Unforgettable Memories at Zoo Negara & Tadika UM (Chiau Yen)
Overall, there is only one word I can use to describe the days we spend our time in Zoo Negara and Tadika UM and that word is exhausting.....Though I say it is an exhausting day, what I learnt and experienced is beyond any words can describe. We started off with our volunteer program on 8th May 2015 and 15th May 2015 in Zoo Negara. There was a total of 11 members from our group and all of us had a memorable experience during these two days.
My first day at Zoo Negara, I was assigned by the person in charge there as a helper to the zoo keeper in the herbivore area. We started off with a short briefing by the person in charge there about our duties, break time and some other relevant things. After briefing, we followed our zoo keeper to our respective working place.
Upon arrival at our working place, we were given instruction by our zoo keeper to change our shoes into boots. Belief it or not....There goes our first experience of wearing a pair of boots, After changing into boots, we followed our zookeeper and took the cleaning tools from a hut where everything was kept and we began our volunteer job by sweeping the leaves on the ground in the place where the animals such as deer, tapir, porcupine, goat and many more were staying.
After sweeping, we then helped our zoo keeper to feed the animals. Feeding the animals was an excitement for us. It was a once in a lifetime experience for us as that is the only time where we are able to get so close with the animals.
It was the same on my 2nd day at Zoo Negara except my working place have changed from herbivore area to the reptiles. When we heard the word REPTILES...The first animal we think of are crocodiles and snakes. Again we did the same thing like on the 1st day except we did not feed the animal that day. Instead we experience another unforgettable moment when we were appointed by our zoo keeper to scrub the shell of the 100++ tortoise. After scrubbing the shell of the tortoise, we apply oil on their shell. It was really thrilling for us because once again we were given the oppotunity to get so close with the animals.
We may not seems like we are contributing much to the society by being a volunteer in the Zoo Negara but indirectly we are contributing to the society. During those 2 days in Zoo Negara, after our volunteer job ends, we always feel a sense of satisfaction when we looked at the clean surrounding there and how comfortable the animals are eating their food because we are aware that there were the results of our hardwork.
22nd May 2015 was the last day of our volunteer program. This time instead of going to the Zoo Negara, we went to a Tadika in University Malaya (UM). It was a tadika where all the children of the staffs of UM were sent. To be honest, it was a challenge for me to apply to become a volunteer in Tadika UM since we requested for such a long hour. But, in the end, we still manage to get their approval and we became a one day teacher to those children.
This was a memorable day for most of us who have not experience handling such a large group of children. The children were categorized into 3 groups of age which is 4, 5 and 6 years old. We planned some programs for the children on that day and we prepared some snacks as their presents. It was a real challenge handling those children. But all of us manage to overcome it in the end. Indeed we enjoyed ourselves the whole day teaching those children drawing and doing origami's. Seeing them coloring and asking them question was really fun for us.
Other than spending our time with the children there, we also helped the teachers there to organize things. Even though, it was really tiring but it was all worth while when all the teachers there really appreciate our hard work. After this volunteer program, I get to learn various things. I hope that other students would participate in this kind of activities if opportunities present itself. I would like to thank all my members for their cooperation during this 3 days and also many thanks to my supervisor, Dr Zalfa for all the support she gave us. THANK YOU!
