Around the world in... well, 45 minutes

A word to adults -

The biggest complaint that adults have of this new generation of children:

1. They complain to much

Funny how we all have something to say when we ourselves are the victims of our own circumstances.

So we decided to try something new. An experiential learning 'trip' around the poverty and disaster stricken areas of Asia - through the eyes of a child.

Using whatever we have to create a learning experience

Our goal was to avoid using the poor and fallen as fodder for the usual "you-better-appreciate-what-you-have" lesson. People, regardless of their wealth and well being, are dignified individuals.

The real lesson: you can be contented even if you have little.

Making a home from 'thrash' to shelter 12 people

You don't need a PSP to be happy. It's not a crime to have one, but if your parents say no, you don't have to be angry.

If we knew the value of the things we use everyday, and what they can buy - hopefully we'd think twice before wanting that PSP - and be doubly grateful if we have one.

All their stuff - stationery, watches, mobile phones etc. What each item can do for a hungry friend.

We won't complain about school if we knew the future that is in store for us. It's only right to work hard because we've been given the chance to.

Hopefully it's a lesson well learnt.

Onward to camp!

Think Danger, Think Safe

Its' never easy for a person who's having fun to be aware of a dangerous situation. So we've created common scenario's for our Boys and Girls to recreate - and identify things that can possibly go wrong.

We sure hope that they begin to see the relevance of 'adult' rules through this first hand opportunity to craft simple safety guidelines - the very same things which bore them to death every other day.

End-Year Camp is approaching...Don't forget your packing list

Camp is just around the corner. Do take a look at the packing list here if you've not gotten one!

SEE YOU AT CAMP this friday (20th Nov 09) @ 3pm!

Welcome to 2010

A new year and new commitment to keep our BBGB families updated with upcoming events, downloadable calenders/forms and ways to keep pace with our activities.

First for you, parents is our 2010 Calendar of Events! Available here.

In it, you will find:

1. Regular meeting days indicated in blue
2. Closures for exams and school breaks
3. Major events
4. Events which you will all be invited to be an active part of!

There are two special things which we are doing this year:

- Our Anniversary dinner! Finally, a time to get our brigade families since 2004 for a reunion celebration!

- Overseas Involvment Trip - something we've always dreamed of doing. To allow our Boys and Girls to experience meeting the needs of another culture first hand; through community service and interaction. It is a great opportunity for parents to share a common learning experience with their children.

You are our partners in development of your children. Thank you for coming aboard and staying through the journey.

Here we are!

Hey hey, here are some of the latest updates since a long time back!

Time has been tight and things are moving fast. Yet He has been faithful. We learn through mistakes and more often than not, many of us found it a platform for growth.

The emphasis of a community service project is to create awareness amongst the Children that there are people who need their care and attention. Community service projects have always been heart warming for the Children and this year's was no lesser. This year's community service was different from the past few years'. Instead of visiting homes, which we almost did but couldn't due to circumstances, we decided to give it a go with Family Care Centres.

Goodie bags were given out. That alone was quite a feat. I'll spare you the figures...

Children had fun, learned quite a fair bit from their experiences and contact with the folks. Parents, too, expressed their keen enthusiasm and interests in helping out at the next project we have.

Conclusion?

Well done given the short and tight time line we had to work with.

Improvement?

Yes, plenty.

Satisfied?

Yes.

Gam bette!

Simply click on the link below to view the pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/9672bbgb/96J72ndBBGBCompanyCommunityService2007

P.S We realised that some of the Children have been blog surfing and some chanced upon this website! No wonder we get people asking how we got their pictures up online!

The Road to Esther Fez

Transforming... this
and this...

SQUIIIISHHHH!!!
BADGES!!!
AND SELLING THEM TAKE LOTS OF HARD WORK!

Getting the store up....



Dressing up and...
Ready to GO!
Our production table! Look at the number of computers and printers!

Look out for more!

GB ESTHER FEZ !!!

EstherFez cum Trading places 2006 has come to an end and Thank you
everybody for all your great effort.

Once again.. Praise God for EVERYTHING..........never ending praises.........
- the gold award for dance..
- the awards of the best seller and highest earner of the trading places...so on......

Thank you everyone- GB & BB!! I really enjoyed myself tremendously on Sat.

I enjoyed the fact that everyone worked together as a team with 28th Coy as well...

BB lending their support literally with the tripod stands... my friends commented that the stand was a good idea as it was part of learing skills and i proudly said that they were built by our BB Coy in support of this event!

