Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.spprimers.com
Logistics & AV
Huiqi 3 the editor writes
Reactions
Programmes >> What will be your history?
Shikuan
Publicity
Hathaway 4 from the captain
Ronald Revisit and Celebrate
>> Building and sustaining relationships
6 top story
Standing on Clear Ground
>> Check out what the participants from the
recent Overseas Service Learning Trip have to
say!
A
s we continue to work at bringing you each reader. While we may not be able to put everything
issue of Ohana! with contents close to you ask for in it, we promise to do our best! As with
our hearts, it has been a crazy time at our all forms of media today, we are very conscious
computers. Nobody quite knows how things should of the fact that content is of utmost importance.
be, deadlines always seem to be looming, and yet, Although I believe design is integral to the whole
miraculously, we manage to produce what you hold reader experience, the stories and their accuracy
now fairly on time. are still of the highest priority.
That’s similar to what the team that went for The history that we see in the future would be
the recent Overseas Service Learning Trip to Sri written by us today, so please keep those comments
Lanka experienced. With a short runway to prepare and feeback coming through email, facebook,
and plan for the trip, they managed to overcome website tagboard as we want to know what you
adversities and break new ground. In our Top Story, think of the Ohana!, especially our stories!
we feature snippets of their experience and ask
them what has changed in them through the trip.
REVISIT and
must have been a moment of
comfort for many “mosquito
stricken PRIMERS” as they
ploughed their minds into
CELEBRATE
preparing something for
dinner for one another.
Because coming together for
each other (stomachs) could
Greetings, OHANA! WE ARE ONE FAMILY! take away our individual discomfort away and drive
I
t was a saturday evening, I was in my us with a purpose.
comfortable bermudas and walking around It’s such moments that I observe & look out
after having a nice cool coconut for the for people with “Great Attitude” & not just attitude.
evening in Ubin. Then I heard the sound of metal: How do I see that? - It’s when people after a long
“KLING! KLANG!” and lots of noise and laughter. As day still chose to give themselves regardless how
I approached the source I was greeted by the smell they are (tired), what has happened to them
of luncheon meat and curry and I LOVE IT. (mosquito abused – some as many as 20 bites)
It was the favourite time of the year when and choose others above themselves. For that it’s
PRIMERS would gather in numbers to cook for one one of my favourite moments to watch the youths
another and not just throw food into boiling soup. demonstrate who they can really be from the inside
In our recent Rough It Out Camp in Ubin, that of them if they just let it out.
These great moments prepare us for other
OHANA NOV 2009 | 4
opportunities to let out the joy that God’s goodness
has placed in us to bring smiles and strength unto
those who we reach out to.
One such instance is our recent trip to Sri Lanka
for re-forestation, sports day and children teaching
project. The hard work and punishing hot weather
could not stop our faces from smiling and doing
what little we could for the children and villages
of the village of Thirukkovil, Ampara District, Sri
Lanka.
I can still see the smiling faces of our Sri Lanka
friends there and fever stricken PRIMERS & Officers.
Yet the inner strength and love placed within us
allowed them to press on and finish the project. We
may not have changed the world like recent Nobel
Laureate US President Obama. Yet I believe they
are changing the lives of the children and villagers
there, ONE LIFE AT A TIME. Clap! Clap!
As we continue to harness the strength of
coming together, I would like to welcome the
various Primers companies that will be joining us
for the Inter Primers Olympics Day 2009.
Because in the games, “GOT SLOW ONE, GOT
FAST ONE, GOT WIN ONE, GOT LOSE ONE”
May these friendly games bring out both fun
and great sportsmanship among our primers as we
celebrate new friendships and re-visit old ones.
In His Love,
Captain Danny Lee
STANDING on
CLEAR GROUND
This September marks a new chapter for 14 youths as they embark on a journey that brings
them out of their comfort zone, into the unknown land of Sri Lanka. Apart from simply doing
community restoration work, they went through series of classes as well as a strict selection
process, which aids them on their journey of growth and self-discovery
2
1 September 2009 marks the day that technical difficulties, the plane was not able to
the Overseas Service Learning Trip (OSLT) depart as scheduled. Experiencing this for the first
participants have been preparing and waiting time, Wen Sze the President of SP.PRIMERS, said:
for. When asked about his feelings before going for “Thoughts of calamity plague my mind as I embarked
the trip to Sri Lanka, Sebastian, Vice President of on the plane in an hour’s time. In fact, I prayed and
SP.PRIMERS shared: “I can’t help but feel excited as hoped that the three and a half hour flight would
I am about to enter a place that would be placing end and touch down at Colombo instantly.”
me out of my comfort zone, I was a little reluctant
as I know that I will be missing home.” Sri Lanka, here we come!
