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Students Reflections Bintan 2011

Pioneer Junior College Students' Service Learning Trip 2 at Bintan 6 - 9 June 2011


Since 2006, Pioneer Junior College students brought huge smiles to many disadvantaged children in developing Asian countries through various refurbishment and interactive education activities. With your generous donations in 2010, 30 Pioneers and 3 teachers are able to continue to spread love and compassion at a primary school in rural Bintan, Indonesia. They cleaned and scrubbed the classrooms of the primary school; gave the walls a new look with a fresh coat of paint, finishing it off with colorful wall murals to brighten up the students' days. In addition, they've also organized interactive English lessons for the less privileged children and planted saplings for a mangrove restoration.



Read on and find out more about their eye-opening experiences, which you have helped to materialize - an appreciation of their modern, urban life in Singapore in comparison to the simple, rustic way of living in a developing country and how wonderful it is to bring smiles to the less fortunate.

 

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PJC Student's Reflections

In these four days, during my time at Bintan, I have learnt many valuable lessons that would be applicable and greatly useful in life. The trip to Bintan was an eye-opener. It made me more aware and enlightened me of my surroundings and about my impoverished neighbors who don't even have a decent standard of living and quality of life. This thought me not to be small-minded and ignorant. Also, this trip has allowed me to be grateful for my life and the things that I usually take for granted.

 

The trip to Charcoal Factory was especially impactful as there is where I learnt what real hardship was. As such, it made my complains of school homework, exams...etc (my version of hardship) seem petty and uncalled for. Charcoal factory, a logging site, was once a thriving place where people had a proper standard of living and a sufficient income to support their family. However, along the years, due to excessive logging, the government banned logging from that particular area till most of the tress are planted back (afforestation). As such, since revenue from the logging was their only source of income, when the ban came, the village became downtrodden. Witnessing their poor quality of life and ruined houses, I presumed that the people would be sad and be bitter. However, those Indonesians proved me wrong. They were happy and satisfied with their meager salary and despite the torn volleyball nets and uneven ground, the children still continued to play happily. That is when I came to know that my perception of happiness is wrong. Being happy does not equate to be endowed with materialistic goods but it is to be satisfied and happy with the little things we have in life. Also, these village children were not expecting money or food from us. All they want is our friendship, which gives them real happiness. Therefore, eventhough it was a bumpy ride to the Charcoal Factory, the valuable lessons that I learnt from there made the bumpy ride worth it.

All in all, this service learning was indeed an enriching experience that I would never forget. I learnt many things from my teachers, instructors, the Indonesians and even the animals. I would like to that Metro for providing me the opportunity to embark on this wonderful journey.

 

After the trip, I felt really grateful for where I am. The transportation system there was horrendous - bumpy and pitch-dark roads without traffic/street lights. Singapore transportation system is really good, despite the many ERPs and constant congestion at certain time of the day. In Bintan, everyone is contented with what they have though they had no proper housing, sanitation or even education. I learnt how to be happy with where I am, studying in classrooms with fans, lights or even air conditionings. Really, the children there taught me how to be joyful and complain lesser about the big 'A' that we all dread.

I learnt how to endure, really it was important. I was so tired but the children made me endured, they were so energetic and I could not bear to disappoint them. This trip made me endure, even through the hardest and most tiring times. We need to understand and listen to what they need, feel what they want and not help them with our own understanding. Lastly, I learnt that no matter what circumstances we are in, we can always survive if we have the determination and work persistently towards our objectives!

Having this CIP trip as the second one that I am going for, I was not shocked by the living standard in the rural areas of the country that we went to. The people there were as expected, very welcoming and receptive to us when we got there. They were also very friendly and would go the extra mile to help us in different things such as painting of the school. I was especially touched by the actions of a teacher who was helping us to open the paint tins. While using the hammer to open the lid, he accidentally injured his hand but despite that, he still continue to help us open the can even thought his hand was bleeding. Anyone I know would have just put down the hammer and attend to the wound while some may even bear resentment to the one who had asked him/her to open the can.

In addition, the children there were also very friendly to one another and would invite each other to join in their games. This is seldom seen in Singapore where people are unwilling to step out of their comfort zone and interact with others.

We too visited the same orphanage that we had gone to last year and I was shocked to see that the children there still remember and recognise us. It seems to me that they really cherish every moment they have with us and it reminds us to be grateful of what we have and not complain about everything we have.

But what really shocked me was that, while I was picking up the rubbish that the children had left on the floor after eating the tibits that we had bought and I had tried to get them to clean up with me, I was told that cleaning up is not considered a habit there and they do not throw their rubbish away. This happens even after they were taught to do so. I felt that more could be done to inculcate the value of cleanliness and responsibility into them as they have to be the one learning and not just us or their caretaker helping them to clean up their litters. I do hope that more education could be provided for them even though it is evident that resources and money is an issue in this case.

This trip was rather fruitful. It has allowed me to experience many things in life that I had yet to experience. Also, I have learned to be independent and how to take care of myself without my family members around to protect me. It was an eye-opener trip. Before coming for the trip, I have got no idea of how the place and environment would be; the only thought was that 'I'm here to help'. The first thing that caught my attention was the bulky ride after our arrival at Bintan ferry terminal. Looking out of the window while in the bus, I noticed the wooden-made huts which are the houses that the people actually lives in. It was similar to those which I had seen in some rural parts of Malaysia. The houses can appear out of nowhere in the forest, they are so disorganized. No doubt, I realized how lucky we Singaporeans are to have a proper house with proper water systems and drainage systems. However, the people lead a simple life there. Despite living in such uncomfortable environment, I felt the warmth within the people and the teamwork they possess. Although we were bounded by communication barrier and it is the first time meeting the people there, they gave us a warm welcome with a big smile on their faces. Initially, it was rather uncomfortable smiling back to a stranger, but in the end, I learned to do the same. The feeling was good. Lastly, it never fails to make me smile whenever I see or hear how happy they are when we played together or when they received our gifts. Overall, I do not know hoe much we have helped or changed their lives. But, at least, whatever we do was little things that had helped them to a certain point.