Ok, the Camp committee is so cool la, consists of some of my closest friends that i will ever have. The Camp committee: Amanda , Ting Jun, Kang Wei, Ming Li and last but not least, Me. Firstly, the name of the camp is Experience Actions, Community Outreach Project Penang 2008. For us, the experience of this camp is totally different, not the kind of experience where we clients could just go there enjoy wad TM plan for us. This time, We were so called in charge in running the whole camp, supported by the Happy friends Club(HFC) volunteers. Here is the day-by day breakdown of the unforgettable Experience Actions Community Outreach Project, Penang:
Saturday, 13 December 2008
I went to meet them all at the Lavender MRT station there,, followed by my parents. All clients were to meet there, where the bus will then leave for Penang. Reached there at about 7am, by the time saw many of my familiar friends there too. Boarded the bus and went to sit with Amanda:)
The first day was mainly used to travel to Penang lor. Nevertheless, it was still quite fun, as the camp Comm, namely Ting Jun, Amanda and me in 1 bus, had to start doing the bus activities, initiated by Ting Jun. We ask the clients to share some information abiut theirselves and their partners. This is let them interact with the client and also get the opportunity to meet up with more friends with the process. Following that, we asked them to describe themselves in a word, using sny letters in their individual names. I felt thst this also produced satisfying results. I enjoyed the feeling of the clents reacting to our activities in a positive mood, which is good to see, and also gave us a good start and a good confidence booster for us. Then we 3 all took turns to give them some riidles and jokes to liven up the atmosphere. the atmosphere indeed went high, as many people were kept laughing and enjoying themselves. Seeing the way they react to our lead also has been a joy to experience. The rest of the journey was used to travel to Penang itself, which took an estimated 15 hours..very long journey..but worth the journey..
We reached penang at about 11.30pm, before checking in to our campsite, which would be our "home" for the nxt 4 days:)
Photos taken on 1st day (some only, not all):
Bestie Sylvia, and Mindy(HFC)
Sunday, 14 December 2008
The real camp started on this day. this is the time when camp comm slack abit LOL, coz nothing much for us to do:)
First stop of the Trip: Fort Cornwallis.
Morning we took the bus to travel to the Fort Cornwallis. However, when we reached there, the place disappoints us. The HFC and volunteers went down first 2 check the accessibility of the place 4 us clients. Then, all we noe it, is that they say the Fort Cornwallis is closed on Sundays haiz..
Nonetheless, we clients still went down walk a while, enjoy the breeze and the seneries. The tour guide gave a brief story on the history of the Fort Cornwallis. We all took a big group photo while at the entrance of Fort Cornwallis.
Fort Cornwallis
Group Photo : The AWWA Family
Amanda and Me, doing our part as camp committe to rouse the clients
Amanda Ang and Ex TM stuff cum Volunteer Juliet=D
Monday,15 December 2008
During Breakfast, the clients got the chance to interact with each other. Kang Wei led the whole of the boys to interact with the girls hahahaha, Fun la. Talk to some of them, and got to noe them better. The way I see it, i felt the clients really enjoyed themselves interacting, laughing and talking all the way.
After which we travelled to the Asia Community Service Centre, Steeping Stone, to visit some of the physically and interlectually disabled beneficaries in Penang. We were invited to interact with them, and i personally enjoyed the experience. Soon, the clients also were given the opportunity to see the beneficaries at work. Not only did we see them do their jobs, we also got the rare opportunity of experience wad they do, first hand. We did some art paintings, and also weaving of clothes using their mechanical machines. TM Clients, me included, we got the chance to try making cloth first hand. Some of us felt the experience as addictive, such was the fun of it.
In addition, we clients also managed to witness their beneficaries doing paper manually. Even better, some of the TM clents even got the chance to try making paper themselves.
