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The Story of My Learning Starts Here…

Month: September 2017

UWC values & Social Identity Theory

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On September 25, 2017

In psychology class, we learnt social identity theory. Social identity theory argues that a person has not just one “personal self”, but rather several social selves that correspond to group memberships. We are categorised in terms of group membership. There are in group favouritism and out group discrimination involved as people tends to support or help their own group members and tends to dislike people from the out group. This may due to social comparison, social identification and social categorisation.

One of the studies of social identity theory is called Sherif Robber’s cave. It is carried out among a group of boys. These boys were divided into two groups. The researchers then introduced conflicts through games. The boys gave negative ratings to boys in the other group and showed hostility towards the other group. In the end, the researchers decided to bring the conflicts to a stop. They created some situations which needed boys from both group to work together to reach a common goal. The result was that cooperation led to less negative ratings of the other group and the end of intergroup hostility. So, we can conclude that when two opposite group work together, there is less out group discrimination and social comparison.

UWC values encourage diversity and peace. So how can we reduce conflict and unite peace amongst people?To avoid conflict, we should stop discriminating and categorising people regardless of their culture, race, gender and even social identity. We should not see “out group” as our enemies and fight over them. Everyone in the community should unite tightly and create peace together. And try to think of others.

In some countries, there are often conflicts happening between blacks and white. The white always think that they are higher than blacks and discriminate the blacks. But it is obviously wrong. Everyone is equal regardless of their races. We should respect each other and accept each other.

I think understanding and acceptance play a key role in avoiding conflicts!

 

What is peace and conflict?-IFP

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On September 23, 2017

In CAS

What is PEACE building?

Peace building is the building of sustainable, positive peace and long-term conflict resolution. Peace builders need to understand the nature of the conflict…

In Tuesday’s meeting session, we looked at a conflict in Syria and analysed it in small groups. We followed the Galtung’s ABC Conflict Triangle: attitude, behaviour and context. This is what our group came out:-

From the Syrian video and the group discussion, I came up with 3 divisions ideas and a couple of principles statement for myself.

  1. Uprising turns violent
  • Opposition supporters eventually took up arms, first to defend themselves to expel governmental security forces from their local areas. Initially, their original purpose was to defend themselves but sadly they ended up attacking & harming the innocents. The latter in response, also resorted to violence in the event to defend themselves. It forms a vicious cycle.

2. Decent into a civil war

  • Violence escalates and pervades human mind. It then escalates and pervades the entire society and the people. It has the ability to act like a dangerous and contagious virus. When that happens, civil war breaks out and its nation forgets about her shared identity. I begin to wonder aloud:-
    • Does war bring out the worst in man?
    • What is man’s instinct? To kill in oder to defend and protect himself?
    • Is man’s DNA to be violent in times of war?
  • Whatever the answers are, these all shows the importance of PEACE building!

Indeed, as I see it, Conflict has the power to bring about Violence if handled poorly:(

My First Riding Experience

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On September 23, 2017

In CAS

Yesterday, I went to the RDA again for my local service. We were supposed to support a disabled kid, Emma’s riding, but she didn’t come that day. The teacher asked who had never ever ridden a horse before. I was at first hesitant to raise my hand but decided to be brave and hence, I put my hand up. I therefore became the rider and my three schoolmates became my side-walkers.

I was excited to ride a horse as I have always wanted to. At the start, I was asked to sit at the center of the horse and straighten my body. It felt easy listening to the instructions but when doing it,  I could not control my body balance for the first 10 minutes. Gradually, I got used to it and managed it quite well.

It was a bit nerve racking at first especially my hands are free. The horse-leader was leading the reign. Having nothing to hold on to, I placed my hands on the horse’s saddle. Somehow, placing on it felt like it weighed a ton. I was hoping I did not weigh a ton to the poor horse.

The side-walkers held my ankles and then I felt a little bit safer. I even felt the horse became more obedient compared to the beginning. The instructor then asked all the riders to lift their hands in the sky like an airplane posture. I lifted my hands off the back of the horse very slowly, feeling unsure and unsafe……. but guess what! I DID IT! I became more confident and later, we took a stroll to the jungle. The path was bumpy and muddy. I bumped up and down on the horse but I felt satisfying especially listening to the trotting of the horse’s hooves. Amazing……

After my first riding experience, I got to know more about horse riding. I could actually empathise how disabled kids feel when they ride on the horse. This experience helps me to understand their feelings more and it is helpful when I next work with them. The kids need our kind support, patience and understanding and we should give them as much comfort and senseof security as we can. And personally, I really enjoyed my first riding and I do hope I can ride again next time even if it is in other places.

I am really looking forward to support the kid next week:) and to meet Casper, my new horse friend soon.

I hope Emma will come next week!!!

 

LO 2 CHALLENGE (Undertaken new challenges)/NEW SKILLS (Developing new skills)

 

At The Peace Conference ~ My First Experience

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On September 16, 2017

In CAS

On Sunday, I attended my first peace conference organised by a group of Grade 12 students from the IFP team. The conference was fun and insightful. It was worth my participation. No regrets!

At the start, we did some fun ice-breaker activities to boost our energy and to get to know each other. Then, we were divided into four groups to participate in the different topics of that day’s session. The four topics covered issues of Discrimination, Violence, Social Media and Identity. The discussion among all of us was vibrant and inspiring. There was also some video clips that we watched. These powerful videos touched me.

Within that one day, I have gained much understanding about these serious topics through the in-depth  discussion. I began to understand and recognise that these topics are real and related to our daily life; it also broadened my perspective and concept of the world. Conflict, gender discrimination, equality and equity, different identities……

I am beginning to know more and more about IFP. I hope through every meeting, I will be able to gain more in-depth understanding about PEACE. May I be a Peace Ambassador one day!

Let there be PEACE on earth, and let it begin with me ……

 

 

My first experience of The Island Foundation

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On September 11, 2017

In CAS

On Tuesday, I attended the Global Concern Service. It was totally a new experience to me as I have no idea about what to expect. During the session, we did some icebreaker activities to get to know each other. It was interesting to know why people decided to join this service. The leader of the GC then introduced some information about The Island Foundation and what are we going to do later in the year.

What was interesting too was my learning about the Fishermen in Bintan and their poor and under-knowledge situation. Makes me think of the saying “Teach a man how to fish rather than give him the fish.”

I am really looking forward to be part of this and I do hope I can make some useful impact and changes to   these Fishermen’s lives.

 

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