An evening with Buku Jalanan Chow Kit

Sunday 11 June 2017, I visited Buku Jalanan @Chow Kit. I was there with my parents to deliver 70 Sahur (pre-dawn) packs from the RAMADAN BLESSING IN A PACK PROJECT to the children who attend Buku Jalanan Chow Kit (BJCK) and was invited by Cikgu Rahayu the lady in charge of this project to stay and observe what they do every Sunday night with these kids.

Me and Cikgu Rahayu

                                    
A group of 12 volunteers from Taylor's college who come along to teach Maths were busy setting up the area to be ready for the night. First they swept up the Loading Bay area of Alka Ria building. Next they spread out  tarpaulin sheets on the ground. The sheets are given a good clean wipe because the volunteers and the children will be sitting on these sheets for their lessons. 

Setting out the tarpaulin sheets

Tables were set up on the side for the ''buka puasa' meals.The food arrives and they got busy setting them up.

Slowly one by one I notice the kids coming in.They all have exited looks on their faces.They run up to Cikgu Rahayu greeting her. 
When it was almost time to break fast, the children get in an orderly line to take their food. They then sit in neat rows waiting for the call to break fast. My dad mentioned that they are the most well mannered kids he has seen in a long time.

Taylor's volunteers getting ready for dinner

Having a chat with Ms.Hardeep -Project head for Taylor's

Group from Taylor's college.

                                                                                               

Buka puasa

After eating they gather the plates, dispose them and they get ready for their prayers. It was my very first witnessing how the Muslims pray.

After prayers little tables are set up for the children to write on. By this time it was 8.15pm. The only light source they have is from the orange /yellow street lights. 

Before lesson began today they had a small treat by Ms.Marion Diosay and her team doing a puppet show about animals. The children seemed to enjoy it.

I did not stay till the end of the session. I said my goodbyes to Cikgu Rahayu. 

On my way home I did ponder on how lucky I am. I have a comfortable chair and a big study table with my very own table lamp. I am privileged to be able to be homeschooled by my mom and I have a huge collection of books and resources at my disposal. I saw happiness and determination on the faces of the children who had almost nothing but eager to learn English, Maths & drawing once a week by a variety of volunteers. I will definitely come again to Buku Jalanan and volunteer my time teaching maths and maybe I will be able to bring along more pencils, color pencils, coloring or drawing pads and writing books.

Another 70 Sahur (pre-dawn) packs will be delivered to Buku Jalanan Chow Kit on Sunday 18th June 2017. Thank you to all who contributed one way or another to the Ramadan Blessing in a Pack project.

*From theSundaily (13 July 2016)
most of the children and their parents are not homeless, but struggle to make ends meet, let alone provide educational help for their children.There are roughly 74 children from 45 families who attend the weekly sessions. the initiative came about because of the huge number of children living in the area who would usually play by the busy roadside or loiter about after school as they waited for their parents to return home from work.