“Throughout the six weeks, my confidence in my English listening and speaking abilities improved, although I know there’s still room for growth!”
I used to be kindergarten teacher and really enjoyed working with young children.
During a recent summer vacation, I participated in a six-week volunteer programme at the YMCA through the Bridges Programmes. In the mornings, I assisted in a parent-child playgroup for children aged 0-3, and in the afternoons, I helped with activities for children aged 5-7.
This volunteer experience greatly benefited me, as I was able to personally understand the local attitudes and requirements for early childhood education, while also getting more opportunities to practice my English.
Local early childhood education is much more flexible compared to Hong Kong. Children have the freedom to decide whether to participate in activities arranged by the teachers, who only encourage their involvement without forcing them. Parents are also willing to accept their children’s choices, focusing primarily on whether the child is happy.
I remember one day when the teacher prepared watercolour paints for a parent-child handprint activity. During this, one child, while exploring on his own, wiped a coloured sponge on his head, moving from his chin up to his hair, turning his entire head blue.
He looked very happy and satisfied, and the teacher smiled and praised him as “wonderful”. The parents didn’t stop him immediately, they let him play unti lthe end, when they slowly helped clean him up. To me, this was truly magical. In my over twenty years of experience, if this happened in Hong Kong, parents would complain and as a teacher, I wouldn’t be able to muster even a hint of a smile. The same situation, but different attitudes lead to different outcomes.
The YMCA staff were very friendly towards me as a volunteer. Sometimes I didn’t understand everything they said, but they were willing to slow down their speech to help me grasp the conversation better.
I look forward to the next volunteer opportunity from the Bridges Programmes. I hope to try different industries and find a job that suits me best!
* Client’s name has been changed to maintain anonymity.
