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1. Your name, matric number, date

Nagulan Ganeson

A188393

26th May 2024

2.⁠ ⁠What have you done?

I start off my elective posting earlier than scheduled since there’s limited volunteering activities in august month, i just filled out the photography volunteer application form for MERCY MALAYSIA International Humanitarian Conference 2024 (MMIHC) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UTM), KL on 26th May 2024. Actually the conference was held for 3 days but only can participate in weekend. Besides, this program doesn’t required any additional training such as participation in Volunteer Induction Program (VIP) which was one of compulsory training before participating any volunteer activities After the approval from volunteer management department of MERCY MALAYSIA, they sent the tentative of the event on Friday Morning. On that day, I really felt lazy since it's weekend, but somehow I woke up super early and get ready for the event. I just took the nearby public transport from my hostel. Upon arriving in UTM, I just started my duty as a Photographer since the registration started at 8am and I try to capture all the memorable moments throughout the day. They also provide me

Breakfast, lunch as well as tea break. At the noon time , I really felt tired but at the end of day, I felt I spend the weekend beneficially.⁠ ⁠

Regarding the quality of the photos, I’ve some experience in photography during my secondary school days.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

Always be productive throughout the day

Be respectful of people’s privacy and ask for consent when needed.

Handle unexpected situations with a positive attitude, whether it’s changing lighting conditions or last-minute requests.

4.⁠ ⁠Your feelings & thoughts

I felt extremely excited and cheerful. Even though being a photographer is not easy but with basic knowledge of photography I handled it really well. Even the HOD of special task management appreciated the effort which is really inspired me to contribute more.

5.⁠ ⁠Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

Honestly, transportation was the major issue for me. Since it’s weekend, the frequency of the bus and trains was quite longer than working days. Even though I arrived few minutes late thankfully the event was began just before I arrived. To overcome this problem, I should leave earlier or must ask some close friends to drop off.

6.⁠ ⁠2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

Interesting and energetic

7.⁠ ⁠Your plan for next week (Week 2)

For next week I planned to participate Volun Induction Program (VIP), one of fundamental training to be a certified volunteer. I also planned to build up my skills to overcome any challenges in future volunteer activities.

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Some of the pictures throughout week 1 :)

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Volunteering to teach students with learning and intellectual disabilities!

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Volunteering to teach students with learning and intellectual disabilities!

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1.⁠ ⁠Your name, matric number, date

Aida Raihana Bt Che Rahim

A188171

29/7/2024 - 2/8/2024

2.⁠ ⁠What have you done?

29 July/Monday

The day typically begins with an assembly for all students. During this time, I took the opportunity to introduce myself to the teachers. I clarified my role, a medical student from UKM who volunteered to teach students with disabilities as part of an elective posting. I was told that there are 3 classes, PK Bestari, PK Elit and PK Dinamik. PK bestari and Elit are for students that have learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia while PK Dinamik is designed for students with intellectual disabilities that have autism, down syndrome, and ADHD. At 8 am, the class began. I assisted Teacher Gan, another PPKI teacher, and observed her approach to the PK Bestari and PK Elit students. I introduced myself as their new teacher and got the students involved in a word search game that Teacher Gan had prepared. This activity was designed to help them focus, especially those with ADHD. Once they finished the game, Teacher Gan asked me to take over the class for an hour. I decided to hold a spelling bee quiz, which excited the students. They loved the scoring system where the first to get 5 points wins since most of them were competitive. It was fun seeing them enthusiastically standing on their chairs and raising their hands to answer. In the second game,  I decided to give them mathematics questions suited to their intellectual levels. However, I noticed that some students were getting distracted and hesitant to participate since the questions were a bit too hard for them. To ensure everyone was included, I started calling on their names and giving them easier questions. In the afternoon, I got the chance to teach PK Dinamik student, Afiq, a student with Down syndrome and autism traits how to hold a pencil and write alphabets. Due to his autistic traits, he struggled to focus and kept rearranging the tables. I pretended to be stern with him, which I was taught to do. He began to pay more attention and listen to me better.