After the send off by Despite the initial scare,
fellow PRIMERS and their the team reached Colombo
“It was quite a touching sight to without a hitch. They met
families at the airport, the
team went through the see so many people coming down up with the local youth
departure gates and finally to send us off, wishing that we will volunteers and proceeded to
entered the plane. have a safe trip to Sri Lanka.” settle down at Goldie Sands
However due to some resort to rest for the night.
OHANA NOV 2009 | 6
The torment commenced after breakfast - the had planted the previous year had died due to the
440km mini-bus ride to Thirukkovil Campsite, where weather and I know the seriousness of how big the
they will be spending their next nine nights at. impact weather has on the camp.”
“We sang songs, played games and slept
our way through to counter the long and bumpy Weeding
journey to the campsite,” Clare, a third year student One of
shared. the primary
After a gruelling objectives of
12 hour ride, the team the team was
finally reached their to clear the
destination and were field so that the
warmly welcomed foundation can
by the villagers who be laid for a
presented them with playground.
handcrafted flowers as What the
a sign of hospitality. team needed to do was to pluck out and remove
all the weeds that were in the field. However, it was
Surveying the land not an easy task as they did not have any tools and
The next had to resort to using their hands. It tested many of
morning, Pastor Ram, the members’ determination and perseverance.
the campsite manager Maggie, a first year student, shared: “It was
brought the team around to show them the progress really tiring and I wanted to give up at times.
of the restoration work as well as the areas that the However, looking at the rest of the teammates who
team will be clearing for the playground. were working as hard as I was, I continued to press
on. They motivated me to carry on.”
Games day
The team also organized a mini games carnival
for the children over the weekend. Yun Ting, a
first year student revealed her initial fear: “I was
Movie night
After the games carnival, the team set up the
venue for the screening of “Kungfu Panda”. Both
young and old came to watch the movie together
under the clear blue sky. The team joined them too.
To many of the locals, it was their first time watching
the movie.
The team was glad to be able to complete
School visit most of the tasks assigned to them, some of which
were unexpected. “The locals made us some
refreshing homemade tea after all the classes had
ended, which marks the closing of the teaching.”
commented Benjamin.
Teaching
Conducting computer and basic English lessons
for the children were other mini-projects that the
team had planned. The children were generally able
to grasp what was being taught, which is Microsoft Coming to an end
PowerPoint, and had not much difficulties in It was the final day of work for the team and
understanding. they finished up with what was left in the fields.
OHANA NOV 2009 | 8
Pastor Ram came into the field and commented and there were much laughter in the room. When
that the team did more than enough. With a asked how she felt about the surprise, Rui Ying
delightful heart, the team gathered the weeds and answered: “I’m touched that everyone stopped what
burned them in a huge bonfire! Photos were taken they were doing and came to the girls’ apartment
to commemorate the end of the project. just to sing a birthday song for me. I was amused to
What was the most rewarding thing of the see people using mosquito coil as a candle. When I
work in Sri Lanka was blew at it, it actually became brighter.”
to laze on the canvas
sheet in the open, Home sweet home
admiring the beautiful Finally, it was time to board the plane for
starlit sky. “We Singapore. Many of them cannot wait to meet their
chatted till the next families and friends back home. Deep inside their
morning and the best hearts, they were missing many things from Sri
part of it had to be the Lanka – the nights spent stargazing, the moments
shooting stars! This spent talking, the meals shared, and even the
was the best night of plucking of the weeds. What was most precious for
the whole trip for many,” said Owen, a second year many of them was the time spent together.
student. “I reminisced the days I spent in the village.
I was looking forward to going back home but
Back to civilization somewhere deep inside my heart, I felt a slight tug of
As the team loaded all the logistics and bags nostalgia. Those were the beautiful days we spent,
into the vehicles, many of the locals came to bid the disconnected from the fast-paced world and yet not
team farewell. As they left for Colombo, the team even worried for a slightest bit. The moments I had
waved their way out of the camp. in Sri Lanka with the team will always be precious to
After a 12 hours me,” concluded Sebastian.
bus ride, the team
was finally backed
to civilization. They
checked into two
apartments in the
hotel and had a good
night’s rest on soft
beds and showered
with warm water.
Geraldine, a second year student, commented:
“It feels so nice to be in Colombo because it is
just as modernized as Singapore, plus there are
comfortable beds, sofas and good toilet facilities.”
OSLT style
At 12am Singapore time, the boys went to
the girls’ apartment to surprise Rui Ying, a first
year student, for her birthday. Without any candle,
Huishan, one of the facilitators, suggested using a
mosquito coil as replacement. It shocked Rui Ying
Finishing and surviving OSLT 09 does not mark the end of growth and self-discovery of the
participants, in fact it marks a new beginning as their hard work parallels a new seed, its
fruit yet to been seen and only time would tell how successful they will be.
Home update
Sebastian Going home, but I know I will miss this place and the time
spent with the team and the locals.
9:43 PM, 2 October 09, Flight CX710
Owen Burning the weeds that we’ve plucked over the days!
