Saturday, January 26, 2008
We had a great time today. Since we haven't seen the children more than a month, we missed them dearly. And that is why we had been looking forward for today's activity to spend time with them. We had decided to bring the children out from the centre, from their normal routine to somewhere else in order to experience and learn about their surrounding. Thus, we had decided to arrange bringing them to Sibuga Sport Complex where we could have our walk around the lake and then play at the children playground.
As planned, we all gathered at the centre at 7:30am. Stephanie couldn't make it due to personal matters. The same with Titus. Cynthia Chee, our school's chief webmaster had volunteer to join us today. We were so happy to see the children again and so did they. Lee Jian was running around excitedly, especially with David around. Ka Nyan was excited that she tried to speak to all of us. Jing Jing stayed close to MsLat and sat on her lap, caressing her face, sniffing and kissed her cheek. It was a lovely sight and wonderful feeling to be with them. We brought along the new education material we bought from KL and also the materials from Ms. Angelique. The teachers got to view them while waiting for Chau Yin and Ai Lu to arrive. David brought some local delicacies and mandarin oranges to be brought along.
By 8am, we all departed to the Sport Complex. The children were all excited and ready to have fun! As we arrived, everyone was ready to have their walk around the lake. It was a lovely weather as it wasn't warm in the morning. Jing Jing was running leaving the rest behind, while Crystal ran to be with her. But she got tired half way, and Lee Jian took over. Everyone had fun, it was a good start of the morning. After that we all rested after completing one round of the lake. With the view of the lake, the children drank their water and ready to have more fun!
We proceeded to the children playground. Without wasting any more time, they climbed up and ready to play. The team members and teachers took care of them carefully ensuring their safety. Anyway, Ai Lu got scared somehow to slide down the slide, that shortly after few attempts, she gave a hand gesture in refusing to try anymore, she came down and sat at the corner watching, accompanied by Olivia. Meanwhile Ka Nyan got distracted when she saw the swimming pool next to the playground. There were few times they tried to run over and the team members had to chase them and brought them back.
By 9:15am everyone took a break and had their drinks and food. By 9:30am, the children's parents came and brought them home. As we waved good bye, already we were missing them. Their joy and laughter, were a lovely music and picture captured in our minds.
MsLat and Ms.Meryhati were already discussing on their next trip. The swimming pool! Since the children love water, we decided to bring them early March. Ms. Meryhati also planned to bring them one day to Sepilok to see the orangutan. That will be another great adventure!
H.O.P.E.
4:07 PM
Monday, January 21, 2008
H.O.P.E.
8:07 PM
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Crystal and her dad received the package from Ms. Angelique yesterday afternoon.
The package is for the Sabah Cheshire Home : Early Intervention Centre and the children of EIC. The package contains 12 Computer Softwares , 3 Packs of Vocabulary Card Deck and a Touch Screen for language development and early vocabulary development of autistic children.
Once again, on the behalf of EIC, we would like to THANK Ms. Angelique for the educational aids that will truly help the autistic children in developing the skills needed for their future
and we will always cherish YOU in our hearts.
THANK YOU Ms. Angelique
H.O.P.E.
8:40 PM
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Translation article from Chinese local newspaper
SM SUNG SIEW SANDAKAN SABAH WON
THE MAXIS CYBERLINQ 2007 COMPETITION
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW
SM. Sung Siew once again emerged as the champion in the Secondary School category in Maxis CyberlinQ competition two years in a row after proving themselves in the final presentation at Citrus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 16th December 2006. The team consisted of 7 members – Crystal Leong Sukyi, Low Gin Tung, Olivia Hon, Stephanie Chen, David Wong and Catherina Wong and a teacher advisor – Ms.Latifah Yusof Embun had named their team H.O.P.E.. Being the lucky number one to present their project with the theme charity, they presented with poise and concluded their presentation with a stunning video which allowed them to earn the first prize winner and grabbed two more awards namely “Best Mentor Award” (won by our mentor, Michelle Tiew) and “Best Blogger Award”.
SM. Sung Siew’s H.O.P.E. team (H: Happy, O: Opportunity, P: Passion, E: Education) joined Maxis CyberlinQ 2007 competition with the project – ‘Let ‘Em Shine, Too!’, which to help the children who suffered from autism at Sabah Chesire Home Early Intervention Centre Sandakan, Sabah. The societies nowadays are not knowledgeable about autism, or in other words, this neuro-developmental disorder is not widely known or recognized by the society. The children with autism have troubles communicating and interacting with other people and their literacy levels are way lower than us. They have difficulty in understanding the world around them. For this reason, many children with autism still failed to get the proper treatment and education and are locked up at homes.
Consequently, our project’s resolution deals with exposing the school community and the community in general about these special autistic children and as the children’s leading voice to spread autism awareness with the intention that the community will get hold of what autism is all about. Through this project, the community we targeted and aspired gets the chance to contribute in helping the autistic children through voluntary works (Charity Day, Family Day, Adoption Programme, Christmas Celebration) and activities to raise funds (A Cent A day and Mini Charity Concert) for the centre. Circuitously, this also creates awareness of the team members and the school community in general, of how much we should appreciate our lives and be grateful for it.
