Keepers all around the world have the responsibility to contribute back to society. We are always happy to hear stories from Keepers who have successfully completed community projects and have made a positive difference in the world. One of the most recent is by the Maybank Keepers. The community project is for the children at the paediatric ward in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. This is her story:
Hello. I’m Jacinda, I’m writing this piece on behalf of the Maybank Keepers 1. Shortly after completing our Keepers of the Flame course, we undertook, as part of our responsibility as a Keeper, to organise a community project. We chose to do something for the ill children warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
Our aim was to provide if for a brief moment, some happiness and relief from their sufferings in those few hours. If you could see these children, you would be touched by their courage, optimism and resilience. Having see them smile was such a joy. Relatives who were with the kids throughout the event were so happy. All the things that normal people usually take for granted, these families treasure them as these moments are rare.
In retrospect, I must say that, in the beginning, it sure seemed that everyone liked the idea of contributing to the community, but we simply had no idea where to start. As bankers, our first notion was to throw money at it. And we did! We spent over a thousand ringgit on colourful goodie bags filled with little toys, balloons that could be twisted into all sorts of shapes, and gifts of all kinds.
Busy sorting out the sponsored books back in the office
Tasks were delegated, duties were assigned. Team leaders were appointed, every effort was poured in to make sure that the event would progress seamlessly, very much like clockwork. Our intentions were nothing less than wanting the very best for the kids, of course. But in our zealousness to provide everything, we might have missed thinking about the most important thing of all: the kids themselves.
We were prepared for all manner of contingencies; transport issues, manpower problems, shortage of goodie bags. But I’m not sure if we were prepared for the experience.
Some of the kids at the hospital were very sick. Two had to drag oxygen tanks around, many were in wheelchairs and one had a urine bag attached to him that he had to carry around. We taught the kids a dance to break the ice. The kids who were mobile stood at the front and energetically mimicked our moves to the music, while those who couldn’t stayed where they were, a Keeper standing next to them.
Kids and keepers dancing side by side
The dance worked wonderfully to help propagate an air of familiarity and warmth in the atmosphere that never waned throughout the event. From then on, everything seemed to click into place. We all forgot the countless briefings on what to do, what not to do, forgot to be painfully conscious of what we were doing, and just went on to say and do things straight from our hearts.
A happy child during one of the activities
Another popular activity was the Origami session. The Keepers guided the little fingers as they maneuvered the square pieces of paper to make colourful paper cranes. We had prizes for those with the prettiest paper cranes, but unfortunately we only allocated 9 prizes, and all the children wanted a prize each. When you have a horde of kids swarming over you thrusting their paper cranes hopefully in your face, and you only have enough for 9 prizes, you feel like you have committed the greatest sin in the world. It was difficult for me knowing that I would have to deny some, that I would have to make a decision on which child would be happy, and which would have to go back empty handed.
This is how it’s done.
Yay you made one!
Engrossed with origami
Somehow it feels as if the sick little children, who already have so much to deal with, should not be exposed to the stark reality of competition and should be shielded from being dealt yet another unfair hand in life.
To make our presence more memorable, we also decorated the playroom and managed to get donations of children’s book from a major bookstore. The books were placed on the colourful shelves in the common playroom so that everybody has access to them. As for decorations, we furbished the bare ceilings of the playroom with colourful paper cranes.
Stringing the paper cranes
And hanging them up on the ceiling
Donated books from MPH bookstore
The event had to end early because we could see that the children were getting tired. Seeing them being led out of the play room by their parents and nurses, knowing that that was all we could do, we hoped, with all our hearts, that tomorrow will be a better day for them. And that we did at least make a slight difference in their lives for that one day.
The experience has affected us in more ways than we thought possible. In that few hours, we learnt what it felt like to take responsibility for a child, the responsibility to make them happy, keep them safe. We felt the most humbling of all emotions; that of compassion for another human being.
We are going back to the hospital soon. This time, we will go back not to give more things of monetary value, but more of ourselves and our time.
The Maybank Keepers Community gang