30 July/ Tuesday

-As usual, at 9am, I accompanied the students to the canteen, helping them buy their food. Some were reluctant to eat, but we persuaded them to ensure they wouldn’t be hungry in the afternoon. In the afternoon, I was assigned to assist my supervisor with drafting a letter, so I didn’t attend class. Instead, I spent the day gaining knowledge from the internet and socializing with the teachers.

31 July/Wednesday

On my third day, we celebrated the students' birthdays at Ayer 8 Putrajaya. We prepared gifts for students born between January and July. The students gathered at school as usual and we went there by school van. I was assigned as the videographer for the event. I helped other teachers set up the birthday gifts and distributed the gifts according to their birth months. After everyone had their food, we recited dua and started eating. We cut the cake, and shared it with the students, before wrapping up the party by noon.

1 August/ Thursday

Today, the students were excited for their cooking class. The task was to make shrimp fritters. I provided a recipe and instructions, and the students, divided into three groups and started washing their hands. I closely monitored them as they mixed ingredients and worked together. After an hour and a half, some groups finished cooking and presented their fritters to the class. We made extra, and some were sold to the school teachers.

2 August/ Friday

I attended the Friday assembly, where we gathered to read Surah Yasin and Al-Kahfi. I was responsible for taking care of Qalish, a student with severe autism who required special attention. I accompanied him while the teachers took the other students to the canteen. In the afternoon, I helped the PK Bestari students prepare for the upcoming game tournament on Wednesday. The tournament will feature various games, including chess, cup stacking, dart throwing, and Rubik’s cubes.

3.⁠ ⁠Points to remember from week 1!

Firm approach

On my first day, I encountered Afiq, a student with Down syndrome, who stepped on my foot and pushed my chair as I started teaching him. My hesitancy to assert myself led to more aggression until another teacher intervened. This experience taught me that managing students with intellectual disabilities requires a firm approach. Being overly gentle can lead to them underestimating you.

Patience and Understanding

Patience is vital when working with students with intellectual disabilities as their progress might be slower. They may need more time to grasp concepts. We need to understand their pace and provide them with the necessary support. We can also celebrate their small achievements by rewarding them with any form of acknowledgment. Like Fudhail, an autistic boy who will listen to you if you reward him with listening to Azan as he loves listening to it.

.4.⁠ ⁠Your feelings & thoughts

1. I’m excited about the opportunity to spend time with these children and learn from them, which I believe will greatly contribute to my personal growth.

2. Initially, I felt nervous and overwhelmed because this experience was new to me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, given my limited knowledge about people with intellectual disabilities. Nonetheless, I’m confident that I’ll enjoy it, as I love interacting with kids.

3. I must admit, that I feel somewhat awkward interacting with the school teachers because they are much older than me. However, they have all been kind and supportive, answering my questions whenever I needed help.

5.⁠ ⁠Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

Dealing with Students
Handling students, especially without prior teaching experience, can be quite challenging.
However, I constantly seek guidance from the teachers who have more experience on how to approach and engage with the students. Asking questions and actively learning from them makes me feel more confident in handling the students.

Initiating Conversation with People
As an introvert, initiating conversations with others feels naturally awkward for me. I often find myself overthinking these interactions.  It was one thing that I wanted to improve throughout this elective. To address this challenge, I started to socialize more with people and remind myself that interactions don’t need to be perfect. I just need to be confident.

6.⁠ ⁠2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

-Exciting

-Challenging

7.⁠ ⁠Your plan for next week (Week 2)

My plan for next week is to socialize more with the students. Know their backgrounds so I can understand them better. Next, I will brainstorm ideas for activities to do during classes next week.

