A reflection on the Music English Camp for the visually impaired

From: Our volunteers

To: Everyone 

Our volunteers waiting at the Subway station for our students

A lot of our volunteers expressed amazement and admiration towards their fellow students. After the camp, our volunteers were surprised and ashamed at how much they belittled their students. Initially, our volunteers were concerned for our students due to the activities on the schedule. Many volunteers could not imagine the visually impaired dancing, running around playing games, making Chinese braids, etc… The lack of imagination may have stemmed from the initial briefing.

Our instructor: Sylvia

Prior to the camp, all our volunteers were briefed by an instructor on the proper protocol when servicing someone whom is sightless. 

All volunteers agree the most memorable part of the briefing is the blindfold segment. During this segment each volunteers took turns getting blindfolded. Those who are not blindfolded led those who are around the building’s premises.

 

Jaywel leading Linda

Christine leading Mrs. Wang

Stephanie leading Vicky

Jasper leading Nick

Jeff leading Alex

Vicky leading Stephanie

The instructor took this opportunity to teach the proper navigational protocols; e.g. how to give instructions, where to place one’s hands, the positions one should be when leading the sightless etc…

Our volunteers express how fearful they were when they could not rely on their eyes to navigate. Some volunteers had problems standing still let alone walk around the building’s premises. When the briefing was over our volunteers could not imagine hosting the program guide; especially the arts and craft segment. 

 

Making dragonflies

During this segment our volunteers are expected to teach our students how to make a dragonfly through tying knots. During training, a lot of our volunteers could not figure out the mechanics of the knot. Some of our volunteers took a long time to learn. You can imagine their surprise when our students were able to make the dragon fly on their own. Some of our students even went on to make more.

For some volunteers this experience has been transformative. One of our volunteers described the astonishment they had at the student’s usage of the phrase “let me have a look at it.”  As this volunteer explains “When my student was touching the dragonfly craft he said ‘look here are the wings.’ I’m not sure what he means when he used the word ‘look.’  Perhaps by touching the dragonfly he somehow visualized the dragonfly through his mind’s eye. Perhaps the word ‘look’ simply means ‘I am observing through my finger sensory.’ What is most important is that he did not let his condition restrict him from using words in regards to visual sensory.

On behalf of Eden Welfare, we will like thank all the participants that joined this year’s Music English Summer Camp for the Visually Impaired. We truly had a great time creating memories with all of you and we hope to see you all next year!

Please have a look at the bloopers, made by Jeff (our volunteer), below:

Here is a link to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udpl53jH4IE