Individual Reflection (Kirshen Lavindran)

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION – KIRSHEN LAVINDRAN (CIB 180042)

Good day, Home for Angels is an orphanage that is situated in Broga near Mantin, Seremban. They practise Taoism here. The kids here are multiracial and there are about 25 of them ranging from three to 17 years old. It was an honour to be at this beautiful environment.

I was very excited for the project from the very beginning. My whole team did not know what the project would be and where we would conduct it. Yet we were all excited and pumped up to enjoy what would be coming our way. I was anxious since I did not even get to meet my whole team on our first meeting. Adding to it, Group 3 and Group 4 decided to collaborate with each other for the project. I was a bit unsettled since more members mean more uncertainty and variable must be considered. But I try to stay optimistic and positive that everything will go well. In fact, more members could also mean more ideas, help and fun.

PREPARATION

Most planning was carried out via social media “WhatsApp” since it is quite hard for all the members to attend the meeting predetermined. So basically, each group need to brainstorm idea for the slot they wish to do and present it on the simulation day where all the group would present their activity to the whole member for any improvement and adjustment. This was also done online and we also discussed this physically.

I was sort of in charge. A lot of things were communicated to me and I had to make decisions. Initially, I was wondering if I should take a step back but no one would take a step front if no one initiated it. So, here I was leading the teams yet not being the official leader. On the event day, I was mainly in charge in cleaning and experiment slots. My partners and I worked well together and we were able to generate a lot of idea in no time at all and we conducted these activities successfully.

EVENTS DAY

First Day

D-Day!! Finally, the long-awaited first day is happening. I was feeling excited at the same time worried to meet the residents. I was nervous to see them hoping that things will be good. I was also very nervous in making sure the event went perfectly. I knew my other team members also felt the same, so we decided to go to the venue early to be prepared physically and mentally.

 

Once we reached, we started preparing the materials needed for the games that will be held later. Once it was time we began cleaning the entire building making sure every nook and cranny was clean.

           

After cleaning the buildings, my friend called me to help with the treems. We were ready to be given sudden jobs by the administration of the home and yes this was one of it. So my friends and I rushed to the job so we could be over by the time the sun comes out. Too bad, we had to work under the scrotching hot son. This happened for two days.

 

After lunch, we had our ice breaking session. It was really fun as the kids wanted to know more about us and they enjoyed the games we prepared. Except for one, Ee Kuang, a three-year-old boy who only wanted to seep and he wanted me to carry hi so that he could sleep on my shoulders.

Later that day we had the session of making rice balls (a chinese traditional appertizer). After every one came and had their fod, there was a boy named Roshan who started asking if we would like to play badmintan with him. Of course we agreed. Therefor, for the next 2 hours or more we were playing different kinda games with everyone. That night we had movie time where we played movies for the kids to enjoy. We ended the night quickly as they would be tired from the activities in during the day. We also had our lecturer visit us and hand in some donation form him and his wife.

Second Day

            It was pretty much like the first day. We planned to go hiking at the hill nearby but the weather wouldn’t permit us. We repeated the same activities. There were aditions too which were the charity sale and the experiment session. They were cool. I witnessed the kids enjoying the experiments we set for them. I saw people coming in to buy things just to support them. I also had the chance to speak with a parent tha had to send her daughter there due to family problems. That day, after cleaning, we took our final pictures there and I had to say goodbye to everyone and leave early since I was going back with my lecturer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFTER

So, now I'm here writing an individual reflection after few days the event has passed recalling every activity I have done throughout the preparation and event days. If I may say I’ve learned a mountain of thing thanks to my lecturer, teammates and the people of the Home for Angels. I am thankful to University of Malaya and the staff at Home for Angels for making this event happen in the first place. I once again learned that nothing is impossible if we put endless effort to something just like when me and my teammates shared ideas for the event so it would be the best and enjoyable for the participants.

In addition, as I started this project with uncertainty, I kept being optimistic that the event will go well. I’ve experienced emotions along this event such as nervous, upset, anger, sadness, happy, excited and grateful. I do believe that this event will impact everyone who participate in these events even though by changing only a small part of ourselves towards a better person.

Together, we can make a change. Thank you.