Wai Rui Enn

As part of the Programmes Team in Project Luminaire, I was really excited to be able to work with the kids in Alao Elementary School and teach them the exciting curriculum that we had prepared.

I had prior experience tutoring younger children in Singapore and assumed that the process would be similar, and that everything would go according to exactly how we had planned and envisioned it.However, things turned out to be much different from what we expected. From acclimatising to the vastly different living conditions and overcoming the language barriers, to adapting to changes in meal plans and finding ways to engage with the children, we pushed through both the good and challenging times while learning to lean on each other for support.

But beyond just adapting to the changes and remaining resilient, we also shared countless precious memories with the children. Personally, seeing their happy faces became my strongest motivation to keep smiling and pushing through all the sweat and heat. I grew particularly close to a few of the children as well! Even though we were on this trip to teach and impart knowledge to the children, I learnt about strength, resilience, and adaptability through witnessing their daily lives. Each of them had their own unique personality traits and strengths - some were particularly creative and crafty, some were especially strong in languages, some were especially compassionate, and some were highly empathetic.Through my interactions with them, I learnt different ways to express love that surpass both age and language barriers, as well as different ways to show my affection and care.

Lastly, despite having initial concerns about safety and getting along with the people in the project, the bonding sessions and buddy system designed by the ExCos helped to create a supportive and caring community even before we reached the Philippines. I have also connected with and found like-minded friends whom I continue to cherish and grow alongside, even beyond the Project. The Project has been everything but what I expected. If I got the chance to, I'd choose Project Luminaire again.