GESL

Every NIE student has to take part in some kind of Service Learning, similar to CIP. The main difference is that instead of just following the school’s wish for us to contribute in a specified area, we are supposed to work in our groups of about 20 to come up with our own proposal and carry out the programme with our chosen organisation. It is called Service Learning because it is deemed not only as a service to the needy, but also something beneficial to us as we get the chance to learn and experience something new from the organisation.

For our group, we discussed long and hard over which kind of organisation. Ultimately, as teachers passionate about children and education, we decided to work with needy children and thus contacted several different organisations to volunteer our services. Strangely, only Chen Shu Lan Methodist Home replied us. I guess during this period, because there are so many groups of student teachers in NIE, and most would like to work with children, many organisations would have too many to pick from. So anyway, CSL it was. It was home for needy children, ranging from Primary school to Secondary school. Some of them go back to their parents’ home during the weekends while others stay at the home everyday. Some of their parents are too poor, some non-existent, some in jail.

Our leaders went to speak with the in-charge a couple of times, and came back sharing how regimental it seemed. The lady in-charge seemed very stern with the children, and gave us many restrictions we had to work with.

However, when we were there, I never saw this in-charge once. And everything seemed kind of messy, not what we had expected it to be like. Despite having planned this so long in advance, and home didn’t seem ready for us. I thought the kids would have been gotten ready and someone would introduce us to the children before everything started, but we waited at the visitors’ area for quite awhile before anyone came and opened the chapel for us and gathered the kids. And the kids were just thrown to us like that.

For the first three days, we had some volunteers from Yoga-on-wheels to come conduct sessions with the girls, and on the last day, one of our member’s private belly dancing instructor offered to help. For the boys, the males in our group took them for soccer lessons. After yoga/belly-dancing/soccer, we had other activities including board games and art and craft.

The first day was strange. We went into the chapel and the yoga instructor started immediately; there wasn’t an introduction of any sort. And it was strange. And expectedly, yoga isn’t something very cool for the girls. They dreaded it. -_- It was kind of expected, but somehow, the in-charge wanted us to have yoga in the program, something mild and not wild, I guess. Got chatting with some of the girls in between, and during the board games later on.

Honestly, I somehow expected my group member to be more proactive in talking to the children and helping out. But at the beginning, most were just standing around, leaving it to the yoga instructors to do the job. Some didn’t even join in the yoga and was just standing around.. I think I was one of the first few to go nudge the more reluctant ones and befriend them. One of the three younger primary school girls got upset with the others and went sulking in the corner but no one bothered about her. I was the one who went over to talk to her. She then smiled and shyly offered me her precious sweets.

Because we took turns, I wasn’t there on the 2nd day, but went back on the 3rd. Everyday, there were some girls missing and some additional girls, which got us pretty exasperated as we were expecting a constant group of children to work with, and because we had planned for an affirmation activity on the last day and for that, we had to know the kids somewhat to be able to write something positive and to take their photos. Anyway, there were more secondary school girls on the 3rd days.There was one girl who seemed to have a little learning-disability. And the others, a little more ‘lian’, gave me that ‘too-cool-for-these-stupid-activities’ kind of feeling. They refused to join in the yoga, some were looking to the leader of the group to decide what to do. Could see that they didn’t mind joining, but if the leader refuses, they would just follow suit. Some of them were pretty rude and ignored us when we tried to talk to them, which got some of us a little pissed and spoke more sternly with them. Funny thing is, when my friends spoke to them nicely, they were completely ignored, but when they got angry, the girls responded respectfully. Afraid of getting into trouble with the in-charge, I guess.

Kelly got some art and craft kits from online and the children, even the older ones enjoyed them. We had wanted them to keep it for themselves but some of them gave their work to us. I was the glad recipient of two girls’ handicraft. They told me not to give it away or throw it away, so the two snowmen are sitting at home.

Fourth day, the last day, was actually a week later. Weird planning but it was given to us by the home.
When I reached the home, other members were sitting at the waiting area. Then from inside, the girl whom I’ve only seen once the previous week saw me from a distance and ran over to me and gave me a hug. It was very sudden and I got a shock. But it was humbling.
There were some problems with the belly-dancing instructor (she FORGOT!), and we had to resort to just playing boardgames for the last day, which I think the kids were glad for too. Had fun with some of the girls. After the games, we had donuts, drinks and gift bags for each of them. The affirmation activity was scraped as the organisation made it impossible for us to do it, so we just settled with some food and gifts. Two of the elder girls who spent a lot of time with me the 3 days I was there made me promise to return to visit. They wouldn’t settle for a maybe, and even after I had said yes, they kept asking me again and again, making me promise. I know that this isn’t the first time they have groups like this coming and going, just to fulfil their CIP hours, and never to be seen again. Before going, I expected our group to be the same, and I knew that it would be, even for myself, no matter how bad I felt about it, if I hadn’t promised them.

Trying to organise a visit to home again with a few others who don’t mind going back, but don’t know how it will work out, with school reopening both for us and the kids. I hope it will materialise and not be empty talk on my part.

Not so much of a reflection. My thoughts are all over the place.

For the new year, I wish that every single child would be loved and feel loved by someone.