With a deft flick of his pinkie, Kungfu Panda Po defeated his arch nemesis Tai Lung, eliciting shrieks of joy and applause from the 130 intellectually disadvantaged students.
These students were gathered on 5 October at The Riverwalk for a special movie screening. The event kicked off with a mass game, followed by a short singalong session. Lily Yong, manager of RAYZ, an organization that helps special children develop their socio-emotional well-being and independence, addressed the crowd, encouraging them to believe in the goals they have set for themselves and to continue working towards them.
After the movie, the students were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner. This was a good time for the volunteer teachers to get to know their students and their caregivers better. Lily said, “This is bonding time with the students and we hope that through this event we can build relationships with them.”
Organizing special events provides an opportunity for these students to gain new experiences. It serves as a platform for them to make friends. May Yap, a volunteer with more than 12 years of experience says, “The purpose of organizing this event is to enrich the lives of these students. Many of them don’t get the chance to go out often.”
As the students hopped onto buses and headed home, the helpers got to work and started cleaning up the area after a long hard day. When asked what motivated them to serve, the unanimous reply was “satisfaction” in the little things like the students remembering their name, asking for help to tie their shoelaces or simply smiling at them.
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| PHOTOS: Hensanantha Kumar |
