2nd brainstorming

Our findings:

LOL!

2nd Stage of Brainstorming:

INTERNET SAFETY

Link: http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.file/mobj/mobj.1025.niacreport2006_final.pdf

Solutions to Internet Safety Problems:

1. Spreading awareness to make Internet a better place
2. Organise activities to let children know of the potential danger

SOLVING COMPUTER POLLUTION & RECYCLING

Till date, there are many organizations that help in collecting and recycling old products. Examples are: Cash converters, Salvation Army, and other second-hand shops that involve the buying and selling of second-handed goods. In addition, there are already second hand-shops where people are able to purchase items and slashed prices.

Under such circumstances, it is pointless to start a project on collecting old and used computers and sending them to recycling factories or donating them to other the needy ones. In addition, if considering simply promoting recycling to the community (which is less common), would not satisfy a service learning project since the thing is to serve the community. Anyway campaigning for people to recycle is just plain useless.

If redefining to a project that campaign to people to cut down the usage of computers since it wastes electricity, it is once again futile since we are not doing anything that actually benefits the community. Large scale campaigns like saving Gaia may have met its intended its target audience, but as an unknown group, who will listen to us?

Possible Issues: http://projectsday.hci.edu.sg/2009/05-Categories/8-Finals.pdf

There is no reflections, no growth, no beneficiaries, no impact on community, no sustainability, no long-term. It may not be able to work out.

HELPING CHILDREN (In Poverty or Neglected) IN EDUCATION

It is actually a myth that Singapore is a rich country and its citizens are well-taken care of. In fact many households earn so little that they cannot afford to give their children pocket-money for school, resulting in the students going hungry for the day.

In 1999, nearly 2,000 children did not attend school because their parents could not afford it. Mohammad Hirwan is one such child. His parents earn about US $600 a month, hardly sufficient for a family in Singapore. As a result the boy's parents had to take him out of school when he was nine. His siblings did not fare any better. All of them dropped out of school because of poverty. A technician lost his job and had no income for about half a year had to watch his two young children live on biscuits for days. A young divorcee cannot find enough money to buy schoolbooks and food for her children.

Other Case Studies: http://www.childrensociety.org.sg/our_stories/story2.htm

Related Organisations: Singapore Children’s Society: http://www.childrensociety.org.sg/

Related Information:

“Sunbeam Place

Sunbeam Place is gazetted as a Place of Safety for abused and neglected children in need of protection or whose parents are unable to provide proper care. At Sunbeam Place, we provide a caring and loving environment for children aged between 2 to 18 years old. At the Home, we conduct enrichment classes, character building education and counselling for the children.

Student Care Centre (Henderson)

This Student Care Centre provides before-and-after-school care for children aged between 7 to 12 years old. The children are from low income, distressed or single-parent families, and are sometimes left at home without adult supervision.

Under our care, we nurture them with the skills and positive family values to see them through their mid-childhood years. We also provide the necessary supervision in a conducive environment to enhance their physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.”

Possible Solutions:

1. Provide help as facilitators
2. Raise awareness; Fund-raising / involved in SCS Fund raising activities
3. Courses or Activities to enhance their development

RAISING AWARENESS & HELPING IN MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Muscular dystrophy (abbreviated MD) refers to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that move the human body. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.

Related Organisations:

1. Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore

How can we help?

http://www.mdas.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=36

MDAS needs volunteers in the following areas:

Organise activities and programmes

· Be involved in planning and executing social and educational outings

· Conduct workshops / talks on topics such as character building, job preparedness, skills training communication, music, art and craft

· Conduct learning programmes for various age groups, e.g. art workshops, reading & writing classes

· Conduct vocational training on IT related skills such as graphic and web designs

· Assist in our sports programmes e.g. swimming, Boccia and Power Soccer

Organise Public Awareness & Fund raising projects

· By helping us create awareness on Muscular Dystrophy

· Collaborating and participating in public awareness campaigns

· Supporting our fund raising efforts

· Planning and executing fund-raising projects

Volunteers are also needed in other areas such as

· Be a photographer at our events

· Write articles for our newsletter

· Provide logistics and admin support

Be a befriender to people with Muscular Dystrophy

Ya so after our discussion we decided on 2 topics / cut down to 2 topics:

Muscular Dystrohpy & Education