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1. Your name, matric number, date

Nor Hidayat bin Sukeri, A189507, 29/7-2/8/2024

2. What have you done?

I reported for duty on 29th July. I started by reading the service scheme and code of conduct, then got a briefing. I was also introduced to all the staff. Our supervisor explained our tasks specifically for the medical team, and I also learned about what MRA has been doing generally. They help with natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, and man-made ones like war conflicts. They also support refugees with healthcare, education, and more.

My first task was counting medicine stock and keying in data into an Excel sheet. On another day, I helped with food pack distribution to apartment residents, lifting and carrying the packs and boxes. I worked on a health education module for an upcoming MRA event.

Next, I contacted refugees to help them register and get assistance with hospital bills. It was challenging because of the language barrier, so we used very simple language to communicate.

Additionally, I joined MRA's general meeting with all the staff. It was a wonderful experience to be involved in their discussions about each job scope and organized programs. I learned a lot about their community efforts and dynamic teamwork.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

Completing administrative tasks like counting medicine stock and data entry.

Engaging in community support activities such as food distribution.

It is essential to maintain clear and simple communication when dealing with others and we should tailor our language to match the person's level of understanding.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

I feel happy and fulfilled to be contributing to the community. The experience has been enriching, particularly in understanding the scope of MRA's work and their impact. Joining the general meeting was insightful and showed me how well the team collaborates.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

Communicating with refugees was challenging due to language barriers. To cope, we used very basic and straightforward language to ensure understanding. Despite this difficulty, we managed to gather the necessary information and assist them effectively.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

“Meaningful welfare”

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

Next week, I plan to continue assisting with administrative tasks and participate in any community activities. Also, I will focus on further improving communication skills with refugees to ensure more effective interactions.

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1. Name : Yasshini Priya A/P Manimaran

Matric number : A188294

Date : 4/8/2024

2. What have you done?

On my first week of elective posting, my team and I were tasked to train MUDA(Primary school Red Crescent members) for their upcoming first aid competition also known as Kejohanan Pertolongan Cemas(KPC). We had 3 training sessions throughout the week. The first training session was held in SK Taman Sri Andalas, Klang where 5 other schools joined the training session. We taught them the basics of first aid, how to perform CPR and knotting techniques. Some of the first aids and knotting skills we taught are;

Anduh tangan besar

Anduh tiga segi

Anduh tangan kecil

Lipatan bebat

Cara merawat mangsa pitam

Finger wounds

Anduh kepala

Simpul buku sila

Simpul lapan

Simpul manok

After teaching these first aid skills and knottings, we taught the students the basics of CPR following the “DRCAB” technique without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The first aid competition tests them on 3 aspects, which are general knowledge, first aid skills and disaster response(basic level). Hence, we as the organisers had to make sure they are well prepared for the 3 aspects of the competition.

On the competition day which was held in SK Rantau Panjang, I was one of the judges for the disaster response section. I was given the chance to judge their first aid skills and response to stressful situations, such as how they handle the victims of a disaster who are in pain, and if they are performing the right first aid for each victim.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

The first thing I realised from this week is the fact that I’m no longer a kid anymore, in the sense that this is the real adult world and no one is going to be spoon feeding you and everyone is there to do their job. I also had to brush my first aid skills during the whole week as I was responsible for the students’ first aid knowledge. I also learned that if I’m unsure about something it is absolutely okay to ask for a senior’s or any other superior’s assistance rather than making a whole cascade of errors in the process.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

At first I was pretty nervous and anxious as my first aid memory was very shady, but, however, I managed to recall everything like it was a muscle memory. I was super grateful to be given this opportunity especially as one of the judges alongside other superior officers in a grand competition as such. It made me feel as though I was capable of more great things in the future. All in all, the first week was very special and close to my heart as I was once a student like them. It made me miss my schooling days a little.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

The only difficulty I had was transportation as both my parents are working, I had to wake up extra early for my parents to send me to my district office in Klang and for them to go to their work place after in the morning traffic.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

Special & Inspirational

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

I’m excited for my next week of elective posting as I’m given another opportunity to go to the state district office in Petaling Jaya and perform “Hotspot” duty.

