As of April 2008, we are raising funds to help purchase teaching materials, books, and furniture needed for our project. A part of the funds raised will also go to the filming of a documentary in Laos, and help our participants cover a part of their costs. Please support us by making a purchase at our online boutique Walk-In Felicity. For any queries, please contact us at laoyep08@gmail.com.
MINDs MYG FAMILY DAY - 23rd Feb
it was my first time volunteering for MINDS and i must say it was an insightful and humbling experience. contrary from what i have heard from my friends & siblings, the experience was not as frightening or shocking as expected. probably due to the fact that the IDs from our group were high-functioning (actually im not too receptive of this word cos it makes the IDs sound unhuman, like some kind of machines/robots?) and less dependent on us. in fact, some of them looked so normal to me that it was difficult to differentiate the volunteers from the IDs. however, this is not the case for the other MINDS groups. it is heartwrenching to see such deformities on another human being.
from this experience, i must say i've gained quite a bit out of it. even though the weather was atrocious (super hot!) and with the steep slopes, typical singaporeans would have just walked straight out of there. but not with these IDs. even though most of them had troubles walking, they perservered and often, not complaining at all.
also, it marvels me that they still enjoyed themselves, from the cheerful grins from their faces. a simple outing to an almost nothing to see place, can make them so content. even im ashamed.
swee ling (if i rmb correctly) held onto my hand and i was her big sister (jie jie) for that 4 hrs. it's a feeling i cant describe holding her hand. cos it brings me back memories from other volunteering experiences with children, holding those little hands. but swee ling is 38 years old. i just cant help feeling, sad? but i dont think i even have the right to pity her. cos i believe that in her world, she is happy enough and living well, most probably even better than me.
it's time to reflect on how i should lead the rest of my life.
swee ling (if i rmb correctly) held onto my hand and i was her big sister (jie jie) for that 4 hrs. it's a feeling i cant describe holding her hand. cos it brings me back memories from other volunteering experiences with children, holding those little hands. but swee ling is 38 years old. i just cant help feeling, sad? but i dont think i even have the right to pity her. cos i believe that in her world, she is happy enough and living well, most probably even better than me.
it's time to reflect on how i should lead the rest of my life.
thank you, swee ling and rest! (: (of cos to jackie too!)
- pam (sorry for the outdated post, just to share some of my reflections.)
Labels: Local CIP