projects we held that is Dapur Jalanan and Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih.

Phase 2

Dapur Jalanan (20/3/2016)

It was the very first time I join the volunteer project "Dapur Jalanan". It was an eye-opening experience since I never join the volunteering project before. Dapur Jalanan is a soup kitchen project assisted by a group of volunteer teenagers from the various state. Before the event day, we have to do some survey about the place we are going to do our project so three of us went to Bangsar by LRT. The place is just 5 minutes walking distance from the Bangsar LRT station. Honestly, I feel so scared when going up the stairs because it was too dark. Luckily, there is someone who waiting for us and greeting us once we enter the room.

On the event day, we are asked to prepare some sandwiches and fruit salads. It was fun to prepare such foods with all my group mates. Most of the ingredients of foods were prepare using public funds and donors collected. After that, a short sharing session has been carried out to brief us about the history and the objectives of Dapur Jalanan.  

On the evening, we have moved to Pasar Seni to distribute foods and drinks for the homeless. You will saw many capable people of all races joining in to help those who are less fortunate. Besides, there is no racism issue when carried out this activity. Foods and drinks were distributed to the homeless without considered the races and religion. Hence, I think it was a good way to help those impoverished.

Fundraising (21/3/2016 – 23/3/2016)

Muffins sellers’ here! For our fundraising part, each of the member has to sell 13 muffins which cost RM2 each. The fund collected from the muffins we sold will be used to buy presents as rewards for the students who participate in the activities in SBJK. 

Sekolah Jalinan Bimbingan Kasih

Preschoolers (25/3/2016)

It was a good experience to visit Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih. On the first day, the headmaster has told us the story about the children. Most of them live along the roadside and some of them even live under a bridge. I feel so sad when I look at those kids...some of them are homeless and some of them might be an orphan. Most of the children have no understanding about the alphabet and numbers although they are in the range from 5 to 19 years old.

I was having fun with them when I visit them, they are just innocent and naive. I have learned how to carry a communication with those children in the most appropriate way. Since most of them are under 6 years old, they are really energetic. Most of them prefer dancing and gaming session.  Some of them are good in drawing and some of them are good in guessing. I still remember a Malay girl who felt shy in the beginning, she was so quiet and always sit alone. In the drawing contest, she has show her talent in drawing and we are amazed by her drawing. 

Besides, sweet treats and goodies have been distributed to those kids who have won in drawing contest. Although we have about 8 members to look after those kids, we feel exhausted after spending time with them. It was definitely a memorable day for me.

Explo race (15/4/2016)

On the second time, we had contributed an explo race for them. Lots of effort had put while planning the program of the day because we want to make it a memorable day. Before the explo race started, the students have to do aerobics with us in a warm up session. It seems like they really enjoyed it! After that, the students are distributed into 7 to 8 persons per group and the explo race has started! Co-curriculum is important so as academic, this time we have set some quizzes for the students in SBJK to test their academic level. I have set the questions about mathematics and sciences with my partner. No doubt most of them can get the correct answer and this really makes me surprise!  

Through my observation, I realized that most of the students prefer gaming rather than questions return on paper although some of them can do it well too. I have saw some of the students can cooperate well with others while some of them can’t. They have reminded me that teamwork is important to make everything go smooth and efficiently. Also, I’m sure I will spend more time with them if I have a chance to do so, it was really great to spend time with all of them. The children will give you a big smile every time we visit the place, some of them can even recognize you.

Closing ceremony (6/5/2016)
This is the last time we visit to SBJK. Everything looks same like the last time we visit to this school, except the feelings... I feel sad because this is the last time I visited the children but I feel happy in the same time since it has come to the end of the project.  Since it has come to the ending of the project, closing ceremony is a must as a perfect ending for this program. Drawing paper has been distributed to let the children draw out their desire occupation. The most exciting part is when all the UM students do the cheer together with those SBJK students and the cafe is full of cheer. They are really awesome!

Other than that, we have prepare cakes and goodies to clelebrate those May birthday baby. I was impressed by the singing performance of the teenagers in SBJK, they are so talented. Well done to them! Lastly, I'm pleased to say that this is the best volunteering project I have ever join!

Conclusion

Through this volunteering project, I've learned how to cooperate with others and commit to . Special thanks to Dr Zalfa and my team members, we have go through up and down while carrying this project. I really appreciate the moment we have spent together although there is some misunderstood in between members appear in time. Luckily we have solved it and this will definitely improve my communication skill. Also, this program really raised up my concern towards my family members. After I have joined Dapur Jalanan and project in SBJK, I have realized that how lucky am I to born in such wonderful family. How blessed I am! I will definitely appreciate every moment I spend with them in the future. Lastly, I would like to end up my reflection with Mother Teresa quotes: "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with love".