As the name of our camp(Coommunity Outreach Project) suggest, i felt that the visit of the ACS Centre is the main highlight of the whole camp, where we can lend a helping hand who are also physically disabled, just like us. I felt that everyone was passionate to want to help and contribute as much as their talents and ability can bring all. As a Camp Comm member, i felt that everyone certainly did their part in making the visit of the ACS a successful one. Each and every one of TM had played an important role.
After which we had our lunch, before going back to the dormitory to prepare for the night's main activity: the campfire.
While travelling back on the bus, I and Amanda was sitting together to discuss about my MC script for the campfire. She helped me to think of what I was to say during my MC later. In addition, as the organiser and in charge of the whole of the campfire, I was tasked to give a briefing to all TM clients about the campfire activities.
So, I briefed them about the campfire songs and skit programmes. All groups had to come up with a group cheer, a group skit and most importantly, a group name to recognise themselves.
So my group, the Red Group, as jointly led by Amanda and Me, started discussing and planning about our campfire activities. Our Group, after much discussions and idea generations, call ourselves the Red United! Our Skit and group cheer was then followed. After confirmation of our skit, cheer and group name, we went outside to do a rehearsal for the group skit, before helpng out to prepare for the barbeque dinner
Soon, the beneficaries of the Asia Community Service(ACS) Center, who was invited by AWWA to join in the dinner with us, came to join us. I, together with Amanda and some other friends then helped to distribute the food to te beneficaries. As we interacted with them, i had certain difficulties to talk to them, because i do not understand nor speak much Malay. So, i asked a few of my Malay friends to help out, as in lead a group of TM clients to interact with them. Among the beneficaries, we got exposed to meet with people with physical and also mental disabilities, who learn 2 communicaate through the use of sign languages. I felt that it was a pleasant experience, to learn to understand the disabled better and to communicate with them, despite their disabilities. In addition, some of us are also able to learn abit of Malay hahaha, though i cannot really catch wad they talking haha.
After dinner, the clients all helped to set up the chairs in preparation for the campfire activities. meanwhile, I, as the in-charge of the campfire, gathered all my camp comm members to discuss final preparations and confirm all the small details before the real campfire.
For the campfire, I was to be the MC(host) of the campfire, to be in front to lead the flow of the campfire. After weeks and months of preparations, this was the chance that i got to lead AWWA through the campfire. At that time, i felt quite confident of doing the job well. For the first 15 minutes after the start of campfire, i felt very nervous and shaky. As i gathered my tempo, the more confidence i gained. Each group went up to dissplay their skit on show, then soon, it was me and Amandaa to lead through our group skit. I felt our group did quite ok, although there was a few nervous moments. i felt all the groups did show their abilities and talents through the group skit, which I am glad to see in the clients. After which, the camp comm all worked together as a team to lead through the singing of the campfire songs. After, all of us, clients and beneficaries included, came together as one to do the friendship song. Towards the end, all the 4 groups, along with the committee members(Camp Comm formed a group, 5 of us) to bomb each other's groups. I felt it was very fun and entertaining, as everyone was very RA RA when it comes to bombing. As for the camp comm, i felt that we 5 had more of a job, bcause we had to balance 2 groups(the camp comm and their individual groups). Overall, i still felt that it is the best experience that i can experience for a long time.
Personally, I felt that everyone did a fine job in making the campfire a success. As the mC, i can kind of feel the great spirit andd togetherness of all the groups. I felt that the cclients certainly get to experience these feelings of bondings among AWWA, which i felt was great. I thank all the camp comm and HFC for their support throughout the campfire. I tink, without them, I tink i may not even get through as MC with these kind of experiences. Towards the end of campfire, i was quite emotional, such that I felt a few teardrops fall lor, and i didnt even really realise hahha.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
This day was used mostly to tavel back to Singapore from Penang. It took quite a lot of time, around 12 hours of travelling time.
Towards the end, when our coach, Coach B, the tour guide left, Eric(HFC) took over as "tour guide" to host a "mini K-Box" haha. We sing through the journey , and it was both funny and interesting.
Three cheers to Experience Actions, Community Outreach Project Penang 2008!!!:)