TFSCALE(II) - Outbound Myanmar Newsletter

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  • 8/16/2019 TFSCALE(II) - Outbound Myanmar Newsletter

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     INSIDE!

    LEARNING THE NEW CUL-

    TURE (PG 2)

    SEE THE MONASTERY INCOLOUR (PG 5)

    HEAR MORE FROM THE

    SCHOLARS (PG 8)

    April 2016

    www.republicanpost.sg 

    A special newsletter produced by Diploma in Mass Communication

    students from School of Management and Communication

    Scholars help redefy edu-cation for those in need

    Ateam of 21 students fromthe School of Engineering(SEG) have embarked on a

    two-week outbound trip to Yangon,Myanmar as part of the Specialists’Community Action and LeadershipExchange (TF SCALE) programme onMar 31.

    The trip, meant for students fromboth countries to engage in holisticlearning and cross-cultural learningexperiences, will see the SEG studentsworking with their counterparts fromYangon Technological University(YTU) to improve electrical condi-tions at the Sandarama Monastic PostPrimary School in Yangon.

    The school -- run by monks to pro-

    vide education for the less fortunate– relies on donated computers to en-hance the learning experience for itsstudents, but unstable electrical sup-plies means that their usage is limited,

    which impacts the students’ learning.To combat this issue, the SEG and

    YTU students jointly devised andimplemented a photovoltaic system,whereby solar panels convert theSun’s energy into a stable source ofelectrical power for the school’s us-age.

    “This programme allow us to viewother peripheral countries in the eyesof an aid helper,” said Jeremy How,19, a second year Aerospace Engineer-ing student. “I cannot help but be re-ally thankful and grateful for the liv-ing conditions I have back at home. Italso make me feel more connected topeople who are in this programme,”he added.

    Noting that the trip was not justmeant to be about the execution of theproject, Lieu Chee Fui, 35, a Renew-able Energy Engineering lecturer atRP, pointed out that it was also meant

    GOING GREEN: Scholars from SEG and YTU did their part in giving back to society not only

    by helping people, but also the environment through installing solar panels. PHOTO: Veronica

    Maria

    The School of Engineering scholars from Republic Polytechnic met up with

    the Burmese scholars for their nal outbound programme of TF SCALE II, to

    nish what they had started.

    for the SEG students to build posi-tive relationships with their Burmesecounterparts.

    He added: “To me, no matter whatactivities (the SEG students) do, mostimportantly is that the students fromRP and YTU can work together tocontribute to the community by usingthe knowledge they have learnt andthrough the process, build up theirfriendships.”

    As part of the cross-cultural experi-ence, the SEG students were given theopportunity to sample and partake inMyanmar’s culture through its localfood and festivals such as Thingyan,the Burmese New Year water festival.

    “This opportunity is something abook can’t teach until we experience itrst hand,” said Dian Shahrudin, 19,a second year Aviation Managementstudent.

    B Y  NADIAH MOTOSIR

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    PHOTO ESSAY 

    B Y  NICOLE KAM AND VERONICA MARIA 

    Beyond classroom learning There is no teaching without learning - SEG and YTU scholars go out of their way to do both

    SPLASHING GOOD TIME:Gabrielle Tan(right), 19,was one of the many SEGscholars who were actively involved in the mini YTU

    water festival on 1 April, with a goal in mind to better

    understand the Myanmar culture. PHOTO: Nicole

    Kam

    HARNESING THEPOWER OF TEAMWORK:

    Scholars from SEG and YTU broke down into small

    groups to come up with a brief plan for the project that

    is to happen. PHOTO: Veronica Maria

    STAR SIGNS:Wai Lay (left) talking to the SEG scholars about

    the zodiac signs of those born on Wednesdays.

    PHOTO: Nicole Kam

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    PHOTO ESSAY 

    CIRCLE OF FUN:Ronald Lim (centre), 20, a SEG scholar learning

    more about the games the Burmese play during

    their leisure time. PHOTO: Veronica Maria

    LEADING THEWAY:Alex Loo, 20, a SEG student, showed the

    children from the monastery school various

    games and cheers in hopes to build a bond

    with them. PHOTO: Veronica Maria

    As part of their service learning, the scholars had

    the opportunity to experience teaching children

    from the monastery school how to put together

    ‘llittleBits’ – an electronic building block circuit.

    PHOTO: Nicole Kam

     TEACHER FOR ADAY:

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    TFSCALE II OUTBOUND NEWS

    Soaking in the Myanmar culture

    B Y  NICOLE KAM AND VERONICA MARIA

    D

    renched and armed withplastic cups, bowls and wa-ter pistols, they emptied

    their containers of water over eachother as pop and electro music blaredfrom the speakers, with the occasion-al sound of laughter lling the air.This event brought the two groups ofscholars together, despite their cul-tural differences.