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EP WEEK 1

1. Name: Farrah Dini Ellisya Binti Mohamad

Matric: A187662

Date: 2/8/2024 - 4/8/2024

2. What have you done?

For the first week of my elective posting, there wasn’t much I did throughout this week. My supervisor brought me to see how the system at his shop works, introduced me to the coworkers I will be working with, explained the shop's operating hours, and the services provided, and outlined my job scope. He also took me to his second branch in Ipoh, which is quite similar to the first branch. My supervisor placed me at his first branch as it is near my house. There is no specific day for me to come to his shop as he will contact me the day before.

3. Points to remember from week

Understanding the services provided, such as repairing gadgets, tablets, and iPads, advising about CCTV, and providing CCTV installation.

Knowing the differences between the electronic devices they offer and their functions.

Understanding the tools used to repair the gadgets.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

I feel very excited and happy because this is my first time learning about it. I never thought I would get this opportunity to learn something outside of my skill and I have limited knowledge about electronic devices. So, I will try my best and not waste this opportunity.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

For the first week, my difficulties were coping with the surroundings, making friends with the other coworkers, and adjusting to a new place with new learning experiences. Since I am an introverted person, it is hard for me to adapt. I also have some trouble remembering the names of the tools they use.

To overcome these difficulties, I will step out of my comfort zone, ask the other coworkers if I don’t understand something, and try to build good relationships with them.

6. Two words to describe the elective posting progress so far:

Interesting, scary

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2):

Prepare myself mentally and physically.

Do some research about electronic devices and their specifications.

Improve my communication skills.

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1. Your name, matric number, dateName: Muhammad Irfan bin Mohd NazriMatric Number: A189561Date: 4 august 2024

2. What have you done?
This week, I attended my first photography class where we covered the basics of camera settings and composition. I practiced taking photos with different apertures and shutter speeds and participated in a group critique session where we reviewed each other's work.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

Understanding the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

The rule of thirds for better composition

Importance of lighting and how it affects mood and clarity

Reviewing and analyzing photos critically to identify strengths and areas for improvement

4. Your feelings & thoughts
I’m feeling excited and a bit overwhelmed. The technical aspects of photography are fascinating but also challenging. I’m eager to improve my skills and see my progress. The feedback from peers was constructive and motivating.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?
I struggled with getting the right exposure in different lighting conditions. To cope, I reviewed the class materials and watched additional tutorials online to better understand how to adjust settings. Practice is definitely helping me improve.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far
Engaging, Challenging

7. Your plan for next week
Next week, I plan to focus on mastering manual mode and experimenting with different genres of photography, such as portrait and landscape. I also aim to implement the feedback received in my next set of photos and participate more actively in class discussions.

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These are photos of the Skim Perkhidmatan that I reviewed with HR, the food pack distribution process, managing medication stock, handing food packs to recipients, making health education modules, the introduction of MRA, the general meeting, and the registration data of refugees.

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1.⁠ ⁠

Name: Muhammad Haiqal Irfan bin Razali

Matric Number: A188425

Date: 04/08/2024

2.⁠ ⁠What have you done?

Day 1:

