A refreshing story indeed. Amidst news of selfish and entertainment seeking new generation, we still get some news on selfless acts by the youths.
Its not easy to spend your weekend for the need of others, especially the underserved communities and the less privileged.
Reminds me of our projects in those days where we did similar activities for primary school students, taught at SMC, organised talks for secondary school students. Those were the days…
SHE is no ordinary teenager. While many of her age would spend the weekend hanging out with their friends, 18-year-old G. Hema Lattha dedicates her time guiding and teaching boys from the Divine Mercy Boys Home in Kepong.
Hema said she got a deep sense of satisfaction in teaching at the home.
She started in March by teaching some Year 3 and 4 children at the home two days a week. After some time, she started tutoring a Year 6 pupil, who had only started going to school at 10 years old.
Hema spends an average of two hours every Saturday coaching the boy in all subjects with special focus on Math and Science.
“There are challenges but when I see improvement in the student, I feel happy.
“In school, they put him in the weaker classes and sometimes those students do not get much attention. Here, I try to help him as much as I can.
“Every time I leave the home after my session, I am happy that I am able to contribute something to someone,” said the A-Level student from Help Academy, who lives in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh.
Hema’s interest in voluntary work has a lot to do with her family, her involvement in the Interact Club while in school and her personal beliefs.
Good use of her time: Hema teaching some kids from the Divine Mercy Boys’ Home in Kepong.
While her parents are very supportive of her work, her involvement in her school’s Interact Club was a crucial factor in her landing herself at the Divine Mercy Boys Home as she first learnt about the home through a friend during one of the club’s International Understanding Nights.
“That’s how I first got to know about the home. When I finished school, I wanted to do some voluntary work… I just wanted to help some people with what I have.
“My mother helped me to look for a few homes and my father will send me over to the home before I got my driver’s licence.
“It also has to do with my ambition since I want to be a doctor.
“Doctors help people, and I want to surround myself in such an environment where I can help people. I wanted to see if it was the right thing for me,” said Hema.
Apart from realising what she was capable of, her stint at the home had also opened her eyes to other things.
For instance, Hema is very touched by how the boys at the home view life.
“Some of these boys know why they are in the home. But that doesn’t bring down their spirit as they are always happy and positive about life.
“It is great to see that they are so happy and content with what they have and I am glad to learn that from them,” explained Hema, adding that she would be teaching her student until he sat for his UPSR later this year.
Hema was also very thankful to the home coordinators for giving her a chance to help out at the home as it was a big learning experience for her.
The Divine Mercy Boys Home is in need of voluntary tuition teachers for its Year 2, 3 and 4 children in the subjects of Math, Science and Bahasa Melayu.
Teachers are needed during weekdays, preferably after 7pm. For details, contact 03-6272 3568.
| 
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 