    Celebrated in mid-April, the annu-al Burmese New Year water festivalwhich is also known as ‘Thingyan’,takes place towards the last four daysbefore the arrival of the New Year. It

    is also considered the most importantholiday for the Burmese. However,with it being the leap year, the festivalwill go on for ve days instead. It isbelieved by the Burmese that throw-

    With April known to being the hottest time of the year in Myanmar, the SEG and YTU scholars welcomes buck- 

    etloads of fun to beat the heat.

    ing water over each other helps tocleanse their sins and is also a symbolof purication.

    In order to give the SEG scholarsa taste of the Myanmar culture, theYangon Technological University or-ganised an internal water festival oncampus.

    “It was an eye-opening experiencefor me and it is very unlike somethingyou would nd in Singapore,” saidKerwin Tan Jun Xiong, 19, an Indus-trial Operations Management studentin RP. “I’m very glad to be part of itbecause it is a once in a lifetime op-

    portunity for us.”However, the actual festival wouldtake place only from 12 to 17 Aprilthis year, where walking down thestreets in dry clothes would be almost

    impossible.Khaing Mon Mon Aung, 19, an

    Electronic Engineering student fromYTU said: “I felt pleased seeing theSingaporeans enjoying our festival,especially since this is the rst timefor most of them and I am glad thatthey managed to celebrate Thingyanwith us.”

    Putting aside all religious and racialbarriers, the students were focused onhaving a splashing good time.

    “Everyone was throwing water atanyone, regardless of their differenc-es and I think that this is an interest-

    ing culture, as it helps bring peoplecloser,” reected Ronald Lim GuanXing, 20, a third year Aerospace En-gineering student in RP. “Even as aforeigner, I felt like one of them.”

    DOUSED IN BLESSINGS: SEG and YTU students took a break from their project planning, to experience a mini ver -

     sion of ‘Thingyan’, which is a similar event to the Songkran festival in Thailand. PHOTO: Nicole Kam

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    TFSCALE II OUTBOUND NEWS

    B Y  JENANI D/O SELVARAJ AND NADIAH MOTOSIR

    MINI CIRCUIT: Scholars from SEGand YTU use components of Lit-

    tleBits circuit to illustrate how thesame system is used in a biggerscale for other appliances such as

    re alarms. PHOTO: Nicole Kam

    Little Bits, Big Smiles

    Uneven roads, quiet high-ways and the occasionalstreet stall, make up the

    surroundings of a wield plot turnedschool. The path to Sanda Rama Mo-

    nastic Education Post Primary waslined with banana leaf plants and thechirpy voices of children playing soc-cer could be heard from far.

    At a glance, one could easily see thewhole school - a room for the monks, akitchen, a few classrooms, a commonroom and another separate two storybuilding which was home to variousmultimedia and music rooms. Theentire place was guarded by low risebrick walls.

    With respect for the Burmese cul-ture, the SEG and YTU scholars re-moved their shoes before steppingonto the mat in the common room,where they gathered to listen to aspeech by the principal of the school.The room was spacious, with sunlightstreaming in through the woodenwalls. There were whiteboards in thefront of the room and fans mount-ed on the side- an essential for theweather in Myanmar. The ceiling wasintricately decorated with handcraft-

    ed origami hanging from strings.With Thanakha applied on theircheerful faces, the children enthusias-tically watched them from the side ofthe room.

     SEG and YTU scholars made their way down to Sanda Rama Monastic Education Post Primary as part of their

     service learning trip.

    The scholars started to prepare forthe workshop that was happeninglater in the afternoon. The learningmaterials for the workshop includedLittleBits - a set of electronic building

    blocks that empower individuals toinvent anything from a remote con-trolled car to a smartphone device.The components of the set snap to-gether with magnets, no soldering,wiring or programming is requiredmaking it ideal for children to learnmore about electronics.

    The SEG scholars gathered ingroups and tried to x the Bits togeth-er, familiarising themselves with thebuilding blocks rst before teachingthe children. Those who did not useLittleBits before were seen readingthe booklet of information and scan-ning the box which had included thenames of the components for clarity.The room was lled with the discus-sion of possible combinations of thecircuit between groups.

      After lunch, the SEG and YTUscholars started the workshop rstby allocating monastery children toeach group which had a mixture ofboth groups of scholars. Despite the

    sweltering heat and the sight of stu-dents fanning each other the childrenstill paid attentively as the scholarspatiently explained the different com-ponents of the circuit and its purpose.

    Eyes wide open and leaning for-ward they held the LittleBits for them-

    selves and matched what they saw towhat they heard. Occasionally, theypaused and look around- an indica-tion that they had doubts to clarifywhich the scholars readily answered.

