This morning, I went to Puchong for the Medical Camp 2.0 together with my fellow Rotaract Club (RAC) of Subang members. Last year, we have organised one for the Myanmar Refugees Children at Tesco, so this was our second time. This project is meaningful and it actually helps the children a lot.
These bunch of kids have to leave their own country due to the country's political conflict and unstable economy, so they normally travel to different countries including Malaysia and US, under the care of UNHCR. As in Malaysia, the reason why they are known as refugees is because of the government does not recognize them, so that's where some non-profit organizations come in to help them, such as Shelter Home and Rotary, providing them with shelter, basic necessities as well as a place for education.
So, early in the morning, Aaron fetched me to the meeting place to take goodie bags that we have packed for them. Then, we departed to their school to set up everything. We did dental check up, basic body check up, basic eye sight check and personal hygiene demonstration for them. Initially, I was assigned to duty at the GP (General Practitioner) station, then I was transferred to the other side to help to look after the kids. Until the second dentist has came, my task was set to be her nurse - a dentist nurse XD
I never know what do I need to do as her nurse or even how to "draw" some patterns on those "boxes". I only remember when I was having dental check up during primary school, the dentist used to draw some lines and some circles on those rows of boxes which I could never get what those mean. Today, I finally could understand what they mean. She taught me once before she left me doing it myself while she was doing the check up. She was going faster and faster, I had to be very concentrate in order to catch what she said. She said I'm intelligent as I learnt very fast, can consider applying a part time job as a nurse hahaha!
Those boxes stand for your teeth for upper jaw and lower jaw, left side and right side. Then, the dentist will check your tooth one by one, alphabet stands for baby tooth and number stands for adult tooth. From there, the dentist will know the growth of your teeth, then they will compare it with your age to determine whether your teeth are growing on the right "pace". They have different signs to represent teeth that need to be pulled out or need filling, and also the sign to record holes between teeth.
Throughout the medical camp, those kids really did behave well. Those who are elder, like 10-13 years old, they would take care of those younger one, lead them and ensure that they stay in a group. When I was helping the dentist, there was a little girl holding her younger sister's hand, then she led her sister to sit on the dental chair, told her to open her mouth and accompanied her throughout the whole process. This little thing that she did touched the bottom of my heart.
The girl was only 9 years old, see what most of the Malaysian kids are doing when they are at the age of 9, holding their parents tight when they visit the dentist? These bunch of kids, they do not usually have the chance to live with their parents. They are not orphans, but their parents are working hard out there, either in local, Myanmar or other countries. What left with them are teachers, those brothers and sisters around them. They have a very strong sense of caring towards each other, even though they are not from the same family. If and only if they are as fortunate as us, having to grow under the love and protection by our parents and have a proper education, they will be a bunch of good future leaders.
In Malaysia, a lot of big organizations will not choose to help these bunch of kids as they claim that why are we not helping our own Malaysian kids first. But I would like to say, a life is a life, it makes no difference between the future of a Myanmar kid and the future of a Malaysian kid, they are still the same. I do understand that to a certain extent, people will tend to leave the best for their own people, but still there are others who need us too.
It reminds me of Peter Biak, a 16 years old Myanmar teenager that I met during Medical Camp 1.0. Sometimes, he would text me and chat with me before he flew to US (I think he is there now). He once told me that he misses his parents and brother a lot. They are working out there and he only got to see them once after a long time. He promised me to study hard, so that his parents do not need to worry about him and he will have the ability to take care of them next time. A 16 years old guy, he has a will, a will to stay with his own family and no longer being called as a refugee.
Time to reflect on yourself,
the society is calling for your help,
what can you offer?
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