Child Facilitators

Acquisition of facilitation skill is a learning process. A facilitator can become better after few rounds of real life experiences. So for a person like me who is used to facilitate the group discussions during a workshop, I normally take it for granted whenever accepting an invitation for facilitation. I am of the opinion that standard operating procedures for facilitation is applicable for all occassions, at least this is what I thought prior to last Sunday's Facilitators Briefing for the Children Forum on Child Friendly City of Petaling Jaya. The briefing is a prelude to align the appointed young facilitators on approaches and methods to be used for the Forum to be held on 27th June 2009 at the PJ Community Library. A total of 250 children 8-18 years old is expected to attend the one-day Forum.

Throughout the briefing session, I was kept on reminded by the young facilitators on dos and don'ts for dealing with the children. First of all, to smile wholeheartedly meeting with the children when they come to registration. Smiling means to be friendly to them and to gain their acceptance as Friend. After that, a lot of games and ice-breakers need to be carried out at the initial stage so that the participants are comfortable with the organisers and facilitators. It is a must to win over their heart and confident first before getting them to express their views on children issues and aspirations. However, different games are useful for different age groups. Hence, the venue is expected to have very loud noise and run over throughout the event. We have also difficulty to slot in the official opening function at the starting so as not to disrupt the momentum of proceeding. What to do then...

While gaining their support is not easy, sustaining their focus and concentration is equally difficult. As children tend to divert their attention to other things very quickly, short and precise presentation with colourful illustration and gestures are needed, of course the venue setting with "ompp and cool" element is also helpful. Using children's language is also important. No point of talking with technical jargon such as children's rights under the Children Right Convention without translating it into simple and understandable terms.

Another important thing is to crystallise their ideas and thoughts into some writable and readable terms for adult to digest. The children might not have given their ideas in a particular time slot but along their playing time, thereby it is important for the facilitators to pen down anything along the whole process, and to structure it into sentence and statement during the debriefing session. It is a big task, i believe.

I have learned a lot to lower down myself to the level of children so as to understand them better. In doing so, I have inner feeling that I am getting younger now.

Community Sustainable Initiative - Damansara Utama SS22

This first timer took it seriously when it came to the judges visit on 31th May 2009. The briefing was done in Damansara Specialist Centre and it caused suspicious amongst the judges upon arrival. They were asking whether we have gone to the right place or not. After briefing, i believe all agreed that the Centre is the right place. SS22 Neighbourhood Watch has partnered the hospital in many community programmes in which smart corporate partnership is practiced here.

Another smart partnership worth mentioning is the community policing scheme with the Police Department. This pilot project brought the blue man closer to the community. Apart from stationing a police officer there, various activities such as art of self defending, horse riding, exhibition on security and etc were held.

Women role in community building and leadership is very visible with this community. Basically the top 4 posts are held by the women. More importantly, others adhere to command and demand for carrying out activities.

Another milestone is the understanding of sustainable development and the need for sharing and pooling of resources. They encourage other organisations to conduct 3R programme by promoting it amongst the residents. I think it is a good move considering that every organisation has their own role to play. It is pointless to compete with each others on resources distribution. I noticed that in some places with two or three organisations having their recycling programme, the achievement is normally very poor. Perhaps we must learn how to share and work together for greater results.

Community Sustainable Initiative - SS2B

Last year's winner for the PJ Best Neighbourhood Award, SS2B Neighbourhood Watch showed many innovations this year. Apart from continuing working closely with the disabled group and adopting the public garden, the neighbourhood launched a security scheme in complimenting with the voluntary patrolling service they have introduced last year. The proposed scheme will place the whole neighbourhood under high security alert. While some might have peaceful mind now knowing that the tendency of getting rob is lesser, i presume some might prefer not to have their routine daily life, big or small under close scrutiny.

Calender featuring important telephone numbers and contacts was printed and distributed to every household. I believe this is a good marketing exercise. Apart from that, a dedicated blog with update information on community activities was established. I think, this is the latest trend for community organisations to communicate with residents, and it is unavoidable. For an effective communication amongst community members with diverse socio-cultural background, all means of communication have to be applied. These can be door-to-door visiting, notice board at the public places, sms, e-mailing, newsletters, flyers and so on. Blogging and online chatting must be the order for future.

