日本のともだち

For a week in June, I had the opportunity to play host to a group of Japanese students from Yokohama International College of Social Welfare. Every year, the school will send a group of students to Singapore to visit local VWOs (Volunteer Welfare Organisations). Purpose of this is to allow students to have a greater exposure to this “industry” in other countries and also to encourage cultural exchange between the 2 countries. The local organisation that had helped make this happen for the past 20 years is National Council Of Social Service (http://www.ncss.gov.sg/).

Collage by Germaine

Due to work commitments, I was not present on the first day of the week long program. Fortunately for me, volunteers from both sides were not “warmed up” yet and I didn’t miss a lot of fun.

Skipping to the 2nd day, the first half of the day was spend in Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (http://www.cslmch.org.sg/). Prior to this, my experience with VWOs were only limited to homes with elderly or people with disabilities. After speaking to a retired lady who had opted to work full time in the home, I found out that in CSLMCH, 90% of the children there attend mainstream education with some of them having autism and learning disabilities. The most common thing that brought them together to this place where everyone is their brothers and sisters is the fact that they all come from broken families of some sort, with many of them having Child Protection Order, sometimes even against their parents. The age of the children there ranges from 4-16 years old and those who exceed these age, they will have to be sent to another home.

Amidst all the fun and games, I gained a lot of insights from the children and teens of this place, thoughts that would haunt me but in a good and memorable way.

Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home

This is me!!

Because of communication problems, activities planned by Japanese students were more interactive and promotes hands-on task rather than communication. For the morning, it was sports and games for all with kids running around, kicking balls, shooting hoops, engaging slides and gathering round the piano where Germaine (my local counterpart) tries to hypnotise the older kids with her tunes.

Guess who are from yokohama and who from singapore.

Balloon!!

A bubbly 7 year old

Works better than a swinging pendulum pocket watch

Fortunately for me, I had several Japanese language lessons and could understand them a little (OK I guessed the meaning most of the time...) and I became a part time lousy translator for some of the kids. Luckily I could turn to their teacher Miss Tanaka for help, she speaks good English.
However, I think that the Japanese students would do well with or without a translator as their passion for kids could transcends all language boundaries. In the end, everybody had a ball of a time even when nobody understood each other.

Happiness is contagious

Japanese likes their 2 fingers a lot

Come nightfall, my job switch from part volunteer, part translator to friendly tour guide. Together, we head to Far East Plaza to let them do some long awaited shopping. We let them wander around on their own while we Singapore volunteers had a much desired breather cum planning for dinner which we decided on a chicken rice shop in the same building. Some of them had requested to try chicken rice the day before as they heard good reviews from their teachers. We had a very interesting meal, especially during paying but it is kind of complicated to explain here so if anyone really wants to know, feel free to ask me.

We didnt realise there was a lady in shades behind

Singaporean Girls and Japanese Guys

Japanese Girls and Singaporean Guy

Licking our plates clean, we head back to their hotel to meet the deadline given to them. With that, our long and exhausting day comes to an end and it is time to head home to recharge for the next day.

Scandalous

Of all pictures, this is my Favourite

For more pictures, visit my web album at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Discerning.Jun.Kai