Update on Mentari

we were hoping to see the same children again after a brief hiatus at the end of the year. However, registration day on 17 Jan and subsequent Saturdays saw new children coming in to be a part of the Mentari Voluntary Tuition Project. We now have three classes - 10  Form 1 and Fm 2 students, 30 Yr 6 and 30 Yr 4-5 children. These are the numbers who normally attend. The registered number of students have reached 112. The numbers fluctuate due to school's  extra-curricular activities and Saturday classes. in order to cope with the greater numbers, we have split the the children into three groups and two locations.

Fm 1  - 12 noon to 2.00pm ( Ground Floor, Block 8,  Community Hall)

Yr 6 - 2.30pm to 5.00 pm  (Ground Floor, Block 8 Community Hall)

Yr 4 & 5 - 2.30pm to 5pm (10th Flr, Kindergarten, Block 8)

We try the best we can to cope with the greater numbers by limiting classes to mainly English and BM with Math for variety. As the number of facilitators are still small - normally 2 per class, we are quite limited in the activities that we can offer the kids. We have started a routine of written exercises, math and language written activities and a game or a song to round off the session. We maintain a translation mode to get children used to speaking in both languages. 

The main problem for the  kids especially those in Yr 4 nd 5 is still limited vocab and an inability to understand spoken English. we started off with basic greetings, introductions and to have the kids answer English questions in BM and BM q's in English. We also brought in books, magazines and other reading materials plus fun activity sheets to keep them occupied  -especially the those who finish  early. There are quite a number of bright kids too.

Trying to balance the fun element and the solid knowledge or skills that parents and kids expect to get out of the classes is the constant challenge plus the small number of facilitators. Thanks to our loyal facilitators from last year, the classes are continuing. But it's difficult to maintain the classes without more facilitators. We are limited in what we can offer the kids. At the same time we also need to provide the facilitators specific lists of activities that they can do with the kids.

We would like to build the Mentari Kids' learning experiences   around the following:

1- Know Yourself

2.  Know Your Family

3. Know Your Community

4. Know Your Country

5. Know Your World

Any volunteer can come in with stories, materials and activities related to any of the above. 

We welcome any volunteer to come in for at least 2 hours for any of the sessions if not for the whole session. Feel free to email or call.  The kids and their parents have hope in this project and in us.  We really need help to sustain it.