World Environment Day 2009

The World is celebrating the Environment Day on the 5th of June every year. Various activities for raising public awareness and reminding people on the environmental conservation challenges are held at different parts of the World. Few activities, however are held to celebrate the success stories of protecting our environment. In other words, much more need to be done for having a healthy and sustainable Earth.

Today marks the Day for everyone to refresh what we have done for the environment the last 12 months and also to map out strategies and actions on what to do for the next twelve months and longer. Do you make a wish list today?

I hope more individual actions by everyone for reducing generation of waste, reducing carbon footprint, increasing efficiency on utilising the resources and promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyle and neighbourliness. Collectively, individual actions can bring tremendous changes to the World.

I wish businesses, big or small can do more for the environment. Having Social Responsibility practices on environmental stewardship and social responsiveness for every step in the businesses standard operating procedure is the way forward. Businesses without GREEN Heart will not be able to sustain onto next generation. Public demand higher code of ethic from businesses when it comes to environmental protection.

I pray that government can improve the quality of environment by applying multiple instruments, namely voluntary, economy and legal. Policies to encourage zero-waste, zero-carbon, environmental stewardship, greenery, energy efficiency as well as discouraging wasteful habit, excessive consumption and inefficiency should be put in place, and execute thoroughly.

I am talking about tri-partie partnership between the government, community and businesses, the pillar of sustainable development. Without or inequality amongst one will not make our wish for this year World Environment Day to realise.

Community Sustainable Initiative - SS23

SS23 or commonly known as Taman SEA is not a planned gated and guarded neighbourhood, yet the presence of barricade at all main exit points and security guards at the various check points days and nights make it a protected community. The security scheme is so successful that crime rate has reduced and non-committed residents have started participating in this well-organised scheme.

The Neighbourhood Watch has also designed a blog for communicating with the residents, apart from appointing zone and street representatives to disseminate and receive information. The approach of engaging residents via every road representatives is very effective as residents of next door would normally more friendly incline to any information or requests for help. It is very difficult to discuss mutual issues or even to start a conversation if both parties are not very familiar with each others. For example, collecting the service fee for security is easier through the road representatives rather than someone they might only meet once a while.

Community Developer

When it comes to community development, every body has a stake although some might not have known it. The professional planners and architects who design the layout and building will have the opportunities to allocate space for community creation; The developers who determine the pricing structure and type of houses will influence the potential buyers and hence the social fabric of inhabitants there; The local authorities who provide the urban services and regulate the physical development will eventually determine the approaches of a community, either engaging or confronting; Having said this, the residents and its' organisation is the most important player for community development. They are the community developers. They are the one to decide the content of a development at the neighbourhood level. An active community is the one with many activities involving community at large. A run down community must be the one with many of the residents having apathy and "tidak apa" attitude. While many stakeholders can contribute towards the community developing, residents, the long term inhabitants are the master developers.

They can develop a community with their resources based on shared visions and missions. Their visions and missions will determine what kind of community they are envisioned. For example, a sustainable community or a wasteful community or a caring community or a peaceful community and etc, all within their choice. Towards this, they have to create mutual understanding and to inculcate shared value and sense of belongings to their neighbourhood. The process of developing a community is not an easy task. It required passion and persistent from everyone, and of course the guidance of a leader. Leadership is critical to steer the community in the right way for the right direction.

While developer can only build houses and family do create a home, the residents are the one to develop a community, collectively.

Community Sustainable Initiative - SS2 South

This is the first time that SS2 South Residents Association took part in the PJ Best Neighbourhood Award Contest. After establishing for more than 5 years, the association remains as a moderate grouping of residents. Many of its' founding members continue serving as very few newcomers are offering their service. Perhaps it shows that the residents of SS2 South are happy with their living environment or simply because of apathy attitude.

Despite that, with very limited resources the committee has tried their very best to serve. The committee members become the intermediate between MBPJ and residents by reporting and monitoring any infrastructure and public facilities defaults.

In the absence of a permanent meeting place, this multi ethnic committee hosts their monthly meeting in the meeting room of a community church. While many prefer to have their discussions elsewhere, the gathering at a religious institution shows high tolerance and mutual respect towards inter faith, i presume. I believe the move has definitely assisting in inculcating the spirit of 1Malaysia.