Sent via wireless TWINHEADSaturday, February 09, 2008
Happy Chinese New Year by Dr. Shan
Happy Chinese New Year!!!
Gong Xi Fa Cai !!!
Kong Hei Fatt Choy !!!
Keong Hee Huat Chai !!!
Sae Hae Bok Man Ee Bak Hae !!!
Cung Chuc Tan Xuan !!!
Shinnen Omedeto !!!
May the lucky rat bring you good health,
overflowing wealth and sagely wisdom !!!
love, shan
Sent from my StrawBerry® wireless device!!!
The drumming guy in that Chinese New Year greeting ecard is Dr. Shan, one of our EXCO members. The ecard was sent to us via `his Strawberry device'. It was a rather sarcastic remark cos our president was given a Blackberry phone by this phone line company so that she can be in contact wherever she is. So, Dr. Shan came up with his very own Strawberry device which of course is not really in existence but he managed to make everyone of us laugh very hard.
Sent via wireless TWINHEAD
Friday, February 08, 2008
Technology is good
I am on two weeks break from work. This is the time for self realization. I am surrounded by nature now. This is exactly what I want cos I really need this break and deserve it. On the other hand, I am still so concerned about my work. I take time to download emails everyday just to be informed about what has been going on at work since I left.
Technology is just so amazing when you put it to good use. The forest is basically just at my door step yet I can be connected to the whole world, I mean literally, isn’t this amazing? The laptop and wireless internet connection were invented for a very good reason. We can actually work from home or wherever you are. I would like to suggest that companies let their staff to work from home occasionally cos it is possible and it can be done effectively.
It would be great if I could work from where I am now. I really don’t like living in Kuala Lumpur all that much but I had to because of my job. So, I really hope that miracle would happen. Let’s pray that everyone will be free to be wherever they choose to be and yet still be able to earn a living. This is what globalization should be, or else it is just pointless. It is so cold here and the air smells like strawberry…..
Technology is just so amazing when you put it to good use. The forest is basically just at my door step yet I can be connected to the whole world, I mean literally, isn’t this amazing? The laptop and wireless internet connection were invented for a very good reason. We can actually work from home or wherever you are. I would like to suggest that companies let their staff to work from home occasionally cos it is possible and it can be done effectively.
It would be great if I could work from where I am now. I really don’t like living in Kuala Lumpur all that much but I had to because of my job. So, I really hope that miracle would happen. Let’s pray that everyone will be free to be wherever they choose to be and yet still be able to earn a living. This is what globalization should be, or else it is just pointless. It is so cold here and the air smells like strawberry…..
Sent via wireless TWINHEAD
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Sphere Training
Last week, I was asked to submit a story to be posted on the website. Well, I did come up with the story but I guess it won't get the green light from the management. So, here is another story which will perish and never make it to the website. You know, the phase `human rights' is a very sensitive phase. So, here you go...
X NGO always believes in capacity building. So, both volunteers and X NGO staff are often put together to attend all sorts of trainings. Sphere training is a special training tailor made for humanitarian workers. This means that this training is very important. In fact, the training is based on a handbook called The Sphere Project which emphasizes on humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disaster response.
X NGO held a 4-day Sphere Training on 24th to 27th January 2008 at Sri Dinar Training Center in Janda Baik. The training was facilitated by Mr. C.K Pathak and Mr. Sriraman who hailed all the way from RedR India. RedR India is part of RedR International network, a humanitarian and independent voluntary organisation which has an executive committee composed of persons having a long track record in the field of disaster response, disaster preparedness, rural development, training and humanitarian work.
Upon arrival at Sri Dinar Training Center, Wendy and I were totally lured by the outdoor training facilities such as the endurance circuit, the flying fox, rock climbing wall and so on which were not included in our training programme but it was fine because we managed to tried out one of the training facilities.