On my first day, I reported to the Human Resources department of the Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA). The HR representative welcomed me warmly and introduced the agency. She explained the Skim Perkhidmatan, detailing its regulations and key points. She then introduced me to all the staff members and departments, including Human Resources, Finance, Media, Logistics, Data, International Relations, Volunteers, Medical, Education, and Orang Asli Relations. I was shown the desk I would be using throughout my elective posting. Later, I met Ms. Zaharah, who introduced herself and informed me that Ms. Zaimah, who supervises the medical department, would also be overseeing my work. Ms. Zaimah provided an overview of my tasks. MRA conducts various volunteer and humanitarian activities both locally and internationally. My tasks included: 1. Stock Check for Medication: MRA operates a mobile clinic for health screenings and medical activities. I was responsible for counting the stock of medication before and after each event. Since a mobile clinic had been conducted before my arrival, I needed to verify the post-event stock. 2. Food Pack Distribution: Funded by corporate sponsors and stakeholders, MRA distributes food packs containing daily groceries (such as cooking oil, rice, and flour) to residents at Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR). I was assigned to assist with this distribution. 3. Creating Educational Modules: I was tasked with developing modules on Health Education and Reproductive Health. These modules would be used by other volunteers during relevant events. 4. Data Entry: For documentation purposes, I entered data from health screenings into a spreadsheet, including information such as name, age, gender, BMI, diagnosis, treatment, and management. 5. Mobile Clinic Assistance: I will be assisting with the mobile clinic on August 10th and 11th, at an Orang Asli village in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. After the introductions, I began by counting the stock of medication and assisting with data entry. This experience was particularly valuable, as it enhanced my knowledge of common medication brands used in the community, beyond their generic names. Before the end of the day, Ms. Zaimah informed me that we would be conducting a food pack distribution the following morning, and I would be participating.

Day 2:

On Day 2, I assisted with the food pack distribution, helping to transfer the food packs to Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR). Additionally, I began gathering information to create a health education module. This module will cover topics such as handwashing, brushing teeth, exercise, mental health, correct medication use, and the food pyramid.

Day 3:

On Day 3, I continued working on the health education module and was introduced to Ms. Fatin, who explained MRA's collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). MRA is registered with UNHCR and works together to assist refugees in Malaysia, particularly with their medical health bills. By registering with UNHCR, refugees can receive a UN card, which provides discounts or financial assistance for medical expenses. At MRA, we help with this registration process. I learned that part of my role involves contacting refugees to collect the necessary information for their registration with UNHCR. Refugees may contact us directly or be referred by social worker organizations. My task is to reach out to these individuals, whether they contact us or are referred to us, to gather their information for registration.

Day 4:

On Day 4, I began working on a new module focused on sexual and reproductive health. This module covers topics such as breastfeeding, sexually transmitted infections, antenatal care, postnatal care, family planning, safe and unsafe touch, puberty, and female health check-ups. Additionally, I attended a meeting with Dr. Azwan, the leader in charge of this MRA branch. He introduced MRA and outlined the code of conduct that I am expected to follow while working with the organization.

Day 5:

On Day 5, I attended a General Meeting, the fourth one for 2024, with all MRA staff present. Each department provided updates on their progress and discussed various matters. I listened to the updates and learned about MRA's extensive volunteer and humanitarian activities, including Assisting Sabah: Providing hygiene kits, food packs, and clothing to those affected by floods; Education: Supporting the Rohingya Community School, which focuses on educating Rohingya ethnic refugees; Helping Palestine: Offering financial support for humanitarian needs. After the meeting, I began my first task of registering refugees with UNHCR. I contacted a refugee referred to us due to a medical condition requiring hospitalization, which she could not afford. The process was challenging due to a language barrier, as she had difficulty speaking both Bahasa and English. I used simple and basic Bahasa to communicate, and despite the difficulties, I successfully collected her information and completed her registration on the UNHCR website.

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3.⁠ ⁠Points to remember from week 1!

Good and Positive Working Environment
I have been surrounded by friendly and supportive colleagues who always help me whenever I don’t know how to proceed. They teach me patiently, even when I repeatedly ask the same questions since I am new to these tasks and want to avoid making mistakes or improper documentation. My supervisor is also very kind and supportive, teaching me a lot about MRA, UNHCR, and the fields of volunteerism and humanitarian work. I have gained a lot from this first week.

Food Pack Distribution
I assisted with the food pack distribution process at Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR). My team and I arrived at the location and began distributing the food packs. We carried the packs to a central point and handed them out to the recipients. It was a meaningful day for me, as I directly contributed to providing essential supplies to those in need.