Everyone deserves the equality to grow and live and so do the autistic children because they are part of everyone too! Although our contributions to help them are minor, we can still make a difference for these special children. Every individual including you, are able to embrace their lives with just a minor but noteworthy help. Feel free to visit our blog at
http://cq-cheshire-sandakan.blogspot.com.
For further information of Maxis CyberlinQ 2007 Competition, you may visit their websites at http://www.maxis.communities.com.my
or http://maxiscyberlinq.blogspot.com. "Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it."
– Harold Hulbert
H.O.P.E.
3:07 PM
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Today was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Finally, after the long holidays, we met each other again. We were happy and excited to see each other.
Today was a very "special" day because we were going to open our Christmas presents from our beloved friend and supporter of our project, Ms. Angelique.
We meet up at the Reading Hall during the last period. First of all, we opened the package. It contains a card and 6 wrapped boxes. We read the Happy Holiday card by Ms. Angelique together and then distributed the presents to the rightful member. All of us were trying to guess what was the present. Finally, we unwrapped the present together and WOAH, a MP4 player.... (speechless) for each of us....that is so COOL! The BEST Christmas present we have ever got! The girls have metallic pink players whereas the boys have white ones. We were very happy with the presents and grateful for it and we promised that we will use them wisely.
THANK YOU MS. ANGELIQUE for the Christmas present and for the contribution you have gave throughout the project in helping the autistic children at EIC, letting them shine, touching the families, team members and the community. We really appreciate everything that you have done for the project and the lives of the special children. Thank you so much, Ms. Angelique. God Bless.
H.O.P.E.
8:34 PM
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
We received a New Year 2008 wishes from our great supporter and a wonderful friend to the team and the children, Ms. Angelique. Not forgetting, from our dearest mentor, Michelle Tiew. Happy New Year to you and your family too! Wishing you good health, good wealth, happiness, peace and love.
From Ms. Angelique 
From Michelle Tiew
H.O.P.E.
12:52 PM
Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a develepmental disorder that impairs the person's ability to communicate and interact socially with the other people.
People with autism have great difficulty in learning or intellectual disabillities.
They also have difficulty in understanding the world around them, and thus would rather keep to themselves or to a rigid "safer" routine.
People with autismhave a wide variety of symptoms, IQ level and behavioural problems.
A more common term used to describe this disability is Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD ).
Current global statistics state that up to a staggering 1 : 167 persons suffer from ASD!
Strangely, 80% of Austistic are males.
What causes autism or ASD ?
ASD is caused by dysfunction of the brain in receiving, processing, coordinating and responding to sensory information, a process which most healthy people carry out automatically at an efficient rate.
Research shows that the brain of an ASD person processes information in a perculiar manner and often at a lower rate.
Hence, their response to sight, touch, sound, movement and balance can be very different fron other normal and healthy people.
What causes such a brain dysfunction remains unclear, but the factor suggested include genetic, biochemical and metabolic abnormalities, enviromental pollution and even certain viral infections.
Mission
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting so many around the world. Autism is not mental illness, these children and adults think differently. Albert Einstein, they say was autistic. How many in the audience know that there are
38,000 autistic people in Sri Lanka?
So we as entertainers, urge you all to ‘
speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.’
Lets spread awareness of autism, particularly when numbers of autistic children are rising and we urge our government to also provide public services – who knows we may even produce Albert Einsteins if we provide education, health, specialist speech therapy for autistic children in our lovely island....
Desmond de Silva
MISSION STATEMENT :
To equip Autistic children with the required skills to lead meaningful and independent lives within Sandakan society and to raise awareness among the public on autism.
OBJECTIVES :
+To expose the school community and the general public to autism in our effort to raise awareness via the creation of a website, so that the younger generation and the public may be more sensitive to the needs of these strata society.
+To help the autistic children, parents, teachers and the centre obtain a better understanding about Autism by providing any resources at the website on the subject.
+To give funds to the centre, so the teachers can get proper training in the future.
+To get the school community to contribute in helping the autistic children, through voluntary work such as charity work (cleaning and mural painting) and activity (mini concert) to raise fund for the centre.
+To change mindsets of every person in accepting autistic people in their community, so that they too feel loved and accepted as a contributing part of the society.
+To raise funds to improve the facilities of the centre.
+To create an awareness of the team members and the school community in general, of how much we should appreciate our lives and be grateful for it.
+To bring light to the children who are developmentaly delayed by having fun with them through activities.
Activities
A Cent A Day.
Date : From 18.09.07 to 12.10.07
Venue : Donation jars will be placed at school canteens and teachers' staffrooms.
Objectives : This activity gives a chance for the school communities to contribute and donate even just a cent a day! All collection and donation will be donated to Sabah Cheshire Early Intervention Centre in October.
