New boys for sessions!

Hey!

This is my first entry for our BLK B BLOG!

Today's my first session for year 2010, and today's session is quite different.

Firstly, by right it's one boy's last session today.. ok.. but it turned out he'd still be here for next week's session, and that's really the last. ohh! and another one whose last session was on last week, turned up today as well and his last session is next week too! Yup, so ATTENTION EVERYONE! do make it for next week's session and bid farewell and give our well wishes to them as they move on ya =)

Secondly, there're 5 new boys today and during the postman game, we would always confuse 2 of them and they ended up getting confused as well.

Thirdly, there's chihui's homemade cookies and fried popiah skin which were super nice and the boys really enjoyed them! Everyone was comfortable with one another, including those new boys, as they shared and offered the food, chatting with one another. The feeling was like family.. =D

* * * * *

Time really flies! Together with Yuling and Chihui, this year marks our third year with RSP Youth. I still remembered, before we signed up for CCA in Year 1, we could have a "trial" session with some of the RSPs. I went for FOC (Friends Of Children) session at one of the centres and I saw Yuling there as well. After I've cleared the interviews for both FOC and Youth, I was deliberating on which RSP to join as both have a total clash of sessions. But eventually, I chose Youth.

After making our choice, there's the Youth orientation. That was also when I saw Yuling and it's like, "wow! I see familiar face!" and that marked the beginning of our Youth journey =)

During the sessions in year 1, the boys would only interact with the seniors most of the time. Even with initiatives, it was quite difficult for the new volunteers to have sustained interaction with the boys. So i was thinking, "Is it that our approach is wrong or inappropriate that the boys would not feel like interacting with us?" So it was somehow abit discouraging that even though it has already been a few months, I still cant seem to get close to them, much more saying about helping them, knowing more about them and making friends with them. But I still went for the sessions and that went on for a year.

After a year, the situation seemed to be different. The boys started to remember our names! They'd also asked about us when we were absent for sessions and they began to share things with us! Finally, after a year of consistent appearance during sessions, initiated conversations, and most importantly, sincerity towards them, they've opened up to us! Though they always made fun of our names, like "pamela" becoming "pomelo" and many more nicknames, it doesn't imply anything negative. Instead, it tells me that they remember our names and they are very comfortable with us that they can talk to and joke with us like how friends would do. Furthermore, at the end of sessions, together with those who didnt go for sessions, they would always say goodbye to us, even to the extent of shouting goodbyes until we are out of sight. So, at 9pm on every Thursday, the whole block would be super noisy and filled with laughters for a few minutes. That unexplained feeling further motivates me to go for sessions.

Year 2 was a super hectic year for me due to my modules and Open House VC commitment. But, because of the friendship bonded, I would still attend those sessions. Before going for sessions, it was tiring due to lessons and whatsoever, but after stepping into the Home, it was a different feeling. Trouble and headaches seemed to be lifted off for that an hour plus or so as I enjoyed those sessions. Now, it's the third year already but the feeling is still the same.

Over the years, boys come and go. Some are more "friendly" while some are more "hostile". Volunteers do come and go too. This cycle is repeated many times. For those boys who had left, though we could no longer see them anymore, we are happy and glad that they've moved on. For volunteers who had left, we could just say nothing. So, for those who're still rather new to Youth, I hope that you'd be able to experience the whole process of meeting them, knowing them, understanding them, and slowly progressing to them asking about u, wanting to know more about u, and finally, being able to trust u and be friends with u. I feel that it's not easy for them to open up to strangers and wanting to be friends, so they might be more shy and less willing to interact with u initially. Hence, we should look upon them as our friends first if we'd want them to reciprocate. Remember, sincerity is the key and as told by our seniors, they really do sense our sincerity. =)

Actually, there're still alot more to say but i guess this post is getting rather long so i shall stop soon. Fellow volunteers! I hope that u would be able to experience what we've experienced! Hard work and perseverance do pay off! Enjoy the process and u'd discover that u really look forward to every Thursday to see their faces! AND! After the sessions, u might have some thoughts or some things to say.. Just blog it! Share the love! uhhhmm.. but remember about confidentiality and the indemnity, what can be said and what cannot be said! =)

Designing for our Youth shirt.

♥ Blk B! =)

~ Pamela