By Nur Syazwani Darzi
Sahabat Yadim IIUM members participated in a camping event where they learned survival skills to help themselves and other people in need. They were accompanied by professionals from Pejabat Belia dan Sukan Daerah Gombak and also an officer from Student Affairs and Development Division (STADD), IIUM. This camping was held for four days from 7 until 10 April at Kem Murni Kampung Jahang, Gopeng, Perak.
On the first day of the camping, all participants had their registration and ice-breaking sessions among themselves. They met together at IIUM campus, after which they dispersed.
The real event was on the second day of the programme. About 25 students gathered at main staircase in front of the Rectory before leaving for the destination. They left at about 2.30 p.m by bus and reached at the camp site about 8.00 p.m. They were provided with a few tents and needed to fix them up by themselves. It was a new experience, especially for those who never know how to fix the tent. After that, they were given some time for refreshing, followed by a dinner together and later had a good rest to prepare for activities on the next day.
The third day of camping was most challenging and activities were tiring. After the fajr prayer, the participants did some light exercises and had breakfast. After that, they were instructed to gather in the hall for first aid kit lessons. They were showed a collection of supplies and equipment and taught the purpose for each of the equipment and how to use it in the right way. This was essential for saving other’s life. In the first aid kit, they had ice pack, scissors, sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages, antiseptic wipes and adhesive tapes. Each of these items has different purpose of use.
The participants were also taught the basic water rescue. Here, the instructor, Alif Fariss, taught them how to save people in the water. He said, œIn recreation places usually accidents can happen. So, we have to be aware of everything that might happen around us.
He taught them how to use the rope for saving people who are drowned in the water. This is because people who drowned have three times energy than common people. So, to save the victim, people should not simply jump into the water. It may lead to danger. He advised that to save people who drowned, “we just need to use anything that is near to us.” For instance, “the branch of the trees, long stick and if you have a rope, it could be more reasonable.”
After that, participants were given some time to rest, had lunch together, performed zuhr prayer and prepared themselves for the next activities. About 2.30 p.m, they had activities of jungle trekking and water tubing. For jungle trekking, the participants were accompanied by many trainers in order to ensure the safety of the participants. There were many challenges that participants faced when they walked from the camp to the river. Then they had to cross the river and hiked the unknown-named mountain till they reached its peak. After that they had a photography session, then moved down until they met the river for the next activity which is water tubing,
Participants and trainers had been provided with life jackets, tubes and helmets for safety. Everyone went into the river for half an hour. Unfortunately, they could not proceed with the activity since the water level kept increasing. Moreover, people were asked to move out from the river and went to the camp by taking a ride on a lorry. It was such a fantastic feeling to ride on a lorry together with friends.
At night, after having dinner participants were taught how to read compass. Each group was given a compass and a map. They were taught that there were two ways to read compass; by using a bearing and also by using the direction. Then, after having done the compass reading session, they had supper and went to sleep.
On the last day of the programme, everyone agreed to do water tubing once again as the earlier attempt was unsuccessful. So, everyone went to the river by taking a lorry ride. Water tubing started far away from the camp and ended up at the camp tent. It was really a great experience for them.
As the programme ended, all of them wrapped up and did some evaluation. They packed up their things and dismantled the tents; everyone then took a lorry ride to the bus which was ready to take them back to the campus in Gombak.***
-Picture at the peak of the mountain.-