Refugee Contact
I contacted refugees to collect their information for UN registration. This experience allowed me to learn more about their situations. To complete the registration process, I had to ask detailed questions, including their names, country of origin, reasons for coming to Malaysia, their current conditions, and why they needed UN assistance. Through this process, I gained insight into the challenges refugees face, not only in their home countries but also in Malaysia. This experience opened my eyes to the differences between refugees and illegal immigrants and deepened my empathy. It reminded me to be grateful for the peaceful life I have, with access to education and security, and motivated me to help those in need as much as I can.

4.⁠ ⁠Your feelings & thoughts

At first, I felt nervous since this was my first time working as a volunteer or intern in an NGO. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to contribute anything to MRA because the scope of work was so wide. However, I felt relieved and happy because I was warmly welcomed by the team. My supervisor was very supportive during the task briefing and the tasks assigned to me. She showed me how to do the tasks, let me try them first, and then supervised and corrected me if I made any mistakes. My supervisor also encouraged me to ask her questions directly and anytime if I didn't understand something, which really made my day.

I was also concerned because there were many tasks to overview, and I worried that I might not be able to complete them properly or find the due dates. However, my colleagues were very helpful and taught me what I needed to know, which made me feel grateful. Assisting with the food pack distribution was quite tiring since the food packs were heavy, but I was excited to carry out the task. I helped transport the boxes to Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) and distribute them to those in need. I felt very satisfied and happy to contribute to the community by helping distribute the food packs. Even though the food packs weren’t from my own money, the gratefulness expressed by the recipients when I handed them the food packs made my day.

Lastly, helping refugees in need was an emotional experience. Many refugees come to Malaysia because they are threatened with violence or death in their home countries. They seek protection here and often struggle financially. I felt a deep sense of empathy and sadness when contacting them to gather information for UN registration. One of the questions required was why they came to Malaysia. Many responses were heartbreaking, including threats of being killed, enslaved, or becoming sex slaves. It’s important for society to understand the difference between refugees and illegal immigrants. Refugees come to Malaysia seeking protection and cannot return to their home countries, while illegal immigrants often come for economic reasons and may return to their country of origin. This distinction is crucial for fostering compassion and support for those in genuine need.

5.⁠ ⁠Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

One difficulty I encountered was the language barrier when communicating with refugees. Many of them spoke neither Bahasa nor English fluently, which made gathering the necessary information for UN registration challenging. To cope, I used simple and basic Bahasa and sought assistance from colleagues who were more proficient in the languages spoken by the refugees. This collaborative approach ensured we could accurately complete the registration process despite the language challenges.

Another concern was the potential for mistakes when registering refugees and entering data for documentation purposes. Errors in data entry could prevent refugees from being properly registered or cause issues for the organization. To cope, I double-checked all details and criteria with colleagues before submitting registrations. For documentation, I frequently sought guidance from my supervisor to ensure I was entering data correctly. I also performed multiple checks before final submission to avoid any mistakes.

6.⁠ ⁠2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

“Enlightening” and “Rewarding”

7.⁠ ⁠Your plan for next week (Week 2)

For the upcoming week, my primary objective is to complete the reproductive health module and submit it to my supervisor for review. Additionally, I will continue assisting with the registration of refugees with UNHCR. Effective communication is crucial for this task, and I will work on enhancing my communication skills to better interact with the refugees and overcome any language barriers. In preparation for the mobile clinic at Kuala Lipis, Pahang, scheduled for August 10th and 11th, I need to ensure all documentation is in order and that the medication stock is prepared. This is vital to ensure the clinic runs efficiently and provides the necessary services to the Orang Asli community. Lastly, I plan to be ready for any additional tasks assigned to me. My goal is to fully enjoy my second week of the elective posting.

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Volunteerism In Tzu Chi Education Centre

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Volunteerism In Tzu Chi Education Centre

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Your name, matric number, date

Shalyn Lee Xin Yi

A188157

22/7 to 26/7

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Assalamualaikum & hi everyone

Welcome to the elective posting journaling!

