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Happy NIU Year with kids! - Rumah Victory |
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Today I became a volunteer in a children's Chinese
New Year party "Happy Niu Year" at the Community Centre in OUG. There were 9
homes attending this party and we had about 150 little VIPs today to usher in
the Chinese New Year 2009!
I reached there by 3pm, then all the volunteers gathered in a hall and we were
divided into 4 groups. I was in Team number 3.
We were given the homes to be in charged of and my team had taken the Rumah
Victory (Children and Youth) and Rumah Charis. Then, we came out from the hall
and started to prepare everything.
At 5.30pm, I was asked to stand at the entrance to usher the |
kids from the 2 homes to their
seats as the party was going to start very soon. I was elated because I
could be the first to see them (and the first to be seen by them). We waited
for about 15 minutes and finally the first van arrived at the place. It was
Rumah Charis! Everyone was so excited to see the 8 kids and the 2 staff.
I chatted with them but some of them seemed so quiet especially the
15-year-old boy Ah Xuan who I was responsible to take care of. He just sat
there waiting for the children from other homes to come and drinking his
special concoction of Soya and sprite. I tried to find some topic to chat
about but in fact it was like a Q & A session. Lols. I was at my wits' end
trying to talk to him as I was just like a you-can't-see for him.
Later, there was an Angpau giving session. The children lined up and went up
to the stage one by one to get the Angpau.
I spent my free time over here and asked for a lot of information. I
realized that there's a home in Semenyih - Conerstone. It is quite a small
one and I'm planning to visit it during the March holidays.
Well, there were lots more program later. Magic show, singing performance,
lion dance, face switch, Chinese duet and acrobatic show. And of course
there were also fireworks! A magnificent display of fireworks! But I think
it was noisy.
About 9.30pm, all the children went home. And we were all shocked when the
director of YRAC announced that there was a kid from House of Joy missing. A
15-year-old boy missing! All the volunteers and staff looked into every
edges, the hall, the toilet, the rooms and we even went out to the shops
nearby, looking for him. The other children from House of Joy were waiting
in their van, they seemed nervous.
After 20 minutes, we finally found him. He was enjoying his meal in a coffee
shop (something like the Old Town). We can't blame him actually. He is
already 15 and why can't have a life like the other teens.
Community Service is not a means to an end, it is an end in itself. That's
why it's different from business as we're not making profit or doing it to
achieve something else. But it doesn't mean that we don't have any aim or
purpose. Of course we do. Just like visiting the homes, all we want is the
kids and the elders to be happy and we are expecting to see the look of
sheer joy on their face.
Many of you have never been to an orphanage or old folks home. When you
spend just a little time to know more about them, you'll realize that how
lucky you are. When we talk about orphans and old folks, I'm sure there's a
thought flash into your head -- They are pitiful. And then, you'll start
thinking of their lives, what they eat, how they sleep, and you'll feel pity
and sorrow for them. And the next day, you'll totally forget about that. You
continue with your life and forget about their situations until someone
talks about them or once the news of these homes comes out.
I hope all of you can always remember that there is someone need your help.
When we listen to their stories, we are actually telling them that they are
significant, that they deserves our attention and time. Let the children,
elders and the disabled know that they need not embark on their journey
alone. We can journey together!
Source: youth-service.blogspot.com
Author: Minyi
Date: February 7, 2009
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| Team number 3. |
The boy on my left is Ah Xuan. |
The magic tricks intrigued them! |
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| Hahaha... umbrella with holes. |
Weeee... this's a cute one here! |
Cute boy! |
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