Transformative Journal of Ahmad Syazlie Ahmad Shukri

Spread Love, Embrace Others

By : Ahmad Syazlie Bin Ahmad Shukri

Social engagement is one of the university course that is compulsory for every students to take it. The main objective for this course is that to develop young students that can contribute to the society by helping others that are less fortunes or in need of help. So everyone have been divided into a group which consist of 11 students that been led by Ashraf. After a lot of meeting and discussion regarding this social engagement matter, at last most of us agree to go to Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas where most of the students there were deaf and can’t speak. Most of the preparation been held at Dataran Za’ba, as it is the convenient place for all of us since we were in the same faculty.

On the first day of our program, which is on 1^st of April, we gathered at Dataran Za’ba at 8am. Before we depart from UM, we had our final preparation work to make sure all materials required are fully prepared for our activities at the school. Some of us goes to the school by grabcar and some goes there by Jackson car which he volunteer himself to use his car. I and Jackson were charge in the transportation; luckily one of our friends got a RM 10 discount as a new user so it cut our cost. It took us about 40 minutes to reach the school. Once we reach there, we unload all the things at the Hall. After having a short talk with their principles and teachers, I can see the children start coming to the hall as they are quite curious with all of us. Since we were waiting some of the members that arrive late, I began some preparation for the slide as I have to set up the projector and so on. After all of our group members had arrived, we start to introduce ourselves one by one. I was really shocked and felt amazed since they can’t speak and hear but they still listen carefully to what we are talking. After that, all of them we divide them into groups and carried out activity prepared by us. I am the facilitator from the Group 3, which I had to care the children in my group. The first activity was colouring, all groups are required to colour their own drawing which had already prepared. As the facilitator, it’s normal for us to help our own group members as we thought them as our own younger brother and sister. This is the hardest part for me and my partner Izzany as most of the students are deaf. And I do not know the sign language, luckily we have prepared small white board which we had brought. So the only way for me to communicate with them is by writing. Fortunately, we found one of the kids that can listen but not speak, at least he can translate what we are trying to say to other group members. Until the lunch hour, we discuss our next activity at the hall while all of the kids already left for lunch. After our meeting, we headed to the canteen. We were shocked when seeing the students still there with already finished eating. We were quite curious as they are just watching us finishes our food while trying to communicate with us. As we start to move for next activity, that moment we realize they were waiting for us. Even though they are disable, but still their discipline is better than all of us who is born with no disabilities. Unfortunately, the evening weather was not on our side, so we decided to do an indoors games which is we call in Malay “galah panjang”. What makes us happy is that watching the children enjoys themselves playing it. We even played together with them in order to get closer to them. After maghrib prayer we had some motivation video as most of the video is to motivates them that they can be successful even though they are not perfect. At night, we done some revision with them and helped them doing their homework. I personally found out that they are learning some basic knowledge, and after I explain few time, they are still unable to understand. I was shocked when the teachers said that they are studying what normal students studying. Which means that the students are covering up all the syllabus what normal students have. For me this is unfair as this young gifted kid are studying at their own pace as they need to translate one by one what are their readings. Hopefully, they will do their best in the study. On the second day, we have done explore race as everything went well and glad fully the students enjoyed it as it went smoothly. After that we have done dressing competition between the group by using old newspaper and tissue. And our last even is students need to make parachute and make sure the eggs does not break. This is good for the students to build their critical thinking into another level as they have to think out of the box. At 5.00 pm, our event officially has come to an end.

So what’s the benefit that I’ve got from joining this event is that, I learnt that even though i think that i have nothing, remember there is other who still are worst then me as the only things that we can do is feels grateful with what we have. As we need to stay strong in order to survive in this world. For example even though the children deaf and can’t speak they still try to communicate with others even with me. This thought me that we need to keep moving forward not backward. But even though they are disable, I believe it’s unfair to treat them as a normal people. It’s kind of disappointed when hearing that the students share the same syllabus with normal education. And its ashamed for us if normal people like us treat them like this. As if we are trying to take the advantages for they are. Instead of teaching them the normal students’ syllabus, why not teach them soft skills for example how to survive in the world. As this will enhance their confidence to go out there and show the world what they are. So I believe these young children have opens up our mind to think in other perspective.

I think this volunteer work is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life. As it open up my mind that for some reasons if we don’t take the action to help others then who will? I glad that the students seems to enjoy our activity as they are very active and energetic. This project not solely to teach students like me to learn how to conduct a project but also to teach me to feel grateful for what I have and raise the awareness to help others in needs. Last but not least, appreciate what we have, treasure it and spread the love with others.