Camp OutReach (COR) is a Special Project under NTU Welfare Services Club. Through an annual Overseas Service-Learning Expedition, COR provides a platform for the Singaporean Deaf community to volunteer and be empowered through volunteerism; all while assisting an overseas community in-need.
This year, COR went to Nepal from 23 June – 1 July 2018 and partnered with Kavre Deaf School. The team carried out five main activities during their nine-day trip:
- Laid the foundation construction of a new classroom;
- Purchased a solar-powered water heater system;
- Conducted leadership and creative learning lessons for students in the school;
- Facilitated classroom painting by students to foster ownership; and
- Embarked on a cultural trail where volunteers and Kavre students hiked through Nepal’s mountains, while engaging in a Deaf Cultural Exchange.
Due to a growing student population, Kavre currently faces a space limitation issue where two classes are required to be conducted simultaneously in a single learning space. As such, having a new classroom is of top priority to the school. A lack of proper water heating system during the winter season is also an issue for Kavre and the many students (some orphaned) who reside on-campus. As such, the team decided to aid the school on these two aspects for Kavre, in order to better equip them in continuing their inclusive-centric curriculum.
The team conducted lessons on Leadership and Creative Learning, which introduced a more sustainable approach to education: peer teaching/learning. In order to foster a sense of ownership and empowerment, the team also engaged students across all cohorts to participate in the re-painting of two classrooms.
Last but not least, due to manpower constraints, Kavre students do not often partake in excursions or outdoor learning. Given the size of the COR team, they were able to take 35 students out on a hike along Nepal’s mountains while having a Deaf Cultural Exchange. Through learning each others’ sign language and sharing personal experiences on being Deaf/allies to the Deaf, both students and COR participants learned different perspectives in life.
Watch the project video below.
“My interaction with the Deaf students in a warm and nurturing environment such as Kavre Deaf School’s gave me a new perspective on how we should approach learning. It is not always about the place, the conditions you face or even the content – but the people whom you are learning with, are what sculpted your experiences.” Ye Jiexi, Chief Programmer
About Camp OutReach
Camp OutReach (COR) is one of the special projects under NTU Welfare Services Club (WSC). It is an annual project initiated by NTU students which focuses on working together with the Deaf community.
COR provides a platform for both the hearing and Deaf communities to volunteer together locally and overseas. It consists of adventure, cultural and community service elements which aims to challenge the Deaf community to venture outside of their comfort zone. Various projects of COR include an Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP) and local community services. These projects have been organised by both the members of COR and the Deaf community.
COR also serves as an ideal opportunity for their own volunteers to gain a better understanding of Singapore’s Deaf culture, thus forging lasting friendships within the Deaf community.
