'my experience' from farah husna

March 21, 2009

We went to Tunku Budriah today. This was the culminating event after a few practices we had. The hardest part of all was to apply what we learnt.

As the person who was in charge of the welcoming session, Doon and I started the day with some simple activities; we taught them how to cheer and high five. They energetically did all the cheers and the reaction was very predictable; my little brother would have behaved the same way too.

So, we continued the session with playing a game of spelling out letters with butt. Things went quite hectic, but thanks to the other member of the team, all the children were in control. I learnt something very valuable today, we must get connected to the children, ALWAYS, so that they will trust us and slowly starts to remove all the barriers separating us from them. I’m amazed. They must have been through lots of incidents in their life.

Then, we sang songs together such as I Love You, Touch Your Nose and I Wanna Walk Wawa. We danced and the kids liked it too. Anyway, I really do need to improve on my stamina next time.

Next, we played ‘potato chips and sticky notes on forehead’ game. I noticed a little boy sitting on a chair at the back alone, so I approached him. He refused to talk or even look at me. When I tapped on his shoulder gently, he tried to avoid me. “This is tough”, I said to myself. So, I consistently persuade him to play games together, gently. Finally, with the little husky voice of his, he told me, he wanted to play racing car games in mobile phones. I convinced him that none of us have mobile phones. He still refused to mingle with others. So, I decided to company him and we started to talk about cars. His smile was very precious to me and I believed he was actually trying to seek for attention, as kids normally do. He did not play with others, but at least, through out the session, he played with me.

The skit was one of my favourites. Everyone was very funny, and the message was clear. The kids were entertained as I did. I sat with the racing-car-boy. He said the play was boring, but at the same time he laughed at Big Sista. So I just ignore his statement and laugh together with him.

During the lesson session, Azra and Aishah had no problem in presenting their points, the kids were very interactive and they can easily memorise all characters from the skit. the racing-car-boy did too. The lesson was:
1. Bully can happen to anyone.
2. Know people who are involve in bully.

The journaling session was fun. A, my little partner, was sulking because he wanted to have more magic pen. It was difficult at first, but I tried my very best and searched for the magic pen he was talking about. Later, he was again motivated to the journaling because his interest had always been drawing. He complemented on my colourful journal, I was very pleased. Then, he went to take his personal journal and showed it to me. The journal was full of stickers and some pictures of him. He really does like stickers, perhaps I can bring some stickers to him next time, in case he would be sulking again.

He can’t spell very well. So I draw an image of people bullying in his journal. I was surprised to know that he was actively involved in physical fights at school. I tried to hide my feelings and listen to him; I realized that this was very important to both of us as we are in the process of opening our heart. His parents are divorced, and his father is imprisoned for abusing his siblings with melted rubber wire. That was the main reason for him to be aggressive. I explained softly to him on how he felt towards his father is the same as those who has been beaten by him. So, I asked him to cross out the picture of people bullying that I have drawn just now. Hopefully, he will learn that being rude to others is also a type of bully and need to be avoided.

Finally, after everyone had given their very best to run this program, it was the closing section. We did the chicken dance and they are very good at it. I am very happy to see their smiling faces, indicating that they are enjoying our programme. Thus, that wrapped up our session for today and I am looking forward for the next session. Hopefully, things will get better and I know I am working with an excellent group of people consisting of students and lecturers.

p/s : We forgot to do the marking system.