Sunday, November 8, 2009
A Special Afternoon with Special People!
Time really really flies!! (especially when you are working) Christmas is coming really soon! Will be helping out at St Luke Elderly Care Centre...COOL way to spread the joy or Christmas! Going there to carol and play games with the elderly folks.
Wanna join me?? (I'm serious!! Join me join me!)
Just reminded me of my special day (few months ago) with a special group of children, from MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore), Fernvale Garden School. Here, their t-shirt (well...at least it's not "I Love St. Pat", or "I Love your school's name")
We spent an afternoon @ East Coast Park building sandcastles. It was quite a different experience altogether. Because they were intellectually challenged, it was challenging for us to interact with them as well! Some of them were shy and passive, some were really out-spoken! I had this boy (can't recall his name) who keeps asking me "what's your name?". And after i told him, he just call me "AUNTY Cindy". LOL! He did a few times to me, and my colleagues. Funny!
Here you go: i was all the way at the back trying to snap a few shots. We were on our way to the beach.
First we lead them to the beach, where there's lots of sand (D-U-H). But it was a hot and sunny day, so we had to collect water from the sea to pour on the sand portion which we're using for our activity.
Each of us lead a group. Our first task is to get the children to sketch what they would like to build. That was really NOT EASY. I had a group that has mixed personalities. I had 1 boy who was always trying to go to another group; another one was really quiet, need to encourage him to talk and participate; another boy was super hyper-active and talked a lot. So it was quite an exclusive experience trying to get them to settle down a
nd work together. =)
To be honest, i already know it was no point getting them to draw. 'Cause they will definitely not be following! Err...they didn't manage to agree on one design(of course). I believe we are doing this to break the ice with them, so that they won't feel shy. Yes...they have emotions too!
Working hard: This is my colleague, Alris. Sorry that you can't see her pretty face! she was just working too hard trying to facilitate the kids building sandcastles!
Here's a very interesting boy, call Ronnie. He is very good at drawing! Amazingly, he seems to understand what's team work, and able to take instructions better. But unfortunately, i guess he's allergic to some components in the sand. After a while, his hands were really red. ~scares~In the end he had to stop and wash up.
This is the boy who left the deepest impression in my heart that day. His name is Melvin. Melvin LOVES to talk, and he is very cooperative! He's actually very out-going, and super hyper! I had lots of fun trying to 'disturb' him....Hahaha!
Melvin posing for the camera! I told him, "Melvin! Do this!"...and i taught him to do a 'V'. LOL! But he did something that touched my heart. While we were all building sandcastles together, he told me, "Jie jie, jia you!". And repeats it a few more times, through out the entire activity. Surprisingly, he went around cheering his friends too. =)
I can't help but felt really moved in my heart, when i realized that Melvin knows how to encourage others.
Yea...this is the work of their hands! Cool right? We could have done better with more time! But still, it's not about the aesthetic value of the sandcastles; it's about the children trying to accomplish something together, by piecing their individual efforts together.
Enough of sand!! It's now time for some water!! WOOHOO! We took our groups to the water, and for most of them, this was the first time, they ever played with sea water. They were so excited and made a lot of noise. Some of them were jumping around 'cause they couldn't contain their excitement!
Here's a group photo of all of them! Some of them can't do 'V'. So they only pointed their finger at us! =)
It was truly a great experience. I'm deeply inspired by the teachers who too care of them. It takes extra patient, extra passion, extra of everything to take care of these special children.
To conclude, i believe one thing - ALL human beings need love! Just like you and me, these children need to know they are loved and wanted.
Having said that, and with Christmas around the corner, let's do something to make someone feel special, loved, and treasured.
=)
8:21 AM |