Charity Work.
Date : 06.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Along with Sung Siew community, this will be a whole day work on cleaning, planting and mural painting on the plain walls. This is to prepare the centre to children learning friendly.
Family Day.
Date : 21.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : A set of games, aiming for these children. With these games involving the team members, the teachers of the centre, the parents and the children, we hope the children will have fun and know that they are accepted among the normal people too. This activity will be held during the Family Day, which will be officiated by YB Au Kam Wah.
Mini Charity Concert.
Date : 27.10.07
Venue : School Stage, School Grandstand
Objectives : A mini concert, allowing different group of students, consisting of uniform bodies, clubs and individuals, performing dance, singing and even band performance. This is to realize their talents and be thankful for it. So they get the chances to entertain, be entertained and the same time, do charity. All donation will be collected and used for educational aids, materials and toys for the centre.
Future Activities
H.O.P.E. team believes that these children need love, care and attention. Thus, the team is going to continue serving the centre in a long run. Starting with the adoption programme, festive celebrations and annual family day. This is a continuous effort and out of the team's willingness as we believe help doesn't come in short period of time, if one wants to see the outcome. We hope by then, we will grow with these children and see them becoming somebody too in the society.
Adoption Programme.
Date : In November
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Team members are able to adopt their brothers and sisters at the EIC and get to know them, by spending time with them and teach them through the guidance from the teachers in the centre. With this, the children learn to be accepted and loved. As for the team members, this will be an eye opener and awareness to learn more about the children, learning to be patient and appreciate of what God has given to them.
Festive Celebration.
Date : 13.12.07 & 19.12.08 [Christmas]
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : H.O.P.E. team will arrange activities for Christmas celebration with the centre's committees. This celebration will involved all occupants of Sabah Cheshire Home, too!
Annual Family Day.
Date : The centre's anniversary
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Since our successful family day, we intend to continue this activity in the future. It opens chances of good interaction among the communities.
...and many many more to come!
Expenditure
Team Name - H.O.P.E
Project Name - Let 'Em Shine, Too!
The 9 Sparkling Shiny Stars!
The H.O.P.E. team members
[ Email us at chesire-smss@hotmail.com ]
Ms. Michelle Tiew - Our Mentor from Maxis CyberlinQ
[Email at TMICHEL@maxis.com.my]
Ms. Yong Wye Yee - Our Mentor from Maxis CyberlinQ
[Email at WYYONG@maxis.com.my]
Ms.Latifah Yusof Embun - Teacher Advisor
[Email at mslat@sung-siew.com]
Crystal Leong Sukyi - Team Leader
[Email at crystalleong777@hotmail.com]
Olivia Hon - Secretary
Catherina Maria Wong - Graphic Designer
[Email at diana_wong123@hotmail.com ]
Low Gin Tung - Treasurer & Video Creator
[Email at tung_tung92@hotmail.com]
David Wong Yeong Yeow - Content Editor
[Email at david_wyy91@hotmail.com]
Stephanie Chen Mei Ying - Content Editor
[Email at mystepchen@hotmail.com]
Dont remain anonymous and silent, speak up!
Let us listen to the voices.
H.O.P.E. Team would like to convey our gratitude and thanks to the following for helping, supporting and contributing in anyway possible in making this project a success. Thank You!!!
~ YB Au Kam Wah (ASDK) ADUN N.45 ELOPURA, the Chairman of Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre.
~ Mr. Leong Kwok Cheong, SMK Sandakan Bestari's principal and the Treasurer of Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre.
~ Sabah Cheshire Early Intervention Centre. The teachers [Ms. Meryhati, Ms. Nelly, Ms. Yati & Ms. Sin Yee], the committee members and the children!
~ Mdm. Florence, Sung Siew Primary School's headmistress and Ms. Jennifer from EIC.
~ The children's parents. Thank you for your co-operation & supports.
~ Mr. Lee Chin Hoi, our school principal.
~ Sung Siew Secondary School community! Sung Siew is the best! :)
~ Maxis CyberlinQ 2007.
~ Our Mentors, Ms. Michelle Tiew and Ms. Yong Wye Yee.
~ Ms. Yati, for joining us on Family Day.
~ Angelique and family, our dear friends in US. Thanks for supporting us all the way!
~ Mr. Lo, Mdm. Dayang, Ms. Yau & Mr. Patrick, for your feedbacks in our interviews.
~ Raymond Heng, our ex-chief website designer.
~ Mr. Ahmad Kamal and Mr. Wahidi Abdullah for accompanying us on the Charity Day.
~ Mr. Patrick Lim and Mdm. Chong Fui Ha, along with all performers & volunteers for the Mini Charity Concert.
~ Mdm. Tan Puah Eng, our 1st Senior Assistant, for allowing us to use your printer and computer.
~ Cynthia Chee, for helping us with the video!
~ Family, parents, friends, individuals and organizations that had come to support this project.
We appreciate it!!
From Ms. Angelique 
From Michelle Tiew