For some reasons, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is showing as one of my performance objectives this year. It was in May when I realized that I haven’t committed to any voluntary event, and I suppose to complete two by end of the year.
I browsed through the intranet and noticed that there are quite a few upcoming events. I enrolled to help the outing with children at Jurong Bird Park. The event is on Friday, so I checked with the organizer if it means we need to take a leave. She told me that I can book it under Volunteer leave, which means that my personal leave won’t get cut. Sounds good. I checked with my manager and she is ok with that.
Time passed and here come June. Little did I know that I will be so, so busy in the week, that I almost has no time to go to toilet (gross!). Calls after calls, deliveries after deliveries - I was rushing just to meet the deadlines of the day. Thursday was the day when I need to make tough decision. I finished my Thursday deliveries at 7pm, but there was a list of items that I have to finish by Friday… by which I will be away. I got few options – to cancel my voluntary event (which I know I will regret), to send email saying that I can’t meet my deadline (which I know I will feel uneasy anyway on Friday), or… to stay in the office now and finish my work. I pick the last option and stay in office until past midnight. I felt awfully tired back home, but at least I’m glad that I have don’t have to disappoint anyone.
Ok, I ‘m done with the prelude. Now here is the event itself!
Despite sleeping at around 2am, I woke up before 7am and felt quite fresh. I showered, packed, and took MRT all the way to Boon Lay. The park direction was pretty clear. I took bus 251 and reached the Jurong Bird Park at 8.40am… 20 mins earlier than the planned time. I have some breakfast, and then walked around the place.
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| The entrance to Jurong Bird Park - So flowery that I thought I got to Botanic Garden |
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| Finally a sign of Jurong Bird Park- the weather is perfect that day! |
At 9am, there were few volunteers around (definitely not 50 of them). The organizer was nowhere in sight. In the end, the Jurong Bird Park staff let us in to the park and led us to the Flamingo Pavilion. We chatted while waiting for the other volunteers and kids arrived. Most of them are based in ORQ, and they have no clue where is MBC =__=’
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| Entrance Ticket + Tram Tickets |
At around 10am, the group is complete. We were then split into 10 round tables. My table has 4 volunteers and 7 kids. Each table was given a tennis ball… and then the game started. When you get the ball, you have to call out one-person name and pass the ball to them. Smart icebreaker. We know each other names within 15 mins. After few more rounds of other games, jokes, and riddles, it was time for lunch!
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| Lunch with the kids :D |
The kids were getting impatient after lunch, and thankfully, it’s finally time to go to the park. Yay!
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| First Stop: Penguin Coast! |
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| There are a lot of Penguin in there! Some were really big! |
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| The two kids tagged with me - Yunie and Honie. Their brother name is Rizkie. All names end with "ie". Hehe. |
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| Flamingo Pool: The feather color is so unique! They said it's from food carotin they ate |
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| Breeding and Research Center - was tested with knowledge of different type of eggs |
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| The Cute nursery & learning room - Never too old to study! |
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| Outside the Research Center |
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| Swings at Birdz of Play |
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| Pelican at Wetlands |
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| A very smart Parrot @ Parrot Paradise - It can really speak as clear as human! it said "Good Bye", "Hello", in 3 different languages |
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| I don't know why they insist me to take their picture in front of these statues... |
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| Where next? At this point... they are already tired and the only way to keep them happy is by giving my camera to them T.T from here on, the pics are from them |
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| Museum at the Bird Discovery Centre |
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| The different phases of egg - it's actually scary |
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| Ostrich @ Dinosaur Descendants their legs are huge! |
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| Me in the tram - wanted to pose with Yulie but she was busy with the surrounding |
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| I think this is at Window on Paradise |
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Lots of awesome owls at World of Darkness. Snowy Owl included!
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At around 3pm, we went to the Pools Amphitheater for one of the main shows - Birds and Buddies show. We got the special reserved seats at the very front row! Saw another group of voluntary outing from Golman Sachs too! lol. The kids are given ice cream. Volunteer got some also when there was excess. Haha..
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| The Birds and Buddies Show - Pools Amphitheather |
After the show, we were requested to go back to Flamingo Lodge. There, the kids were given goodie bag filled with snacks, stickers, candies, and the Jurong Bird Park mascot doll (that's $22!). I was jealous at them for a second.
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| The colorful goodie bag |
We rested at the pavilion for around an hour, playing games and given answer on the amazing race crosswords. At around 5pm, the bus come and pick the kids up. Volunteer go back by themselves by bus.
Overall, I enjoyed the outing =) The children were all well behaved kids, so there was no problem at all dealing with them. I think they are all taken care well by the organization. Some of them have been to Jurong bird park a few times! Zoo also! and USS also! and look at their goodie bags! They are spending time with some Directors! I'm glad that the underprivileged here is well taken care of :) Wish them a bright future ahead!
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| Till we meet again, Yunie and Honie! |
Honestly, I feel that I am not much of "Voluntary" myself. I got free shirt, free food, free leave, free Jurong Bird Park ticket, and completed one of my CSR quota :p So I do have my share of fun. Haha.. Win-Win, agree? :p
Till the next CSR event!
ED
