By Nurina Farzana Zahra
ULU YAM, 29 September 2019 – “My expectation about this programme is for this event to run successfully since we carry IIUM’s name on our back, what more we are very inexperienced in dealing with special kids,” said Muhammad Hazim Bin Mir Munir rather apprehensive.
Muhammad Hazim, who was the programme manager for an event called ‘Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi’, was commenting on his experience of handling a programme involving special needs kids for the first time.
Speaking on behalf of Adventure and Recreational Club (ARC) IIUM volunteers, Muhammad Hazim said, “This is our first programme with special needs students and we are thankful to the teachers who are very helpful and we really appreciate it.”
ARC IIUM is part of collaborator of the event alongside Explore Ride ATV 2019. The organiser, Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Seri Gombak 2 (SETEGUH), had approached ARC IIUM to be part of the programme due to the nature of the club that specialises in outdoor activities.
This one-day “Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi”, held here in Ulu Yam on Saturday (28 September) at Nur Laman Bestari, was participated by 43 volunteers from ARC IIUM involving a total of 38 special needs students.
Among special needs students involved in this programme were those with autism, speech problem and down syndrome, and those who were hyperactive and slow learners as well.
Asked on the challenges in handling such a programme, Muhammad Hazim said, “These special kids are difficult to handle because they are different from normal kids. So, the volunteers have to be mentally and physically prepared to handle these kids well.”
“We wanted to instil in volunteers the feeling of caring towards special kids. Other than that, we wanted these special needs students to have an interest in outdoor activities,” Muhammad Hazim added.
ARC IIUM is a club that focuses on outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing and running. IIUM students who are interested to join their future activities may visit their Instagram @arciium. ***