FINAL GROUP BLOG

_________________________________________________________________________

STREET FEEDING, YMCA

LOCATION: Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)

                        95, Jalan Padang Belia, 50470, Kuala Lumpur, 50470, Malaysia.

DATE: 18th April 2015, Saturday

OBJECTIVES

ü  Facilitate in Street Feeding set-up and clean-up

ü  Feeding stations distribute food to the homeless, disabled and drug addicts

ü  Help lighten the burden of the less fortunate and reaching out to troubled individuals and families

ü  Giving the less fortunate a chance to enjoy not only a meal but feeling of longing and warmth.

ü  Provide them with fellowship through nourishment, counseling, spiritual support

ü  Sharing Christian good tidings of love, hope and redemption to the public

ü  Give basic first aid/medical administration

ü  Teaches participating volunteers humanitarianism, humbleness, thoughtfulness and gratitude

ITINENARY/AGENDA

Time	Activities
10:30AM – 11:30AM	Meet up in Asia Cafe for breakfast
11:30AM – 11:45PM	Took some photos in INTI International College Subang
12:00PM – 12:30PM	Start leaving INTI
12:30PM	Reached Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Brickfields, KL.
12.45PM – 1:00PM	Street Feeding Briefing by Pastor Richard Lee & Ms. Susan
1:00PM – 1:15PM	Praise & Worship Session
1:15PM – 1:45PM	Facilitate in packing the food
1:45PM – 3:00PM	Food Distribution
3:30PM – 4:00PM	Help in clearing up (Plates & Cups)
4:00PM	Street Feeding dismissal

EVENT SUMMARY

The memory of Street Feeding we had on 18^th April 2015, Saturday remains vivid on our minds. My BIT Team consist of 6 members (Ooi Hon Keat, Chai Wai Sum, Johnathan Yap, Chew Chu Chiang, Neoh Jit Chian and myself). We started off our journey by meeting up in INTI International College Subang at 10:30A.M. After in which we carpooled and reached YMCA in Brickfields at 12:30P.M. The Street Feeding kicked-off was carried out by Pastor Richard Lee and Ms. Susan instead, as Mr. Paul David was away during that day. Both Pastor Richard and Ms. Susan gave us a briefing session which acknowledges and delegate the roles and responsibilities for each of us throughout the whole event. Apparently we were not the only group of social volunteers present during that day, some volunteers were the church’s old timers, Boys’ Brigade and there were also a group of Methodist College students. It seems that the academic course structure made it compulsory for Methodist College incoming freshmen to collect a certain amount of community service hours (minimum 20 hours, approximately 6 weeks).

The Street Feeding event started off with a Praise & Worship Session, followed by the distribution of packet foods and drinks, and finally clearing/washing up. The community there were all very lovely people and especially Ms. Susan was a very humorous chit-chatty lady. By 4:00PM, we left YMCA, although all of us felt tired nevertheless this activity has thought us gratitude when we compare our lives with the less fortunate. So there is no reason for us to complain about life, you will reflect how lucky we already are when we do not compare ourselves with lavish people but to see from another perspective. ‘Twas has been a golden opportunity for my team and I to volunteer ourselves as the Street Feeding assistants.

OUTCOME

• Teaches us caring, love and compassion
•  Instills humanitarianism
• Make us aware of society’s needs
• Taught a lesson on humbleness and gratefulness
•  Everyone from Kenosis Homes and the streets/public were given special attention and the hungry are all fed
•  Individuals who needed medical aid were attended to by doctors and trained medical volunteers
• Group members were able to dedicate their energy and time to carry out the tasks given to them
• Encouraged interaction and cooperation from team members which resulted in successful outcome accordingly to plan
• Builds team work between our members as well as YMCA’s volunteers

WEAKNESS

• There is pro and cons on everything that we did, there are also cons for this street feeding services for the street comers.
•  If we would be feeding them in a regularly basis, it could be making them to use of it and continuous staying on the street than getting out of the street.
• Sometimes, feeding homeless people may hurt them more than helping them.
• Many homeless services including YMCA is providing showers, medical..etc, therefore a lot homeless people may left the wound unattended than finding a service agency to help them in immediate action.
• However, what street feeding aim is to get the people out of the park than continuous staying on the street and waiting for our help.

STRENGTH

•  Fair amount of community including student participation and support
• Appreciation of feeding ration by student and others community
•  Food prepared by YMCA communities
• Feed homeless in private place, such as Churches or community center like YMCA
• Spend time to volunteers for homeless people
• Give talents to help those need. For example YMCA have nurse and doctor to help homeless do medical check up

SUGGESTION

Personally feel that this should not only be a one-time activity just for the sake of fulfilling the requirement of hours set by the government for this MPU subject. In fact, this passion to lend a helping hand to the society should be inculcated in our lives since young; so kindergartens can add on new activities into the extra-curricular structure like performing or singing songs at old folks’ home. This will indirectly instill the caring attitude naturally so when we were to undertake any projects with similar concept, we will not feel burdensome. By right, it will be even better off if every educational institution establish their very own society or clubs that are directed towards social efforts. Recently on 30^th April, INTI Subang’s UOW participated in a CSR activity for Food Bank Distribution at Kechara Soup Kitchen. Our students not only actively participate in handing out the items but UOW was opened up for groceries/provisions donations coming from students as well as public. The project was successfully carried out with the help of our UOW lecturers, students and other volunteers. Hopefully in the future, progressively more and more colleges and universities will participate proactively in such activities.

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, we are very satisfied on this street feeding event as we have learned a lot during the events and we are having the hands on experience too. We feel that this activity was beneficial towards those old folks and also students as we can understand how moral can integrate while providing helps to people. As a helper on the street feeding event, we had try our best to provide the help to those who may need it and the meantime, we feels satisfaction on what we have did. Although we don’t have any rewards on this activity, but we are willing to perform it as we have learned how to serve those old folks, at the same time we also have our hands on experience on community service. We feels proud on what we have did while performing the street feeding, this is a very nice experience to us and we hope this event can continue exist as part of our education.

CLICK YOUTUBE CLIP TO JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY. . .