Dear friends,
This past month, we have been enabling families to acknowledge the learning efforts that their children have made this year. Thanks to the generosity of GIC Pte Ltd, the young people, their caregivers and volunteers were given a budget to decide how they would like their Celebration of Learning to look like. Some decided to dedicate a regular session to celebrate how volunteers, students and parents cooperated and cared for each other during the year. These groups felt that a cosy event would serve to strengthen the relationships and connections that have enriched their lives.
Tomorrow, there will be 2 larger events. One will be where 3 different learning programmes pool resources to put together a sumptuous dinner at our premises. Besides encouraging their children, parents will take the opportunity to thank the volunteers. Another will be a mini carnival held at a neighbourhood park with station games and prizes to be won. The children had envisioned this as how they would like to celebrate their learning efforts. Older youth in the neighbourhood curated the prizes and will be volunteering to facilitate the games.
At another neighbourhood, 3 girls who will be starting secondary school next year, took the initiative to invite other children in their neighbourhood to a celebration at a water park next week. They knocked on doors and gathered 31 young persons and 4 parents to join them. With the help of 4 volunteers, they have made the necessary arrangements and put together a programme for the day. They are so proud of their efforts and are also celebrating how they have learnt to organise an event.
Water parks are a popular destination for a celebration as another neighbourhood had a great day at one too. However, before they got there, they gathered at our premises to reflect on what was difficult about school the past year and to also identify a moment where they were proud to be in school. They wrote this on pieces of paper and in a circle, everyone articulated their reflections for all to hear. Parents then responded with encouragement or a thought about what they heard.
One 12 year passed her primary school leaving examinations well enough to be admitted to the express stream. Usually quiet and reserved, she expressed pride for her achievement. Mom was deeply emotional and kept praising her daughter for being a fighter that never gives up. She also added that her daughter gives her the strength to face every curve ball life throws at her. Later, we learnt that this girl had experienced many challenging and traumatic moments at home that led to her parents divorcing recently. However, she found it within herself to shut out the pain and to focus on her studies. Her resilience is admirable but also rather exceptional.
We tend to celebrate the exceptional, but we must never forget that regardless, all of us are worth celebrating.
For peace, community, and celebrations,
Gerard
The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding. – Leonardo da Vinci
