Fourth Day - Our First Day @ Sri Kumaran!

Ice-breakers @ Sri Kumaran Children's Home
Ice-cream stall @ the Canteen
Library
Ascendas Information Technology Park
Group pic
Today we finally paid a visit to our partner in the Twinning Programme, Sri Kumaran Children's Home (Central Board Of Secondary Education). We found out that Sri Kumaran is different from TK as Sri Kumaran have primary, middle and high school levels all in one compound while TK is just a secondary school. There are 36 classes in total, 33-34 students per class. They also have Extra-Curricular Activities, or Co-Curricular Activities as we call them in Singapore.
Like us, C.C.A in Sri Kumaran is compulsory and they also have student councilors. Students are allowed to choose their own hobby classes like the CHOICES programme in TK and they get to choose one subject of their own interest every year for four years. They also use the same exam system as Singapore, much to our surprise.
In keeping with the warm hospitality that has characterized the Indian people since we first set foot in India, we were given cookies and tea during a scheduled tea break. Thereafter, we played some soccer, basketball and netball.
After lunch, we went to Ascendas Information Technology Park, approximately 92% of which is owned by the Singapore Government. It is a multi-facility area which has a shopping centre, offices, apartments, its own electricity generator and water treatment plant located all in an area of 69 acres. There is even a hotel opening soon in the compound itself! We were given a small tour around the main complex and the park’s very own shopping mall, which consisted of 28 shops, even a gym and banks. We were very impressed to see such a modern place located in Bangalore as it was a futuristic, self-sufficient and very advanced city within a city.
In the evening, we had a sumptuous dinner at a popular restaurant called Mainland China, which had delicious Chinese-fusion food. We were told that the chefs were actually trained by Singaporean chefs.
Finally, we went back to the hotel for our daily debrief session. Mr Soh emphasized that he was very impressed by our work in the orphanage as he talked about the significance of what we have done and the implications of having a service-minded orientation. We learnt that we are a blessed generation as we are made aware of the importance of service learning, and are given the opportunities to serve in practical and meaningful ways. Lastly, he also gave us little elephants (symbols of strength, solidarity and courage) which he meant to give us after our trip. He gave Han Jie and Nicholas, the two students who are overall in-charge, bigger elephants. We think that they truly deserve it for what they have done in the build-up to the trip and during the trip itself.