YEP Yunnan March 2016

Youth Expedition Project (YEP) to

Yunnan, China in March 2016

Accompanied by Mr Chua Tji Leng and Ms Annie Ong, 25 students mainly from School of Engineering (SOE) and School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HMS), embarked on a 14-days Youth Expedition Project (YEP) to Yunnan, China. This trip, funded by the National Youth Council (NYC), took place from 28^th March to 10^th April 2016.

From strangers, the two-weeks adventure in Yunnan provided numerous opportunities for everyone to bond and forge stronger friendships. All of us were immersed in a variety of activities which includes teaching primary school students from Yaonan Village Primary School, assisting in fence building, cooking meals as well as participating in home visits to gain first-hand experience into the villagers’ daily lives. Despite facing obstacles along the way, we managed to support each other and worked together to attain our purpose for this trip – that is, to serve the overseas community and learn from one another. Majority of the team members would agree that this trip has been a fulfilling experience as we benefitted from the service learning and we are grateful for having given the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful trip. Now, let’s hear personally what the members have to share.

 This YEP allowed me to visit the homes of 2 children. The 2 days of house visits were really memorable to me. I observed how happy the children were at the smallest things such as playing on a tree branch, plucking leaves, or throwing stones into a puddle of water. I admire how peaceful an afternoon can go by just sitting with their family eating nuts, exploring their crops field or even just chatting with them. I saw how their families continue working hard to make their lifestyles better such as working despite having injuries. The families were also thankful with what they already have despite being underprivileged. This YEP made me realized how fortunate we are in Singapore to have stable housing to live in and many job opportunities for people to earn their living. I also realized that spending time with friends and family, even simply just sitting down together to have a chat can be really enjoyable. I would definitely want to embark on another YEP trip to help the people in the underprivileged countries.

Koh Jing Xuan

Year 3, Early Childhood

From appreciating little presents given to them to going on hour-long hikes, the children over in Yunnan sure know how to enjoy the little things in life. It makes me appreciate what I have and strive to give more to help the underprivileged. The hikes we went on as a group were really enjoyable as well. Although it was a bit far, we entertained each other along the way and got closer together as a group. These are the moments I will never forget.

Glen Tan

Year 3, Biomedical Engineering

Going for the YEP trip to Yunnan had been a fruitful learning experience for

me. Apart from exploring new places, I managed to establish new friendships with people of diverse backgrounds. During the house visits, I was given the opportunity to learn on the different family types and the lifestyles they lead. It made me realise on how fortunate I was to be living in Singapore. The children may not have much, but they savour everything that they had. Overall, this trip changed my perspective towards life and that is to always persevere in every task that I do, and find happiness in the little things. After all, it is the little things that make life big.

Lydia (Left)

Year 3, Early Childhood

Throughout this whole trip, it is really an eye opening for me because the environment, the way they live is totally different from Singapore. I think we are too pampered living in Singapore that sometimes we forget to think about others that are way worse than us. It was truly a great and meaningful experience that i can share with all my friends and family about. We should definitely appreciate the little things that we have in Singapore. It was sad to see that even little things we give them it gave the children so much joy and happiness. I really hope that i will be able to continue on helping those underprivileged people in Singapore and brings joy to their life as well.

Syazwani (Middle)

Year 3, Early Childhood

This trip has been an amazing and worthwhile two-weeks for me. Being able to meet people from different walkways of life and experiencing  things that I would not be able to do in Singapore; those were the best things that happened to me during the trip. We are really fortunate to live in Singapore, being able to access to everything and anything, while the kids there are just happy with the things that they have. One main takeaway I had from the trip is that, simplicity is happiness. Even with the simplest things in life, you can be happy. I’m looking forward for the next trip to Yunnan!

Peggy Yeo

Year 3, Biomedical Engineering

This YEP has been a fruitful and beneficial one for me. I had the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of a different culture. We followed one of students for the tomb sweeping. This made me learn the importance of their ancestors in the culture.

Moreover, this trip has gifted me with some wonderful souls in the name of friends. Whatever it was -good or bad, we did things together and had an awesome time over in China. Last but not least, this YEP trip would remain close to my heart due to the things that I have learnt and seen-be it the cute little reactions the kids give me or the simplest thing like being grateful of things you have in life. Overall, it would be remembered as a beautiful journey when I look back in time to come.

Subramaniam Shangari

Year 3, Biomedical Engineering

Although it is the second time going for yep, it is still an enriching experience for me. Interacting with the locals there taught me to appreciate and cherish the things  and people around me. The two weeks in Yuxi has been a very meaningful time for me, we were supposed to teach the children, but I feel like I learnt more from them instead. Seeing how the little things in life can bring so much joy to them, I realised that life is so much more than just earning big money and getting good grades. If given the opportunity, I'll definitely go the third time.

Wong Yuan Sheng

Year 3, Biomedical Engineering

Going on three YEP trips has given me many opportunities to grow personally and develop leadership skills. If you were to ask me why, I’d tell you that I Go every time because I love spending time with the children and I love doing any project work that would help them in any way possible. If given a chance to go again I would sign up in a heartbeat.

Matthew Philip

Year 3, Biomedical Engineering

I always believe that it's the small things that matters. I cannot do everything but I can do something. I don't think I could make a difference in someone's else life but all I wanted to was to put a smile on the faces of the children in Yunnan. Through this trip, I have learnt that simplicity was the ultimate sophistication. They lived by no rules, no luxury or material items we could enjoy, but they are contented with all the small little toys they they made out of nothing. They treasured every moment with us. This definitely motivated me to continue helping the less fortunate after this YEP trip.

Jackson Ang

Year 3, Aerospace Electronics

YEP trip is not like any other study trip! The experience gained enriches students to be more hardworking, helpful and considerate. In this trip, it also enlightened me to be grateful for what i have in Singapore, because the children are contented with the minimal stuff they owned. Honestly, I definitely gained a lot more from the children in China than what i hoped to give them. I feel very honored and privileged to have be given this opportunity in NP.

Vanessa Loh

Year 3, Aerospace Electronics