S'pore youths spend part of hols repairing Sumatra orphanage
-
MEDAN, Indonesia : Twenty-nine Singapore youths spent two weeks of their June holidays sweating it out in Sumatra to repair a 30-year-old orphanage.
Their trip was organised by Mercy Relief, a humanitarian organisation supported by the Singapore International Foundation.
The heat was a sweltering 38 degrees Celsius, but it did not deter the team from building a second-storey extension to the Bani Adam orphanage situated in the outskirts of Medan, in North Sumatra.
The new extension is meant to alleviate the over-crowding at the orphanage, which shelters more than 240 residents aged between seven and 17 years old.
Their current dormitories, which house more than 100 boys, and toilet facilities were also refurbished with a S$15,000 budget.
The participants had to live in the orphanage throughout the expedition.
"Initially it was hard for them, especially the living conditions where we had to sleep on the floor; the toilets are not really in good condition; there's no running water. So the morale was a bit low at points in time," said expedition leader Halifi Hussin.
But the Singapore youths managed to pull it off through sheer determination and teamwork.
"This is the first time we are meeting each other. None of us know each other prior to this expedition. So coming here is all about team bonding and we really bond as individuals -- coming here working together building up this place," said expedition participant Juni.
It wasn't all work and no play; many of the participants spent time getting to know the residents.
"They are actually very fascinated by our lifestyle in Singapore. And I'm actually very fascinated by their lifestyle over here. It's so simple. There's no stress here," participant Mohd Akhtar Yusoff said.
This is the second time Mercy Relief has extended assistance to people in North Sumatra.
In February this year, it provided aid to 4,000 families affected by flash floods. - CNA
[/quote]
nice...
-
how abt helping out the poor pple in spore...e.g. Croco
-
if u indeed require financial assistance there are channels i can recommend u to.Originally posted by sgboy2004:how abt helping out the poor pple in spore...e.g. Croco
but hm.. judging by the fact tt u can be online most of the time, i reali dont think u r in such dire straits. -
oh... i will nv survive tt...
-
Originally posted by wuming78:if u indeed require financial assistance there are channels i can recommend u to.
but hm.. judging by the fact tt u can be online most of the time, i reali dont think u r in such dire straits.
-
sell ur com and end ur internet monthly fee...Originally posted by sgboy2004: 
-
Hey, must make use of croco talentOriginally posted by Hocklez:sell ur com and end ur internet monthly fee...
Buayaing rich gers or old ladies.
Ok ok just joking. -
I would rather hear more ppl in Singapore helping the destitute, poor, handicapped, ppl living in suffering or misery here.
Do not be mistaken, I have heard plenty of Singaporean 'flying' oversea to help ppl from different countries, and its great.
but in Singapore, we hear more ppl suffer... -
they suffer, but they learn too.Originally posted by thinker:I would rather hear more ppl in Singapore helping the destitute, poor, handicapped, ppl living in suffering or misery.
Do not be mistaken, I have heard plenty of Singaporean 'flying' oversea to help ppl from different countries, and its great.
but in Singapore, we hear more ppl suffer...
Remember, they are jus learning in a hard way. It is an experience that they will remember deep down their heart. -
buaya laurence also can leh...Originally posted by laurence82:Hey, must make use of croco talent
Buayaing rich gers or old ladies.
Ok ok just joking.
-
This is what I know from a Youth Expedition leader.
In reality, each trip need $15 to 20 k for the materials and stuff need to build those schools and other amenities. But those villagers are very experienced in construction work, and most of the expedition members are inexperienced. So much time, effort, material and money is wasted training them up or thrown down the drain due to inexperience. In another words, the villagers can do better with the amount of monies we give for the mission trip.
But of course this shouldnt be the reason to give up such volunteer work. After all, its not about the money, its about the experience and the volunteerism.
Just sharing something.. -
ok lah.. its a matter of perception. u may be in a lousy situation, and u will definitely feel so. and even if there r ppl in much lousier situations than u wont matter.Originally posted by sgboy2004:
but realli, if u need help, there r alot of places where u can go for help. and u can also think of how u can help urself too - there r actually lots of ways of doing it!