Bandits @ MINDS

as a follow up activity to LTAW '08, the bandits went down to MINDS school (pardon me if i spelled wrongly) @ Woodlands. Helped out with their Christmas party like blowing balloons, moving tables and chairs and manning their game station. Not forgetting about interacting with them and learning more about this group of people.

First impression. I thought the party will involve childrens but it actually turns out to be a party for adults. Yes, these are the people who work in places like KFC as cleaners or those who help pack the earphones for our SQ flights. Some were non-responsive to people, some were quite responsive to us while others were just well... not having a good mood that day.

I find it hard to believe at first that they are in the perhaps the same age group with me but only have the intellect of a children. It leads me to wonder how do they go about doing their day-to-day activities. For example, the game station requires coupons to play. The coupons are like money and it teaches them how to buy things. For us, it becomes second nature to use money with out much difficulity, but for them it sure seems hard to understand what a dollar is.

Well sometimes we need to nudge them a little to get them to throw a ball or maybe do some hidden stuffs so as to give them that sense of achievement like "accidentally" falling bowling pins just so they can be rewarded for their efforts. I applaude the other volunteers (non-smu) who are there weekly to help them despite being weighted by studies and not forgetting those who spend their careers just to help them.

My take away. I strongly believe that there are still many that needs our help. We just need to remember not to take what we have for granted. We go about doing simple task without difficulties but there are people who find it hard to do the same. Since we are able-bodied people, we should always stretch out our hands and help those in need. This will be one motivation to why i should head the next candle of the soul project. Perhaps the band should do a charity performance for them? lol...

Auf Wiedersehen!