The last six weeks has been a constant adventure and such a rewarding experience for me. We all started out as complete strangers and total beginners and over the last few weeks we have learned so much about each other and of ourselves. Although the exchange participants were new to Malaysia and the idea of working with children in low-income flats, I felt equally out of my depth as it was my first time coordinating such a project with university students no less, a position I was in not too long ago myself. Both parties learned an important lesson of managing each other’s expectation organically from the early weeks of the project, a crucial aspect in any project. Through our interactions we learned how to meet each other half way and produce results we would both be content with.
Naturally I had my concerns, with all the variables we had to account for. But I have been constantly impressed, week after week by their increase in confidence and ability, both of the internal AIESEC team and the EP’s.
Planning of course is the key ingredient to project coordination and I am very grateful that we had the great pleasure to pick up some indispensable skills in lesson planning and working with children from the stellar Chow Kit Kita duo from the very start of the project. The message of keeping a thorough lesson plan is something we stuck to each and every week. Equally I’d like to thank Yoke Pin from Arts-Ed Penang, who has been supportive about this project and given us a valuable amount of her time and insights.
The experience of working with the children of PPR Kota Damansara has definitely been the highlight and glue that tied this project together until the very last week. During each engagement we felt a closer bond to the children and to each other, and learned so much while being on the ground. I hope that this is something the EP’s can take back to their respective universities and build on within their own capacities.
Finally, I’d like to extend my gratitude to Jeffrey Phang and Jinn Low of Friends of Kota Damansara for their endless encouragement and support. The Urban Mapper Project would not have been possible without this key organisation.
Naturally I had my concerns, with all the variables we had to account for. But I have been constantly impressed, week after week by their increase in confidence and ability, both of the internal AIESEC team and the EP’s.
Planning of course is the key ingredient to project coordination and I am very grateful that we had the great pleasure to pick up some indispensable skills in lesson planning and working with children from the stellar Chow Kit Kita duo from the very start of the project. The message of keeping a thorough lesson plan is something we stuck to each and every week. Equally I’d like to thank Yoke Pin from Arts-Ed Penang, who has been supportive about this project and given us a valuable amount of her time and insights.
The experience of working with the children of PPR Kota Damansara has definitely been the highlight and glue that tied this project together until the very last week. During each engagement we felt a closer bond to the children and to each other, and learned so much while being on the ground. I hope that this is something the EP’s can take back to their respective universities and build on within their own capacities.
Finally, I’d like to extend my gratitude to Jeffrey Phang and Jinn Low of Friends of Kota Damansara for their endless encouragement and support. The Urban Mapper Project would not have been possible without this key organisation.