Hello fellow friends.
I'm here to share with you all my food for thought.
Honestly, I was really happy when my mentee suddenly said that he had childhood problems when i was reading the english passage to him. Not that he wasnt paying attention but i think he couldn't hold it anymore. It's also unbearable for them to withhold everything from ppl and not have a chance to find a listening ear who can also listen to them and try to understand their feelings. He really misses his home from the way he was telling me about his mum and sister and how cute his pet rabbit was. But he will get out from there in the later part of the year. Sincerely hope that he won't go astray and do something foolish again. They are really smart just that they are still too young to realise how stupid their curiosity, angsty and ways of attracting attention can bring them to. Actually i think if they are to change their ways and repent they should not hang out with their old bunch of friends anyway unless they are those who really care about them even after they are being held up there. As the saying goes, birds of the same feather flock together, no other meanings, so they must first leave them and start afresh. No point getting out and continue to hang out with those who commit illegal crimes and really start to regret why they are still walking the same path as before. It's hard though to put all the past behind them. But they can treat this as a learning experience and a trip to cultivate their mind and soul in resolance. My mentee is really keen in going back school but the school doesn't seem passive in wanting him back. It's making him dejected and he's thinking of enrolling in a private school instead. however, this sign in the lost of hope is worrying to me. I hope he can perservere on to wait for their reply just like how i will be assured that he will turn for the better after he leave with his kind of determination.
All the best people and a very prosperous, enriching and happy new year to everyone and the boys! :)
Best regards,
Germaine
Hello everyone!
This is my first time in my 19 years of life to join a welfare group visiting the Boys Home. Perhaps, i can be considered one of the youngest newbie to join everyone with a similar passion to serve in this area, helping the young guys out there who had steered to the wrong track due to a moment of folly. Indeed, it was a great and enjoyable experience to interact with them, teaching them the various subjects that they need help, and it's not just I who taught them the academic subjects but instead in the process of our interaction together, they had taught me alot too. Everyone makes mistake inevitably, and it really takes alot of courage to admit our wrongdoings and be willing to change and turn over a new leaf. Every kid that i take on, i would be sure to ask them how they ever end up here...and they would state their various reasons which are usually the same. And, i asked them- " why would you want to do it since you know it's wrong?", almost all of them would reply that they did it for the thrill of it and they really really do not know the seriousness till they end up serving their time in Boys Home. I guess it's really the time away from the usual routine of a school kid and the home sick-ness that many feels as well as the loss of freedom that made them reflect upon the mistakes they had made. But above all, many of them would just tell me they were still young when they commit the crime and now, just only one year apart, they are more mature now and finds it really foolish to do what they had done and felt very regretful for their actions. Hmm, it got me thinking, that sometimes we did many things that are unpleasing to the people around us and we took the freedom that we have for granted. Many of them are suspended from school, yet we are dreading school even when we could study and meet our friends out there freely. Well, let us continue to inspire the kids that we always have a choice to make the right decision in our life journey, provide them a hope that they can look forward to, befriend them so they can have a mentor they can look up to and may our smiles and laughter as well as the life lesson and experience that we instill in them subconsciously by our words and actions bring joy to their seemingly monotonous life!
Hooray! May everyone be feeling happy and smiling and remember to cherish the people and things that are around us!! CHEERS! :)
Signing off..
Huishian! :)
During the first session with the boys in the hostel, I enjoyed it and was
having a great time with them. Before going for the first visit, I was actually
quite worried, as I thought I will be having a hard time getting to know
them. I do not know how they would react to us. But it turns out that they
are actually quite a friendly bunch of youngsters to me. They gave us due
respect and they give me a feeling that they are all very good- natured
youngsters. Perhaps they are just more playful. I enjoyed the time with
them and I really look forward to seeing them again in December! Liwan,
Thank u so much for being such a wonderful leader!! Great job!! well
done!! keep up the good work!! i really look forward to seeing u again!! jia
you for ya exams too
Yi Wen
It was a refreshing experience for me as I didn’t know how the boys at the
boys’ hostel spend their time there. They show no signs of dissimilarity
from other guys except that the terms they use are cruder. They opened up
to us after some time and there wasn’t much of a distance between us.
Have to admit they get bored easily. They all seemed very bonded and it’s
kind of heart-warming to see that they found such genuine friendship as
they seemed to understand each other very well during the game of taboo.
Hope I can be of positive influence to them and not make them lose hope in studying.
-Germaine
This first session was a enjoyable experience for me. The boys are friendly
and seems relatively easy to get along. This was my first impression. How
true it is, only time can tell. Perhaps, through more sessions and interaction
with the boys, I will get to know them better then. Playing "upwords" and
especially "Taboo" with the boys was fun. They are very expressive with
their actions and through the game, I observed that they are very creative.
Though we were having fun, it was regrettable that I did not manage to
remember their names and might have neglected some who are quieter. As
a volunteer, I should have been more observant and ensure that everyone is
engaged in the game.
I am looking forward to the next fruitful session.
Serena
It was quite a pleasant surprise to me that the boys at the hostel were not
as hostile as what i expected them to be. In fact, they are very interactive,
friendly, heart-warming and welcoming. I enjoyed playing the "Munchkin"
game with them. By being warm and welcoming, they have livened up the
atmosphere and added much fun and laughter to our group during the
game. I was actually feeling stressed on that day but having fun with them
kinda cheered me up. They showed much enthusiasm for the game that we
were playing and their cheerfulness made me happy. It seems that they
were spreading happiness around. Hahahaha~
Yes, they have showed me how simple happiness can be. =)
Zi Min
Being my first time as an official volunteer, I felt the warmth and also the
urgency to help the boys there. They are a jovial bunch of people and they
never fail to make you laugh despite how bad your day may have been.
They make me look forward to each secession that I have with them and I
hope that I will be able to help them as much as possible. However, I also
feel that sometimes the boys can be quite cheeky but the good thing is that
their peers could also help check on them and this helps me alot. I do look
forward to more secessions with them during the holidays (:
amanda
