I embarked on a trip with Woodlands Ring Secondary School (WRSS) to Chiang Mai, Thailand from 9 - 16 November 2014, where I led a team of members from the Robotics Club to conduct Robotics workshops for the underprivileged children in Ban Wang Lung School and Nurture the Kids Foundation (NKF).
Background
The Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP) is part of Woodlands Ring Secondary School’s Student Leadership Development programme to further develop students’ 21st century competencies and soft skills such as communication and cultural awareness. It was my utmost privilege to be able to take charge of planning all activities for the KaiRobo workshop and bonding events for the Thai children. These were done on top of facing my own lack of independence and difficulties in separating from home.
Preparations in Singapore
Prior to the trip, my team and I had to craft lesson packages that catered to the needs of the Thai children - tiered at different levels for students from Primary 5 to Secondary students. One challenge that set us apart from the earlier batches of the Robotics club members who went for OCIP was that we had to create the learning resources from scratch because Ban Wang Lung School and Nurture the Kids Foundation (NKF) were newly chosen venues that our club alumni had not been to before. Nonetheless, knowing our strengths and weaknesses, we took up the challenge gracefully and adapted to the changes very quickly.
The interesting aspects of the preparation face were that we had to rehearse for special dance performances, craft our lesson packages in basic English, as well as to pick up some fundamentals of the Thai language. On top of that, I was in a low mood for about one month because I feared the arrival of 9 November 2014, which was the date of departure to Thailand. Due to a lack of independence, I even contemplated on wanting to quit the programme.
Facing the Reality
The reality struck upon me when the departure date arrived. I recall myself feeling terribly sad especially when waving a goodbye to my family at Singapore Changi Airport. Not wanting to disappoint my parents and teachers, I tried my best to put on a smile under my watery eyes. The next morning, I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and sincerity of the Thai students at Ban Wang Lung school. Moreover, their passion and interest to want to participate actively in our activities took away my sadness as I practiced resilience to have fun with them.
For the next five days, the Robotics trainers and myself conducted workshops including KaiRobo and Solar Car for the students. Amongst these, a common obstacle that we had to overcome was the significant communication barrier between us and the Thai students. Often during my main briefing or one-to-one training, the student(s) did not actually understand what I was presenting and I learnt to be creative by simplifying the words that I used verbally, as well as to incorporate “sign” language to communicate with them. Taking into account that they were unfamiliar with the use of computers, I also made modifications to the lesson plans on the spot. Ultimately, teaching the students was also a test of my patience and resilience.
Bonding with the Thais
Every evening, we would visit the Nurture the Kids Foundation (NKF), a non-profit foundation that provides shelter for orphans and students whose families live up on the mountains. During which, we would enjoy traditional games with the kids and understand from them through several focused discussions to find out how they live daily while overcoming the challenges that they face. On our fourth day, both sides even performed on stage and had a lot of fun immersing in music and dance.
At Ban Wang Lung school, there were opportunities for us to learn cultural dance moves and cook Thai delicacies such as the Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice. Bonding with the Thais were not just about play, of course. In the morning, some of us would help out the Thai children with area cleaning as it was part of their daily routine. Finally, we also had a celebratory Loy Kratong night, which we penned down our wishes and released floating lanterns into the night sky. Being able to partake in these with them helped me to appreciate their determination and optimism in dealing with life.
Touring the Heart of Chiang Mai
To complete the overseas learning experience, one of the iconic places that we went to was the Karen Village next to Ban Wang Lung School, where I got to understand the living conditions and challenges faced by the locals. Their villages were dark and dimly-lit, coupled with roosters, chickens and dogs underneath their plank floors. On the other side of the villages, there were more lavished homes with proper beds and furniture. This vast contrast does make people feel heartache for them. Apart from greeting the villagers, I also tried putting on the brass long neck ring which is used by the Thais to indicate wealth and status.
Other places that we visited include the Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai and the Maetaeng Elephant Park. At the Maetaeng Elephant Park, I had to overcome my fear when riding on an Elephant and an Ox as well as to feed elephants with bananas. Interestingly, the paper photo frame that we bought was made out of elephant poo.
Overall, I’m very grateful to the teachers and friends who have supported me on this trip. Without them, it would not have been possible for me to serve purposefully and meaningfully.
Check out video of my OCIP trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand here:
