Our Journal:

We start by coming out with a list of groups belonging to the community that we wish to reach out to and help them. After much consideration and discussion, we decided to focus on the elderly. We planned to clean their houses for them and bring the Christmas cheer to them. Apart from that, we will be doing fund raising to get money to purchase the cleaning equipment.

We set off with Wei Zhen to look for organisation and Hwee Ping drafted out the proposal that we were going to send to the organisation. After a week of search, Wei Zhen brought back a piece of good news that an organisation is willing to work with us on our project. We decided to meet up with representative of that organisation to get a clearer idea on how both parties can collaborate with one another. At the same time, we look for possible handmade items that we can do at a low cost price to sell for fund raising.

During our first meeting with the organisation, we were given a briefing on the background and the operation of the organisation. The representative mentioned that they actually need help in areas like organising events for the elderly more than cleaning their houses. We were given a chance to take a look at a few houses of the elderly. Our worst fear had happened, the houses that we had viewed were so clean that there our help is not needed. The units had just undergone an upgrading programme by the government. Hence they are in a very well kept condition. After much consideration, we decided to approach another organisation to let them know that our project seems redundant to the elderly. The organisation was very understanding and decided to extend a helping hand by giving us a list of organisations and their contact numbers so that we might be able to help those really in need. My group members immediately made calls to the list of organisations to look for opportunity to work with them. The process was not easy as our project was very common for the organisations. Most of them that we have contacted refuse to work with us as they have bad experience in the past. Also, many of the representatives were on holiday thus they were not able to give us a definite answer. We continued our search for hours and eventually the result was fruitless.

At last our hard work paid off, some of them got back to us stating that they were willing to work with us. With a confirmed organisation working with us, we decided to focus on the fund raising. We set up a booth along NP orchard road selling handmade items, soft toys and some necklaces. It was difficult to push our product to the students in Ngee Ann but eventually we still mange to raise amount of $200++. However, most of the student that bought from us are our friends. From this fund raising through selling of items allow us to know that it is not easy to sell things to stranger or even get them to go near your store.

We decided to meet up with the new organisation, YuHua neighbourhood link to future discuss on the project we are going to be doing. This was to prevent things to happen like it had with the first organisation. Luckily, the person in-charge, Mr Ong was willing to cooperate with us to the fullest and even decided to provide the cleaning items for us. With the cleaning items provided, we could use the money that we have raised to get baskets which would help greatly in the organising of the elderly house.

Finally, the day we have been waiting for arrived. We gathered a group of volunteers consisting of students from Ngee Ann and outsiders. At the very last minute, we received the news of many Ngee Ann student decided to step out from our project. With the sudden decrease in numbers of volunteers, we had to rearrange the grouping of the volunteers. We did not let this sudden setback affect us in the cleaning of the houses. We split ourselves out to different groups and was assigned a unit per group to start cleaning. It took us half a day to get one unit clean. The duration for one unit also depends on the tidiness of the house and the floor area of the house. Some of the houses that we clean have not been undergoing and form of cleaning for ten plus over years hence it was quite difficult for us to get it clean within a few hours. Luckily, teamwork was seen between the volunteers. We help one another whenever we have finish cleaning our respective units. The cleaning lasted for two days and we manage to persevere through the whole cleaning process.

Video Of The Whole Event




Song: The power of dream - Celine Dion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0wbID4FsbQ

Interview

Individual’s Contributions and Lesson Learnt

Ng Hwee Ping (Leader)

Throughout this project, I have put in effort in the different areas and when the project is being executed and ended, I have a sudden feel of satisfaction. From the start of the journey to the end of the whole journey was not a easy or smooth one. We faced with lots of sudden setbacks which sometimes sweep us off our feet. However, our group is able to deal with all these setbacks and continue with our journey. One major setback that causes me to almost give up on our plan was the wrong organisation that we approach. The organisation told us that they have hundred over of units for us but our help was seen redundant as the units under them was too clean. At that point of time, I actually thought of changing our group project to organizing an event instead of the cleaning of houses. However, looking at the effort my group mates had put into the cleaning project cause me to decide to stand firm in our initial project and go all length to complete it. As the weeks goes by, school work starts to be heavier and I start to find it difficult to continue putting the same effort and time into my I&E as before. Despite this, I know that I have to learn to manage my time well as I am the leader and have to motivate my group mates. Only with positive thinking, I will have the strength to carry on and push my group mates. I remember Sir telling us that we have to do things meaningfully and carry on with your idea even if people say you are crazy. We will never know what will happen if we did not try it out. I never expect that one day in my life will I clean the house for the less fortunate in the society. And I am very happy to be able to be doing this I&E module as without this module, I would not have the chance to lend out my helping hands to the elderly.

Our Mentor

Tan Hock Guan

What can I say??? hmm... he is very STRICT...Mr Tan aka Chen Shifu make us think a lot. From the games during the first lesson, I could tell that he is very eager to generously share his learning experience with us and would like us to make use of these experience to improve ourselves. One sentence that I remember him saying was "I am going to make you all a different person after the 15weeks of lesson". I could only say that he had successfully transform me to a different person. I am someone who does not have much confidence but after the long journey and lesson, I am able to confidently speak to a organisation or a class of students. Mr Tan never fail to challenge us to achieve something that we initially feel that it is impossible. However, without his challenge, I will never know that I could accomplish something that I once thought was impossible. He mention that it was all about the mind, it is the thing that control our thinking and mindset. Something that I benefit most during all these lesson was how to use the google document. I never know that there is such a convenient tool around me and it was just a click away. It enable me to do things more efficiently and is able to share it with my friends. From this, I learn to constantly look out for things that can improve life or even think of ideas to improve our current life. Simple things like the lights in the classroom could be used by Mr Tan as an example to improve the current life. Lastly, Chen Shifu I salute you =D

Individual’s Contributions and Lesson Learnt

Khoo Jia Hui

I am in charge of my group's finance management. I collected the money earned from the booth tended by May and Thadar and make sure that it was not overspent by searching the whole market place with WeiZhen to buy the cheapest equipment that was required and also to calculate the MacDonald meals' cost that will not exceed our budget and make sure that everyone gets to eat something. Finding a sponsor was also part of my contribution although it was rather hard to find due to the recession. Initially I thought we will not be able to find one organization that was willing to work with us because HweePing, WeiZhen and I called numerous of them but none of them gave us a definite answer. However WeiZhen found one so this gave me the confidence that it will still work out somehow. I’m kind of upset with those volunteers that couldn’t make it for the event because we were shorthanded but luckily the outcome still turns up well. Lastly WeiZhen and I went for an interview with the representative, quite a lot of NGs but it was hilarious and fun to do a video interview with him although I wasn’t feeling well. I had done the subtitles for the interview part due to the representative spoke in Mandarin, however I was unable to remove the watermark logo in the beginning of the video clip. The converter is a free version and is the best that I could find because other converters only convert 30seconds of the video. But luckily the video still turns out well.

During these 15 weeks of lesson, I have learned to manage my time well and to do things systematically. Mr. Tan has taught me that we can only have a time limit to do things. He has helped us by wanting us to be independent right from the start. Most importantly, I’ve learn things which cannot be taught in my normal classes, values like determination to push on with what I think is right even when other people think that it will not work(I still have to follow theirs because majority of them agree with each other, confidence to voice out my opinions, courage to take rejection as brainstorming ideas are mostly rejected, that working together is the best way to accomplish things in half the time with half the effort. Our first lesson was already about being creative and innovative. We got to play games to bond everyone together so that we’ll be able to know the different abilities that everyone possesses. When we started to brain storm on about what event we would like to do, he was there guiding us on the right path. He also likes to remind us about our five Cs. So that it’ll always be in our mind that we must improve ourselves and that this journey isn’t just about making a project but also about building our characters. although i admit that my creativity still hasn't improved.

Our Mentor

Tan Hock Guan

Initially I felt that Mr Tan was demanding and strict with our work because he is different from the other lecturers the way he teaches. Just when we thought that we had accomplished our tasks, he begins to strike us with more problems and questions to ponder over and review. Example is that we had actually planned the events but he wanted us to find sponsor. However, though this meant more work for us, it was for our own good as he hoped that we would put in our effort to ensure that our project was more perfect and the best that we could do. When we were lost, he would offer advice and guide us so that we could move on. His suggestions had inspired and assisted us in our project. Through participating in this module, I am grateful that Mr Tan’s objective was mainly to develop our strength and characters thru the project.

Individual’s Contributions and Lesson Learnt

Lum Wei Zhen

I have learned a lot more than I thought through this whole event. From the beginning of nothing to the process of finding organisations, meeting up with organisations, planning of events, and coming up with the email of recruiting volunteers, buying the items and arranging the groups of volunteer for events. However, this is not the most difficult part I think. The most difficult part is when lot of problems arise and mostly is things beyond my control and out of my plan. I need to find solutions to resolve it which actually tensed me up that I cannot sleep in the night.

For example,

1)When the first organisation failed to meet our event criteria and we need to decide to whether to change activities or organisation. But Hwee Ping and I were very persistent on doing the cleaning activity and hence, it means to find new organisations but we did not managed to find at that point of time.

