YOUTH CARES AMAZING RACE 2010

On the 19th of December, Sunday, the Youth Cares members had a wonderful and challenging game called the AMAZING RACE ala Youth Cares! The main objective of this race was to create stronger family ties and this race was also a learning experience for all the youths in the family.We got up at 5.00am sharp and left the house at 6.30 am on the dot.

Everybody were told to assemble at a pre-determined venue,Esplanade before 7.15am. After everybody was accounted for, all of us had our morning breakfast which was nasi lemak! Come to think of it, that was rather heavy for an early morning breakfast!!

After that, all the adult participants were called for a short briefing regarding their grouping with a junior and also about the rules and regulations about the race. After the briefing session, the adults were joined by their respective juniors and were told about the route that we were suppose to use during the race and as a guide we were given a map.

We started the race at 7.55am. All groups were grouped by number sequence. But when the race started, groups were not called out by sequence, but they were called out randomly. Every 5 minutes a group will be called out. The time limit that was given to all groups to finish the race was 3 hours. Among the activities involved during the race was sketch some prominent buildings in the Penang Heritage enclave, take a bus ride to Weld Quay/jetty (a first for some) & to identify some heritage buildings. Many teams managed to finish the race within an hour! After all groups were done with the race, they were treated with nasi lemak again & kaya+planta bun. After that, we submitted our file to the judges to be scrutinised by the judges. The judges' verdict was finally announced after 15 minutes.

Even though, most of us were born & bred in Penang, we did make some silly mistakes regarding identifying some buildings. This are the kind of things we tend to take for granted in life. In the end, almost everybody had some sort of body pain but still we managed to go back home with a lifetime of memory.

Report by,
Swarna & team

FINAL CHARITY 2010

The Youth Cares did their last charity activity for the month of December at Kamakshi Children Home , Kulim, Kedah on the 18th December 2010, Saturday. The Penangites started towards Kulim at 9.45 am. They reached Kulim at about 10.30 am. Without much ado, we departed from Nithiya's house at about 10.45 am and reached the home at 11.00 am sharp.

When we reached the home, the caretaker Ms. Kamala told us that the children had gone to the playground as it was a part of their routine on weekends especially on school holidays. But, she offered the kids to come back earlier, as we wanted to spend more time with the kids. While we were waiting for the kids to come back, Ms Kamala brought and showed us around the home.

Kamakshi Children Home was very well maintained by the caretakers. It certainly conveyed a homely and healthy environment for the kids to be there. After a short tour around the home, we sat down to have a little chit-chat with Ms.Kamala. Soon after the kids arrived. They refreshed themselves and sat on the tables to join the chit-chat session with us. Mrs Karuna (Achi) from our side did a very good job on controlling the big crowd of 50 children of ages 8 to 15. So did Ms. Gowri and the others. To get to know the kids a little better, we made the kids stand up and mention their ambitions one by one. The kids were very spontaneous and none of them showed fear to speak in the front of a crowd.

Then it was time for the kids to have their lunch. So, we bade farewell to the kids. After that, we made our way to the administration office to hand in our donation for the home. Ms Kamala thanked us for the donation and for entertaining the kids for almost an hour. Then we left the home with our hearts filled with satisfaction that we have again accomplished doing a good deed by carving happy moments for the unfortunates to forget their pasts.

May God Bless Them Always....!!

Reported by,

Nithiya Shan.