Pupils learn about teamwork, leadership, trust and communication at workshop

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SOME 144 children from various schools attended the first of the four-day Kuntum-Marigold Holiday Enrichment Workshop 2011 that started on Monday entitled “Leaders for Tomorrow” at the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort.

Sponsored by Marigold UHT Milk and the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort, the participants, aged between seven and 12 were taught concepts such as teamwork, leadership, trust and communication through a process of fun, games and short sketches.

The methods ranged from simple icebreakers to one station game where a participant was blindfolded and had to walk from one point to another, guided only by the voice of his or her team-mates. Another game saw the teams of participant sitting still for 10 minutes without a peep, certainly a challenge for hyperactive pupils.

For Sofea Mohd Shan, eight, from SK Bukit Rahman Putra, the workshop on leadership skills has been fun, and the Year Two pupil has made several new friends in her team.

Fun time: The children enjoying their first day at the workshop.

“The games were fun, and it was a little difficult at first to work with my teammates, but I’ve made a lot of new friends. I’m looking forward to the next three days of workshops as well,” said Sofea.

Jashien Kunasegaran, 10, Heng Yii Paul, nine and Thanoosh Theeran, nine, are from three different schools, although one might think they have been friends since kindergarten looking at the way the trio hang around one another throughout the workshop.

“I felt nervous at first, then I got to know my teammates during the icebreaker, and this workshop has been fun,” said Thanoosh, from SJK(T) Ladang Effingham.

Aside from the schoolchildren, the event was also a learning event for some volunteers as well. For university student Michelle Lau Wey Chin, 21, one interesting aspect was witnessing how her young charges demonstrated leadership skills as the workshop went on.

“As the workshop progressed, you could see how some of the children naturally took charge and volunteered to be leaders,” said Lau.

She added that leading her team of participants was also challenge, as each child had his or her own personality and traits.

Hence, it could be a little difficult finding the right words and motivators to cheer them up, especially after her team had lost a station game.

Menachy Manickam, 46, who had enrolled her son for the first three days of the workshop, said it was a good way for her son to gain exposure and meet people.

“He wanted very much to go for the outdoors workshop on the fourth day, and I might still sign him up at the last minute for the Eco-Warriors workshop on Nov 24.

“Basically, I think it’s a good way for him to become more independent,” she said.