The chalets were spacious and clean, surrounded by mother nature which we, the city folks are deprived of. The 4-day training programme incorporated both theoretical and stimulation activities. What I found to be really inspiring and comforting during the training was that the Humanitarian Charter in the Sphere Project was formed based on International Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and many other human rights related international covenants and conventions recognized by the United Nations under international law. At last, humanitarianism was explained and put in the right context.
On the second day, during the simulation session which started at 7am, we were asked to fill a bucket with the amount of water for survival during disaster response based on Sphere minimum standard, which is 7 litre to 15 litre per person per day. We were so shocked to see that the water is so little that it looks really pathetic.
Then, we were asked to fetch water from point A to point B based on the amount of water we think we need for ourselves and our family and it was not an easy task at all. The invaluable lesson learnt that morning was that we tend to take the most important and invaluable things in life for granted. It is such a blessing that we have water to drink and wash ourselves every day.
Another simulation activity was camp building. We were divided into two groups. One group was assigned to play the roles of the Internal Displaced Persons such as children, grandpa, grandma, mother, father, disabled sister and a cow. Then, another group was assigned to build a tent that could accommodate a family of 7 people.
It was a fun and laughter filled activity. We were given two plastic sheets and a few wooden poles. So, we had to improvise. We even took the blankets from the chalet to partisan the tent. Again, it was such a good learning experience. Time moved on without notice, the training finally came to an end. I felt reluctant to leave and go back to the city. It was a great training and I came away feeling inspired, motivated and empowered.
X NGO always believes in capacity building. So, both volunteers and X NGO staff are often put together to attend all sorts of trainings. Sphere training is a special training tailor made for humanitarian workers. This means that this training is very important. In fact, the training is based on a handbook called The Sphere Project which emphasizes on humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disaster response.
X NGO held a 4-day Sphere Training on 24th to 27th January 2008 at Sri Dinar Training Center in Janda Baik. The training was facilitated by Mr. C.K Pathak and Mr. Sriraman who hailed all the way from RedR India. RedR India is part of RedR International network, a humanitarian and independent voluntary organisation which has an executive committee composed of persons having a long track record in the field of disaster response, disaster preparedness, rural development, training and humanitarian work.
Upon arrival at Sri Dinar Training Center, Wendy and I were totally lured by the outdoor training facilities such as the endurance circuit, the flying fox, rock climbing wall and so on which were not included in our training programme but it was fine because we managed to tried out one of the training facilities.
The chalets were spacious and clean, surrounded by mother nature which we, the city folks are deprived of. The 4-day training programme incorporated both theoretical and stimulation activities. What I found to be really inspiring and comforting during the training was that the Humanitarian Charter in the Sphere Project was formed based on International Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and many other human rights related international covenants and conventions recognized by the United Nations under international law. At last, humanitarianism was explained and put in the right context.
On the second day, during the simulation session which started at 7am, we were asked to fill a bucket with the amount of water for survival during disaster response based on Sphere minimum standard, which is 7 litre to 15 litre per person per day. We were so shocked to see that the water is so little that it looks really pathetic.
Then, we were asked to fetch water from point A to point B based on the amount of water we think we need for ourselves and our family and it was not an easy task at all. The invaluable lesson learnt that morning was that we tend to take the most important and invaluable things in life for granted. It is such a blessing that we have water to drink and wash ourselves every day.
Another simulation activity was camp building. We were divided into two groups. One group was assigned to play the roles of the Internal Displaced Persons such as children, grandpa, grandma, mother, father, disabled sister and a cow. Then, another group was assigned to build a tent that could accommodate a family of 7 people.
It was a fun and laughter filled activity. We were given two plastic sheets and a few wooden poles. So, we had to improvise. We even took the blankets from the chalet to partisan the tent. Again, it was such a good learning experience. Time moved on without notice, the training finally came to an end. I felt reluctant to leave and go back to the city. It was a great training and I came away feeling inspired, motivated and empowered.
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