6:12 PM 30 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite Field
King Kit Drinking fresh coconut juice while enjoying the sea breeze.
12:10 PM 30 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite Beach
Benjamin Glad that the classes have somehow managed to work out
fine and the works in the fields are nearly completed.
9:43 PM PM 29 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite
Yun Ting Going to conduct a games carnival now. A little worried yet
excited.
2:56 PM 27 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite
Hathaway The day ended early for everyone was tired out, tired from
all the playing and fun.
5:46 PM 26 September 09 from Passakuda Beach
Wilfred Till date, it has always been the husbands and children that we
have interacted with. Rarely we get to talk to a mother...
3:51 PM 26 September 09 from Passakuda Beach
Siman Thought buffaloes will be attracted to red color but Pastor told
us they will not be. I was relieved as I was wearing red!
10:13 AM 25 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite
Fang Yi Ben has been complaining of headaches and now he’s fallen
sick. This is bad.
8:00 PM 23 September 09 from Thirukkovil Campsite
Change from
Deep Within
R
ough It Out Camp, better known as RIOcamp as there were no rice cookers, only the old kettle
has been a defining camp through the years and woks from the previous era were available.
of SP.PRIMERS’ history. This camp focuses It actually daunted a few of the campers as
primarily on bringing participants out of their Jolene from group “Ahar!” shared: “I really needed
comfort zones, challenging them mentally while some time to accept the cooking utensils. Reason
inculcating in them PRIMERS core values of Care, being that the wok and stuff seemed to be really
Share and Wait. dirty, with a thick layer of accumulated dirt, and we
were supposed to cook our meals with it.”
Kampong Style There were no nice bunks with air-conditioners
In order to achieve the above objectives, the for the campers to sleep in. However Alan from
settings had to be special. Besides being a camp held group “Super Seniors” saw joy in this: “We were
offshore, campers also had the freedom to choose sleeping in the open area where it is definitely
how their meals would be like by preparing them on cooler and is able to behold the nice scenery in the
their own. However this came with the constraints morning.”
Lessons learnt
It was a fulfilling 3D2N camp for many. Just ask
Ling Huan: “I’ve learnt to be even more independent
after this camp and it was a really good experience
for me. I’m glad to know that so many people
actually cares for me, they even share their things
with me and also wait for me even when Im lagging
behind or when I was feeling unwell.”
Clare from ‘Pokemon’ added: “All in all, I am
really grateful that this camp was organized in the
way it was. Everything was really great except that
the itches from the mosquito bites were intolerable!
I suppose these were unavoidable though!”
RACE
to the
A
spin-off from the popular television
series, Amazing Race allowed
participants to experience the
PODIUM! point unknowingly! Nevertheless, I’m glad that I’m
adrenaline themselves.
given this role as it allowed me to learn and gain
Participants were handed clues to the location
experience out of it.”
of their next game station and the key thing to
winning, is knowing the Singapore transport network
As amazing as it sounds
at your finger tips. Participants were not allowed to
Ask any of the participants how much fun
take cabs as a medium to their destinations.
they had during the event, many would use tons of
volcabulary to describe the experience.
The first time
Just ask Jin Siang, a year two student and we
Many go through first
know the response: “It kept my
time experiences in PRIMERS
group thinking and sweating the
and it was no different for Rong
whole day. Even our first station
Yuan. The committee member
at Chinese Garden already
of Amazing Race 09 exclaimed:
made us climb the multi-storey
“It’s my first time being in the
pagoda up & down several
program department. While I
times, breaking our first drop
was briefing the participants,
of sweat of the day. We were to
I actually gave away the
search for clues that could lead
location of the last check
OHANA NOV 2009 | 15
high fever the day before and it did not subside
even when we were running along the way.”
“I did not want to disappoint the group, I guess
it is the strong bond of friendship between us that
really pushed me on.”
Let’s do it again!
Despite the competition, the family had fun
together. “Unfortunately, due to people going for
the Overseas Service Learning Trip, a few of my
cluster members were not around. If not I bet the
Amazing Race would be even more interesting and
competitive, I look forward to the next Amazing
Race and will definitely strive to win it this time, ”
said Jin Siang, whose group came in second.
Ivan added: “ Overall it was fun even though I
had to go home with numb and painful legs.”
Being a family
All in all, this brings us to the core values of
a PRIMERS Family, Caring for the well-being of one
another by knowing
how he is doing,
Sharing experiences
with one another
and Waiting for one
another to arrive.
Talking late into the
night and sharing
Jonathan added: “I felt that I was brought back stories are truly simple
to my childhood days. It was different this time as things. However, it is
I was with a group of older-than-usual people but these simple pleasures
found enjoyment in such simple pleasures.” that turn out to be life’s
greatest treasures.
Ending off
“Although we were not involved in many
activities for this event, I really enjoyed it, I like the
Credits
This publication is brought to you by SP.PRIMERS EXCO Publicity Department.