This journal platform will help you actively work on your development throughout your time in elective posting.

You can write, upload pictures/videos (lots of them please!)

Share your journey with your friends. Like & comment on others sharing too!

1.⁠ ⁠Your name, matric number, date

2.⁠ ⁠What have you done?

3.⁠ ⁠Points to remember from week 1!

4.⁠ ⁠Your feelings & thoughts

5.⁠ ⁠Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

6.⁠ ⁠2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

7.⁠ ⁠Your plan for next week (Week 2)

Don't forget to write the title of the project on top of your padlet.

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Volunteerism In Tzu Chi Education Centre

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Volunteerism In Tzu Chi Education Centre

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Week 1

1. Your name, matric number, date

Shalyn Lee Xin Yi

A188157

22/7 to 26/7

2. What have you done?

During my time working with the secondary school children, I engaged in icebreaking activities with both teachers and students, which involved playing various games like Chinese chess, card games, and darts. Each morning, I took the students for exercise, incorporating activities such as badminton and basic taekwondo warm-ups led by a coach. Among my responsibilities, I was assigned to care for Diana, a child who had undergone multiple surgeries for scoliosis and could not attend school due to a lack of identification and family issues. My role involved accompanying her on morning jogs around the center, teaching her Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and Bahasa Inggeris (BI), and taking her to physiotherapy sessions. On Friday, when Diana was unwell, I was reassigned to the 4-year-old class, Xin Xin 1. In this class, my duties included caring for the children, engaging in play, and organizing small activities, such as having the 6-year-olds teach the 4-year-olds how to brush their teeth. Special attention was required for one child with a heart pacemaker and another with speaking difficulties, necessitating extra care and patience to ensure their needs were met effectively.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

At the center, many children require special care, which necessitates a high level of attentiveness and the need to find alternative ways to communicate effectively with them. Given that each child is unique in terms of personality, family background, and emotional needs, I need to exercise patience and adaptability in my approach. Understanding and accommodating these individual differences ensures that every child receives the support and care they require.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

Initially, I felt quite nervous about my role, as many tasks seemed beyond my ability and professionalism. This apprehension made me quiet during the first few days, leaving me unsure of where to begin my journey as a volunteer. Fortunately, the teachers and other volunteers were exceptionally kind and friendly, consistently reaching out to offer guidance when I was confused or uncertain. Additionally, the students demonstrated good manners and were both cooperative and obedient, which further facilitated my adjustment. As a result, I quickly adapted and began to understand how and where I could be most helpful. Reflecting on the week, I feel it was time well spent, and I am eager to return and continue working with them next week.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

Communicating with the children presents a challenge, particularly with those who have speaking and understanding difficulties. To address this, I plan to learn strategies from the teacher, such as using sign language, pictures, and expressive gestures to facilitate communication. These methods seem effective, as they help the children understand instructions and complete tasks more successfully.

Taking care of Diana, a child with scoliosis, poses another significant challenge. Her history of fainting, combined with her thin and weak condition, requires constant vigilance. I need to ensure that her health is monitored closely and remind her regularly to perform stretching and physiotherapy exercises.

In addition to her physical care, I am also concerned about Diana’s educational needs. As she is currently unable to attend school, her academic progress has stalled. I am committed to teaching her as much as possible in the meantime, to help bridge the gap until she can return to school and continue her education.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

Interesting journey

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

For next week (Week 2), I plan to focus on several key areas. First, I will continue teaching Diana Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and Bahasa Inggeris (BI) to support her educational progress. I will also engage in daily stretching exercises, jogging, and warm-up routines with Diana to maintain her physical health and mobility. Additionally, I will assist the teachers with caring for the kindergarten kids, contributing to their daily activities, and ensuring their well-being. Lastly, I will dedicate time to learning effective communication strategies for interacting with the child who has speaking difficulties, including methods such as sign language and visual aids, to improve our ability to connect and support her needs.