My Self-Reflection

My Self-Reflection

In these past weeks I did something that I didn't think that I will ever do in my life, I volunteered. Volunteering is the act of doing something to help others without any payment in return, people do it to make them feel better and for them to be a better person. Me and my group went to Zayed Higher Organisation for humanitarian care and special needs, it is a governmental organization that helps and teaches people with special needs of any kind. They have many specialists and trained staff to deal with them and teach them in a proper manner.

I can honestly say that I completely changed my view on volunteering, which I use to describe as a waste of time and energy. However, these past weeks I felt as I was really useful for the community or at least to the students that I was within ZHO. Every day I felt satisfied after our time is finished and was eager to do come back again. While at first I was really negative at the whole thing, but after trying really hard to do my best I felt happy and really glad about what I did. It really helps you remove the stress and pressure you may feel.

 I am proud to say that I will continue to volunteer in the future, in fact, I am still volunteering in ZHO even though our course is finished. I use to think that if I will do something, then I better get paid for it or it isn’t worth it, after this past month I noticed that I started helping others without realizing like for example picking up hitchhikers and drive them to where they want. It feels like everything is right, you begin to see the world in a more positive manner. This experience is really worth the try I recommend everyone to do it.

The Interview

this is my interview with one of the students name Humaid, he doesn't know how to speak in english so I did it in arabic and i'll translate it below the video.

Translation

Me: introduce yourself.
Humaid: My name is Humaid, studying at the Zeyed center for special needs. Im currently Teacher Assistant.

Me: In which workshop?
Humaid: The Office Workshop

Me : Tell me what do you do at the workshop?
Humaid: We teach the students how to type and use Microsoft Office, cutting paper and making cover pages. We also teach them about recycling, and how to print picture on cups and metal plates. I super vise the students and help them a little by giving some tips.

Me: For how Long have you been in this workshop?
Humaid: Around 10 years.
Me: I've been told that you were in another workshop, is that true? if it is which workshop was it and why did you transfer?
Humaid: Yes, I was in the electronics workshop, they moved me because they thought I'm smart enough to help the teacher in other workshops and made an TA.

Me: How long did you stay in the electronic workshop?
Humaid: for about 2 years.
Me: can you tell me what did benefit from all of this?
Humaid: I benefitted a lot and are very relaxed thank god.

Me: What did you accomplish in this years?
Humaid: I accomplished many things, earned some trophies and many other things.
Me: What do you think about the whole volunteering thing that is happening now? are we helpful or do you think we should stop?
Humaid: I am very thankful for all of the volunteers, we had plenty of fun with them and it is nice to meet new people. I hope you continue to come in the future.

Me: thank you Humaid for giving me you time.
Humaid: My pleasure.

4th Week Volunteering

This week was full of events, this week we visited the electronics workshops were we watched the students fix some old devices and making some new ones. one of the devices they made was the door alarm, every time someone opens the door a sound is made and a light is opened. we were told that the student with the highest mental ability is brought here. On sunday we didn't get the chance to interact with the student because Sheikh Mansoor I believe was there. so we only got to look at the student schedule and then saw the teacher presenting an old project in respect to us so we didn't go for nothing then everyone was dismissed. I'll upload the video of the teacher explaining, and since I am an engineering student i know that the content of the lesson is a little complex it is unbelievable that they are capable of applying it already, since we as engineers won't do hand on work until out senior year.

In addition, on wednesday we got the chance to see them working on some of their projects. Our teacher Gregory gave us a visit to check on us and see what we were up to. Furthermore, a reported for the Etihad newspaper were there and took pictures of us and our teacher she then asked a couple of question and recorded our answers and took my phone number as the group leader and told me she will contact me as soon as possible and is willing to publish it next week. 

btw: our course only required 15 hours, and from here we finished 16 hours. However, we will continue because it is gives that feeling of satisfaction that everyone seeks. I recommend everyone to try and volunteer.

3rd Week Volunteering

This week we went on and visited the carpentry workshop, I myself was very excited because when I was in high school I use to make things out of wood as a hobby so i thought i could give them some tips here and there. However, when we arrived I was shocked because they are on a different league than i was. They were making all kind of things ranging from ships to bookshelves. As usual our group split up to find a different partner. I found myself next to a guy who looked old compared to his other classmates, his name was Mustafa he was from Jordan. it was respectively easy speaking with him compared to the other two before him. On Sunday he explained to me that they were working on a new project that will hopefully finish on Tuesday, they only have 3 days to finish it and then he continued and politely asked me not to bother him while he is working on this project. We I visited him on Wednesday I saw the finished project which was a ship made of wood. I will let the pictures speak for itself.

2nd Week Volunteering

This week we went to the weaving and sewing workshop. We had a fun time interacting with the students and seeing them make some amazing pieces that are very hard to make, i can't even make a tie properly yet they who are so called disabled are making such amazing clothes. each one of our group sat next a student as we agreed, I sat next to a boy named Ali. He had tough time talking and trying to communicate but i could understand him a little, he was showing me some techniques on how to make a cover for my mobile after seeing that my mobile is broken. What is really amazing is the fact that we were told that this class contains student with the lowest mind capability. This is really eye opening, I recommend everyone to volunteer there.

1st Week Volunteering

Our actual first day was sunday, but unfortunately they didn't let us volunteer at the Autism Center as we originally planned because all the employees were females. However, the good news is that they made us volunteer in the Zayed Rehabilitation Centre. so we started actual volunteering in Wednesday after giving us an orientation and a tour around the place in Sunday.

So we first learnt about their different workshops, were people with different needs are taught different skills depending on their level of comprehension and understanding. There was about five workshops Electrical, Mechanical, Tailor and the office workshop. Our group stayed at the office workshop because we thought that we need to take it baby steps to learn how to interact with them because the highest level students are taken there. The experience was very opening, every idea we had about them and every situation we thought we would be in flied out of the window. It was like we were dealing with normal people that can't communicate properly (like talking to a foreign), given that some of them were child-like but being raised with 4 little brothers helped me dealing with them a lot.

A lot of things happened in this 2 hours, we befriended all of the class and had a lot of fun.

Human Rights Activity / Exercise #3

Working in pairs, discuss and choose 3-5 specific rights that relate to the different levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?  Mark on Maslow's Pyramid..

1.Freedome from slavery, Freedome from discrimination( safety)
2. right to marriage and family.(love,belonging)
3.freedom of belief and religion. (esteem) 

4. right for education (safety, esteem)

5.right to own property  (safety)