What a testimony that BB& GB can co-exist in harmony!!

Yes! I was beaming because i didn't expect the Girls to perform well for the dance event as they were very lembeh during all the practises as you are all witnessed that even up to the last Sat Practise at school ..they were not up to performance standard.... WOOOWW Praise God they were great despite hitches in the Music about 3 times in the duration of judging. In Deed GOD saw us through... a small and relatively new coy can achieve so much is definitely God and a group of dedicated people..

Thank you Gloria, ALexia, Jasmine, Hui Ping, Caryn , Jo.S & BB for spending money .
AND TIME!!! SO much goes into this!



(heard from the gb girls that they squeezed Uncle William dry in buying stuffs...haha)!!!!!
THERE IS NO ESCAPE!!!! THEY EVEN MANAGE TO GET US THEM TO BUY STUFF LIKE...

THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE.................
.
.
.
2004?! 2 DOLLARS!!!! oh well... it IS fund raising...

ok... signing off (pics are from a phone cam!)

Sequel to knot lashings

Moshi Moshi! (hello! in Jap)

Today's another day of clove hitches, square and diagonal lashings.
Here's a little bit from today: Enjoy!





This is a square lash done by one of the Boys!





Talk about creativity :)




They got about tying the "Tripod Stand" as soon as we handed out the sticks and strings.
Simple instructions were given to them:

1. Tie a 3 legged stand, supported with illustrations.
2. Build a rectangle frame with sticks between.
3. Tie 3 sticks to the legs of the tripod to secure the stand.
4. Combine the tripod and the frame together...taDA!

Except for a few who enjoy jumping around with sticks, the rest went about busying themselves with knots and lashings. It really got me to think differently of the Boys when I see them put into fruition what they learn from the last meeting. Not to mention that the knots were tight enough to hold the tripod! This goes to show that they are ready for greater challenges when we get them to build bigger structures in the future. *Thumbs up for them!

Kids will always be kids...noisy, but they are still listening. Mischievious but still learning discipline. Behind every face of disobedience, it's more than just the act. It's an outward expression of what that is inside of them. I'm sure parents see much more of this. :)

Sometimes, just taking a step back to see them mingle in their activities opens our eyes to see what we do not normally see at the onset. In the meetings to come, God willing, may we see their hearts at work and not just the outward expressions.

Just some thoughts running through my mind as I upload the pictures and remember the scenes I saw today. :)

Gambette! (press on! in Jap)

Elgin

The Origin of the"Clove Hitch" knot

200506
Saturday's meeting was great!

Teaching children to do lashing is no easy feat. By God's grace, I'm learning 'patience' and giving clear instructions so that they would hear and understand. The very first step in today's lesson was to be able to successfully tie a relatively tight 'Clove Hitch' along the pole. That alone, took a whopping 15minutes! Clove Hitch, simple as it sounds like, has come a long way with a unique history and origin.

Here's the situation:
Uncle William and Korkor Elgin were teaching some of the Boys how to do a diagonal lashing when Haryudi, a P2 Boy, asked how the clove hitch came about. Well, being an ex-scout, I took the liberty and explained as best as I could to those whose ears were keen. Uncle William quickly gave a shot at me and said: "You mean there's a story to this?"

Alexia stared at me with a suspicious look and with eyes of disbelief.

Here's how...

There was in America, a fisherman named Hitch. Being together with his girlfriend for a steady 2 years, they decided to get married. Times were bad and Hitch knew that nothing short of a ring would do for a marriage proposal.
Clove was a simple girl. She didn't ask for material needs nor fancy gifts.
Both were very practical persons too!
Thus, on the engagement day, Hitch took out his all time favourite fishing line, "twine", and tied it around Clove's fourth finger on the left hand. He tied this knot.

It was later known that Clove could not undo the knot and her finger was turning blue. Many fishermen came together with a number of enthusiastic scouts from the region. They all identified and agreed that the knot was indeed a well tied and secured one. They decided to name it "Clove Hitch".

Well, this story was told by yours truly. If you ask how I came to know of this story, I can only reveal this much that is my creative juices blended pretty well in the midst of the lesson. :)

The Girls, in particular, picked up lashing faster than most Boys. This surprised me. But what surprised me even more were the lashing done by them! They were TIGHT. Boys were not bad too! Seems like we can identify a few 'potentials' for the Gold badge. ;)

God willing, may He lead these them to grow from Boys and Girls.

Elgin