2)We did not perform the requirements of 25 houses. We were to decide whether to fake it or tell the truth but eventually we tell the truth because the meaning of our activity was to help those elderly that really needed our help. Even though in our minds we did thought that we might fail if we did not meet the criteria. However, I think that integrity is very important and even if I failed, I must not lie that I did that 25 houses, at least I truthful to everyone and myself but still I am worried that my teammates will failed because of me and I would not like to which is the biggest challenge for me at that point.

3)The volunteer numbers did not event meet the required amount, I was very worried too because I am the one who had to planned the whole event schedule with the organiser and arranged the volunteers and stuff. However, I still managed to struggle out the plan. But the worst part come, volunteers back out. Quite a number of them back out last min on the day of the event and I have to reschedule the groupings with very little time!

Hence, I agreed that no matter what the outcome is, the process is the most important because that is where we start to learn!

Our Mentor



Tan Hock Guan

Someone that challenge us and trying his best to change us for the better. Some of his challenge did pose difficulties problems for us. It may be physically and also physchologically. For example, whether we are to fake that we did the 25 houses or not that we didn completed. This is no longer just a criteria but somehow it link to individual integrity and character. I have to admit that if it is not because of his challenges, things will be easier and such phsychological matters would not come in. Characters development will not occurred, lessons will not be learned and experiences will not be gained.

Individual’s Contributions and Lesson Learnt

May

Our group went and help cleaning the house of old birds who are really in need on 21 and 22 December. We were there, the organization from 8 pm to afternoon on 21st December.After we reached there, we are divided in 3 groups and start cleaning house. On that day, the organization buffet party for the elderly in the afternoon. So we did clean only one house before they go to the party. We cleaned the house as we are doing for our own relative. They treated us drink also. They really are childish. But they are so loneliness. Their sons / daughters / grandsons / granddaughters are not around them. So I feel very happy to help them clean house and talk with them. After we cleaned the house, we go the party together with them. They sing the songs, talk to each other. I really feel like I am in the kindergarten class. On the second day, we have four group and we clean 12 house the whole day. We had MacDonald for our lunch. The days are really tired. I even got fever after i got home. But I really have a happy and precious time there by helping them together with my group members and volunteers.


Our Mentor

Tan Hock Guan

Our Mentor guides us how to do well with I&E(innovation and enterprising) course not only targeting for passed or failed. I have a lot of happiness on the first day of our course. He lets us try three games to explain the ideas about Community For I&E course. He makes us think about our project Title, and he wants us to make the difference from others like Past year student. After deciding ours, he also gives us ideas as much as he can. He is always ready for us. Our project title is to fund raising for donating the Elderly and help cleaning houses of them. During our day at Np Orchard Road for selling hand-made items for fund raising, he did come and support us. Because of his suggestion and ideas, I do have so much memorable things during the assessment of I&E.

Individual’s Contributions and Lesson Learnt

Thadar

May and I set up the booth selling things to raise funds for elderly. We also do house cleaning for the old people who cannot depend on themselves because of certain reasons. After Our Event, I’ve learnt many things and some new experiences. I know how to make things different and succeed. I also learned the lives about old people around us and what can we do for them. The very little help from us can fill up their large need. That’s really sad but I am very glad that we did help these people that really need help. Finally it was successfully over.

For this I&E module, I’ve done things that I’ve done before and I don’t know whether it is a big deal for other people. But for me it really is an unforgettable time that I’ve gone through it with my team, Super Gals. As our mentor is such a good advisor that he pushed things for us beyond our limits and asked us very different from others. Though I feel really tiring first, it was thanks to him that we finished things up very early and successfully. It was such an honored for me to be part of his class.

Our Mentor

Tan Hock Guan

In concerned with our mentor, Mr. Tan Hock Guan, He is very strict and is different from other lecturers. He never goes easy with us as there is something that he used to say is that Show me your improvement and what u achieved after the experiences that you gained from this module. He also gives us many advice concerning with our ideas but he always told us that try to think ourselves and do ourselves. Because of him, I started to learn things from what I’m doing. Not just doing things carelessly but think carefully. He always asked us to do challenging things as he told us that he’ll make us totally different after this module in his class.

Feedback about the module:

This module allows us to manage our time better and we believe that without this module, we will not have the chance to do such a meaningful project. It also serve as a platform for us to develop our character.This module allow us to follow through our project step by step as there are various assignments for us to complete , these assignments ensure that we do not lag behind or leave our project hanging at the same point undone. However, something that is quite bothering was that the assignments that was submitted could not be edited until the teacher reopen it. This is very troublesome for us if we need to edit somethings. This module also taught us that normal lessons wont. It involves with good communication and teamwork, build determination to hang on and confidence to move on. We also learn that we have to be flexible with our thinking because in the real world, it always dont go according to plan.

Thanks advance to our mentor, Mr. Tan Hock Guan for all the efforts he uses in training us.