How did BKTG started ?

I am sure everyone has heard about the book that MYG is coming up with to document the history of MYG for the past 37 years.

Since then, I have been asked many questions ...
Who started BKTG ?

Unfortunately ... I have no reply.

BKTG was started on 7 May 1983.

According to ancient records, BKTG was first formed in Oct 1982 with the aim of basically providing pre-school training to those people with intelluctual disability on the waiting list of the day school.

However, a group of people with Intelluctual disability with behavioural problems who could not be admitted into MINDS' Schools was gradually included in the service ...

Then there was this point abt "Future Direction" ..

It says ... "It is expected that in the near future, the project will serve mainly those clients with behavioural problems. As such, volunteers would have to exercise more conviction and initiative, especially in the planning stages, it is forseen that the main area of service would be in the training of basic self-care skills."

(Looks familiar ? The same paragraph was posted 2 years ago.)

Anyway ... lately, we have been requesting the senior volunteers to check with their senior volunteers on who exactly started BKTG ...

I was happy that we have found some names :
Pioneer of BKTG - Boon Teck Beng followed by Janet Ho.

And fortunately, we have managed to find the contact of one of the pioneer, Janet Ho.

I have been in contact with her for the past few days, was hoping to invite her to join us for the BKTG anniversary however, she is busy with work on Saturdays !

Hopefully one day I will be able to arrange to meet up with her to see what memories can be shared with everyone. It will be so interesting to find out how much our pioneers have gone through in the past ... *I have sent her the blog address too*

Anniversary is once again around the corner ... many thanks for Zhuting, Choon Yee & Affiq for helping to organise =p

I was at Tampines the other night when I saw a foreign worker lying face down by the side of road. At first, I thought he was drunk then as I walked pass him, he began to vomit and seem to be in great pain... No one was helping him.... so am I... Instinctively, I should have reacted! Feeling so ashamed of myself.... am working towards not letting it happen again!

On hindsight, I wonder if someone was to step forward to help, will others follow? I believe it will. Just like in our project, when we see our fellow volunteers doing something for our trainees/project, without much words, others will just come in & do their part and this characteristic is something that bond us together. In a month's time, we will be having another open house, alot of preparation to be done... alot of help is needed... and it will yet be another successful event!

"We need to learn to open up the heart and be able to give whenever we see a need. This means even little things. Not just material things but smiles, a nice word, time to listen and sometimes, just being there for others"

Someone mentioned before it is important to be brave to be different and not conform to the masses, so long as whatever one is doing is not detriment socially... so true in it!

In a couple of weeks, we will be celebrating our 26th anniversary, an achievement! Finding out how we got started has not been successful over the years, it would be great if someone can come forward to share their experiences back then...

CurL 09 - Challenge Ur Limits

Hi ppl,

Thought I'll share on this upcoming event - CurL 09, which some of our trainees are participating.

Challenge Ur Limits (CurL) is a special project under Welfare Service Club (WSC) under NTU. It aims to challenge the abilities of the beneficiaries involved through fun and engaging activities.

This year's project is the repainting of a building located in the compound of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.

Date: 13 & 20 Jun
Time: 9 am - 5.30pm
Venue: Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital

The Volunteer Attachment Programme is on 13 Jun while actual painting itself is on 20th Jun (Sat). Trainees do not need to have any prior experience in painting. The organisers will be doing the base, coat and outline and all the trainees have to do is to put colours on the murals. The organisers are also conducting some games and performances, as well as a visit to the wards in the hospital.

We are targeting to send Ailing, Wulin, Wei Xiong, Keng Yew, Jimmy and Cheng Kwong for the activities (subject to caregivers' approval). The confirmed list of trainees will be updated. Direct vols, pls let me know if the trainees are suitable and caregivers agreeable.

For more information, visit http://clubs.ntu.edu.sg/ntuwsc/SP/CURL/event.html

Jianyun

Learning & Health Challenges 2009... 11-12 Apr

For more info http://www.gqrmagonline.com/lcdetails.htm

What's going to happen at Learning & Health Challenges 2009...
DATES : 11 & 12 April 2009
VENUE : Suntec City Convention Centre – Hall 402

Objective
To address the needs of everyday learning challenges faced by today's children and to present them with a complete mind-body-soul / holistic learning experience that will enable them to excel emotionally, mentally and physically.

Event
Entry to the event is free and is open to the general public.
The proposed event will be held over the weekend of 11 and 12 April 2009, over the Good Friday holidays. Starting from 10:00am and ending at 8:00pm on both days, the event will be supported by about 90 exhibitors specially selected from both mainstream and non-traditional approaches towards learning. There will also be a seminar component that will include talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities presented by experts in these various fields of learning.

The seminar component will be held throughout the two days and entry is free.

There will be a total of 16 (8 per day) workshops, talks and demonstrations throughout the two days. Each session will be an hour long and experts from various fields will be presenting their views and methodologies.

Programme hours : 11:00am – 6:00pm daily
* Day 1 – Saturday 11/04/09
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Diet and You
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Neurofeedback
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Proper Posture for Health
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Exercise & Fitness
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm The Power of Hypnotherapy
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Learning Techniques
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Meditation
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Learning Made Easy & Fun

* Day 2 – Sunday 12/04/09
11:00 am – 12:00 pm The Importance of Sleep
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Vitamins & Supplementations
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Nutrition & Children with Special Needs
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Enrichment Courses
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Music Therapy
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Visual Care
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Motivation
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Memory Power

* The programmes are tentative and subject to final confirmation.