9.30-12.00 noon- CSI with Special Kids alt REACH conducted a second programme for the Special Kids from Tanah Rata. The children were led to a scenic picnic spot beside a very clean river. The day started off with some songs and ryhthmic activities led by ‘aunty’ Carrol, They were treated to a picnic by the river with homemade buns and curry puffs. With the crystal clear river running beside us the kids and caregivers were quick to take the opportunity of having a “cold” but refreshing dip in the river. The squeelsas a result of the water being cold were soon replaced with laiughter and merryment and it was difficult to get them to come out again (mind you the water was 16 degrees). After finally getting all the kids and adults out, the session continued with a CSI session conducted by Melody. It was another beautiful morning spent in the environment with truly special children.

2.30-5.00 pm – CSI with Dr.Liau alt The good sunny weather of the afternoon was not wasted as a special CSI Training programme was conducted by Dr.Liau for Melody and her friends, Melody had managed to rope in Yuen Yuen, Klaviis and her visiting relatives and for the CSI programme. The students who are on holiday were invited to become co-facilitators for upcoming river monitoring programmes andfuture sessions with the schools. REACH is in constant search for young and eager volunteers to carry out the programmes with the local community. On that note we have found an excellent all rounded volunteer in Melody Voon. She is one of the pioneer CSI trainers under the fine tutoring of Dr.Liau. alt REACH would like to invite more young volunteers to come forward and help spread the environmental message.

It was a Saturday like none other, it had been raining heavily the whole week …. so imagine everyone’s surprise and the prayers of thanks when the day started out with the brighest sunshine Camerons has had in days 🙂 (p.s in rained again on Sunday so guess the break in the weather was really due to allow this programme to be conducted as planned)

The kids arrived bright and early and our activities began with actions songs. When asked what songs they knew by heart… believe it or not it was the Negara Ku. So we all stood and  sang it out loud,  Was a nice change to hear the kids sing it with pride and not have to be forced as I remember that when I taught secodary school kids I had to force them to sing and often they would just lip synch it.

These kids are indeed very Special; even with their limitations they participated in all the activities with eager enthusiasm. They sang, marched, played a recycle game and even took a short walk into the jungle trail. They had a good time and one could see that they enjoyed being in the outdoors.REACH would like to thank the volunteers Angeline (for coordinating the programme with Rumah Kanak-kanak Khas Pembelajaran Tanah Rata), the parents and teachers from the home, Saras Melody and Erica for making this a truly special day and not forgetting thank God for the great sunny day:)

It was not just another ordinary day for members of Convent school in the Cameron Highlands. The field study trip on March 11,2010 was organized by volunteer members of Reach, who planned an exiting afternoon of environmental exploration at the junction of two meandering hillside creeks. The focus was to educate the youth on the measurement of health, cleanliness or degradation in a given watershed. Learning was focused on exploring the indicators of a healthy aquatic ecosystem compared to an unhealthy system, mainly testing for the presence of macro invertebrates and simple temperature,pH and dissolved oxygen content tests were conducted and discussedas well. The kids gathered around in amazement as Dr Liau and other volunteers collected macro invertebrate specimens from the water and Dr Liau explained the significance of these aquatic invertebrates as indicators for both a healthy or polluted stream.

The aim of the CSI programme, is to instill a sense of responsibility among the students and teachers of Cameron Highlands in the care of the river both aesthetically and its importance to us as drinking water. This is done firstly through the Training of the trainers of Programme and later through the CSI programmes conducted with the students by the trained teachers with the help of the volunteers of REACH.