MYG MINDS SPORTS DAY

On the 4th-5th of November 2010, the YAP participated in the MYG MINDS Sports Day!

What is MYG MINDS you might ask? Well, it is the subsidiary voluntary wing of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). They were holding a sporting event for their trainees(or the interllectually disabled) so that the trainees would be able to improve their confidence and self esteem through playing such games. The YAP were helping out with the games, as game masters or facillitators. However before that, we had to learn all the rules and the basics of the game, bocce.

So all the YAs came down on the 4th November to learn to play some bocce. It was definitely one of those games that looked easy but, boy, it could become slightly confusing at times. However, we did have a ball of a time playing booce with each other, and we thought we were really ready for the real thing tomorrow!

The YAs playing bocce

Deciding the winner of the bocce game. Not as easy as it looks, it requires precision, accuracy and a really good eye!

The YAs with Earnest, who is in charge of the youth MYG.

The next day, we were prepared to face the challenge ahead, armed with cones, rafia, and the trusty measuring tape.

Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to take photos of the trainees, however, this is what our YAs did during the Sports Day.

Besides having loads of fun, we learnt so much more about the intellectually disabled, such as how to work with them, how to interact with them and how to cheer them on. The most heartening, i think, was the smiles on the trainees faces when they completed the games, or simply just enjoying themselves.

Here's something from one of our YAs, Petrina and how she felt about the event

"The day started normally, and I had to get up exceptionally early on a Saturday. I had to drag myself out of bed and started my journey to Raffles Institution. Upon reaching the track at RI, we had a short briefing and soon, MYG trainees together with volunteers started streaming in. We watched as they walked past us, and all of them seemed really happy to be there.

The games started, and I was at station 2 with Sharon. The trainees that played the game had different functioning levels, some high and some low. Some needed help from the volunteers, while some were rather good at the game. At the beginning, I was a little apprehensive about how it would all turn out. As the games proceeded, I had the opportunity to interact with a few trainees, from age 9 through 19. Differences aside, they were actually like anyone else. I enjoyed myself that day, and I had a pleasant time interacting with the trainees. After that day, I learnt a lot more about MYG. Seeing their jubilant faces when they received their medals, I felt that the sun burnt everyone got was worth it. "

This experience was definitely something the YAP will remember, and despite our peeling skin and burnt faces due to the scorching sun, we hope that we could make someone so simply happy, even if it were just for a day.