MEDAN, Indonesia : Twenty-nine Singapore youths spent two weeks
of their June holidays sweating it out in Sumatra to repair a
30-year-old orphanage.
Their trip was organised by Mercy Relief, a humanitarian
organisation supported by the Singapore International
Foundation.
The heat was a sweltering 38 degrees Celsius, but it did not deter
the team from building a second-storey extension to the Bani Adam
orphanage situated in the outskirts of Medan, in North
Sumatra.
The new extension is meant to alleviate the over-crowding at the
orphanage, which shelters more than 240 residents aged between
seven and 17 years old.
Their current dormitories, which house more than 100 boys, and
toilet facilities were also refurbished with a S$15,000
budget.
The participants had to live in the orphanage throughout the
expedition.
"Initially it was hard for them, especially the living conditions
where we had to sleep on the floor; the toilets are not really in
good condition; there's no running water. So the morale was a bit
low at points in time," said expedition leader Halifi Hussin.
But the Singapore youths managed to pull it off through sheer
determination and teamwork.
"This is the first time we are meeting each other. None of us know
each other prior to this expedition. So coming here is all about
team bonding and we really bond as individuals -- coming here
working together building up this place," said expedition
participant Juni.
It wasn't all work and no play; many of the participants spent time
getting to know the residents.
"They are actually very fascinated by our lifestyle in Singapore.
And I'm actually very fascinated by their lifestyle over here. It's
so simple. There's no stress here," participant Mohd Akhtar Yusoff
said.
This is the second time Mercy Relief has extended assistance to
people in North Sumatra.
In February this year, it provided aid to 4,000 families affected
by flash floods. - CNA
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nice... 