    After learning about the variousparts of the circuit, they starting put-ting bits and pieces together to maketheir own combinations. Some of thestudents decided to try designing acircuit with an alarm in it and usedrubber bands to tie it to their hands,so when they shook hands with a

    friend, the alarm would go off andsurprise the other party. The rst fewtimes they tried, the alarm did not gooff. They looked confused and triedadjusting the pieces. Sweat trick-ling down their foreheads, their eyesxated on the circuit, their nimblengers delicately attaching and de-taching the magnets away from eachother in hope of hearing a ring. Withsome guidance from the scholars, itworked.

    Their eyes lit up instantaneously,crinkling up as they smiled and threwtheir heads back, laughing. The schol-ars smiled as well, satised with theknowledge they were able to sharewith the children.

    By the end of the workshop, thechildren had made many differentcombinations of the circuit. They po-litely thank the scholars for the ses-sion and brought them to the diningarea for some local desserts beforeending the day off.

    The scholars boarded the bus, hun-gry for more knowledge and antici-pating their next visit, as the sceneof the children standing and wavinggoodbye, faded into the distance.

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    PHOTO ESSAY 

    B Y  JENANI D/O SELVARAJ AND NADIAH MOTOSIR

    Mirroring the culture Scholars from SEG adapted to the Burmese culture habit, when they visited Yangon, Myanmar for their Service

    learning.

    NEW PLACE, NEWCULTURE:The SEG scholars went to the pagoda platform ac-

    cording to their day of birth. After which, they performdevotional acts as per Burmese customs such as

    offering owers or pouring water on the statues.

    PHOTO: JENANI D/O SELVARAJ

    SOLEFUL 

    REMINDER: The SEG scholars remove their shoes and slippers be-

    fore entering indoors, adapting to the Burmese culture.

    PHOTO: NADIAH MOTOSIR

    PRAYER ETIQUETTE:SEG scholars adopt the Burmese practice of

    prayer by pointing their feet away from the Buddha

    statues as a form of respect. PHOTO: JENANI D/O

    SELVARAJ

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    PHOTO ESSAY 

    NEW RINGTONE:Haresh Pandian, one of the SEG scholars, giving

    a go at striking the hanging bells. He strikes three

    times with a billet of wood and declares “ahmya”

    (do share my merit in Burmese). People in the

    surroundings say “sa dhu” thrice in response to

    the action.

    PHOTO: JENANI D/O SELVARAJ

    CLEAN FLOOR,CLEAN SOUL:Loo Zi Yi, Alex, volunteered to clean one of the

    Pagodas in Yangon, Myanmar, as a good deed. The

    Burmese believe that keeping the Pagoda clean

    helps to clean one’s soul. PHOTO: NADIAH MOTO-

    SIR

     THANAKHA TIME:Kerwin Tan, an SEG scholar, got to try on Myanmar’s tra-

    ditional cosmetic paste, also known as the ‘Thanakha’.

    The Burmese believe that it aids in improving the skin’s

    condition, such as reducing acne and protecting them

    from harmful rays of the sun. PHOTO: NADIAH MOTO-

    SIR

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     TF SCALE CEC TEAM

    HUMANS OF TF SCALE

    SINGAPORE

    Humans of Tf Scale

    “ I was given the opportunity to help the monastery schoolwith the installation of solar panels, which I feel will improvetheir lives greatly. I also always believe in a quote by Mother

    Teresa: Be faithful in small things, because it is in them thatyour strength lies. The experience and memories that I hadwill be unforgettable. This will be a country that I will want to

    visit again.”

    - NAVEEN S/O GUNASAKARAM, 20, SINGA-PORE

    AVIATION MANAGEMENT

    “My dream is to be a qualied engineer and also a mathemat-

    ics teacher. It’s been my dream to be a teacher since I was16 years old. I really like to teach pupils and I want to sharemy knowledge and the education I’ve had with them. Even

    though I am still studying in university right now, I volunteerto teach local high school students during the weekends.”

    - NAY HTET LIN, 20, YANGONELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

    “My happiest moment is when I got into YTU. I did not likeYTU at rst and I did not want to be an engineer. When I foundout that I could not study medicine because I did not meet thegrade requirement, I was very sad. When I chose engineering,I did not think through it, I selected it randomly. But because

    of my friends and because I got the chance to go to Singapore, Iam very thankful and happy that I got into YTU.”

    - THINN THIRI THAW, 19, YANGONMECHANICAL ENGINEERING

    Humans of  T f  ScaleMY ANMAR 

    JENANI D/O SELVARAJ NADIAH MOTOSIR NICOLE KAM VERONICA MARIA

    SINGAPORE

    Humans of Tf Scale

    Humans of  T f  Scale

    MY ANMAR 

    “I have taken part in a number of service learning project, and Irealise how fortunate I am to be living in Singapore. When i seethose who are less fortunate than I am, I feel both sympatheticand empathetic towards them as i know what it is like, comingfrom a less fortunate family myself. But now that my life has

    improved, i want to improve the lives of others as well.”

    - MUHAMMAD RYAN YAHSA, 19, SINGAPOREAEROSPACE AVIONICS