Leading with a heart in SEG’s ISLP to Batam

Muhammad Mustaqim Bin Abbas (far left) and Fathin Nurain Binte Azmin (centre) taking charge and leading the children on the second day of the trip. (Photo by: Sally Gloria Manik)

For most, leading a group of students is not an easy task. It requires patience, confidence and charisma. RP students Fathin Nurain Binte Azmin, and Muhammad Mustaqim Bin Abbas, displayed these attributes when they led their fellow RP students during an International Service Learning Project (ISLP) to Yayasan Dunia Viva Wanita.

Over five days, Fathin and Mustaqim, along with 22 other student volunteers helped to teach new concepts to the children with a specific theme each day, such as ‘Design of Experiment’ and ‘Safety’. They also helped to revamp the classroom of Yayasan Dunia Viva Wanita, cleaning the classroom and painting the walls with the theme ‘Under the Sea’.

Fathin and Mustaqim also brought smiles to the children’s faces by playing games, singing songs and teaching them new concepts.

Fathin, 21, who is from the Diploma in Industrial Operation and Management, said she volunteered for the ISLP as she wanted to help the needy children in Batam, Indonesia. She was also curious about the students’ environment.

“I don’t really have the intention to be the leader,” Fathin said. “Whenever I can help, I will help the team. For instance, getting the attention from the kids, helping those non-Malays to actually talk to the kids, explain what they’re doing.”

Mustaqim, 20, said he stepped up to lead as he only wanted the best for the kids. “I want the program to go smoothly, and the kids to be happy,” said the Diploma in Sports and Exercise Sciences student.

According to lecturer Nugroho Kristianto, one of the lecturers who led the trip, both Fathin and Mustaqim had done a good job and their actions had even exceeded his expectations. On top of that, he mentioned both leaders performed exceptionally well, taking initiative in situations others would not.

Student volunteer Christstela Kai En Ravikumar, who went for the trip, agreed. The 17-year-old said Fathin was “a natural with the kids” and that “she’s able to interact and communicate with everybody”, making lessons in class fun for both the children and volunteers.

Likewise, for Mustaqim, Christstela mentioned that he “he always stepped up and helped others,” never hesitating to help out other volunteers and communicate with the kids.

Mustaqim said his aim was to keep things organised. “With kids, it’s really chaotic, because they are always trying to find something to do. So we, we better give them something fun, which is also educational so that they would have fun and learn at the same time,” he said.

Mustaqim said he also wanted to ensure the kids had a good time. “The teachers (at Batam) have been telling them that students from Singapore will be coming and for them to make time for us, we will have to give them a good time.”

Both Mustaqim and Fathin’s effort in teaching and leading certainly paid off, as the kids would come to class excited each day, wanting to learn more from them – even asking both leaders repeatedly to come back and visit them; truly showing how both student leaders have forged a tight bond with the kids.

Needless to say, both student leaders had made a positive impact on the kids through their leadership. When asked if she would lead another ISLP in the future, Fathin responded without a hint of hesitation: “I would do it.”