Practical Skill Training at The Traders Hotel

On 8th November 2013, The Traders Hotel has invited the LH Bright Sparks children age 10 to 15 for a skill training at the Traders Hotel. This is the first time for the LH Bright Sparks children went for practical skill training at Traders Hotel. There were about 20 children participated. Some of them were from St. Joseph’s Home, Children Protection Society and individual families.

The skill training started at 3.00pm where the children was briefed on what is hospitality and what are the things that the children need to do for that day. After that, the children were break into groups to go to the different service sections where they will be taught hands on. Some of the children were delegated to learn cooking in the kitchen, some went to the housekeeping department and some were sent to the front office.

At the kitchen, the first thing the children learned is cleanliness. It is necessary to keep themselves, the food and the kitchen clean always to avoid bacteria contamination. The children also get a chance to tour around the different kitchens inside of the hotel. Next, they were taught how to prepare a salad and fried omelette. At the food and beverages section, the children learned the different ways on how to arrange the banquet hall. They also learned how to arrange the tableware and how to serve with good patience towards the guests.

The children at the housekeeping department were taught how to tidy the bed and keep the room clean and neat. At the front office, the children learned how to attend to customer inquiries, good telephone etiquette and how to greet and welcome the guests.

At about 6.00pm, dinner was served at the hotel’s Cafeteria. It was a good dinner after a great training and everyone had an enjoyable day together.

Welcoming speech and briefing by Ms. Anna Yoon.

Girl, please wash your hand properly before you prepare the food.

Okay children, today we learn how to prepare delicious salad.

Good job, girl! You are the chef of the day!

Wow! Super! I can fried Omelette now!

Teachers, let me be the waitress of the day and serve you. Enjoy your food!

Celebrate World Children's Day at Golden Sand Hotel

On 20th November 2013, The Traders Hotel had invited the LH Bright Sparks children age 8 to 16 to Golden Sand Hotel to celebrate the World children’s day. This is the first time the Bright Sparks children visited Golden Sand Hotel. About 30 children participated. The children were from St. Joseph’s Home, Children Protection Society, Crystal Home and some were from individual families.

The event started at 9.00am with cupcake making session. Then, it is followed by a tour led by Ms. Elizabeth Liew to learn about how to preserve turtles. Next, there was a handy craft session where the children were asked to use recycle items to make into a craft work. In between the programs, there was a handy crafts sale by the children from Crystal Home.

At about 12.00pm, the children break for their lunch.  They were served with delicious buffet luncheon by the Golden Sand Hotel staff. The children enjoyed the food very much. It was indeed a wonderful meal.

After that, the children went for a tour at Golden Sand Hotel’s Eco Centre. There are so many activities and games at the Eco Centre and the children had a fun-filled time playing there.

Then, the children proceed to a function room where there is a Story Telling session led by one of the Crystal Home children. There was also an act and play organized by the Traders hotel staff. All the children and some volunteers also took part in the play. Everyone had a great time there.

At about 3.30pm, there was a ‘telematch’. The children were divided into groups. They played a few games such as, made the tallest building by newspaper, carried umbrella and hopped with a ball and etc.

The event of the day then ended at 5.30pm. All the children went back feeling happy and contented.

Cool, I can do my own toppings on the cupcake!

Chef, help me to design my cupcake, please? Thank you!

Help! Our turtles going to extinct soon! Let's help to save them!

Okay team! Let's make an island from these recycle items.

Faster, faster... yes, you can do it!

Unwrapping and Appreciating of Your Gifts

On 14th September 2013, The LH Bright Sparks team invited Jelorie to facilitate a youth camp conducted by the Bright Sparks team for its secondary school children age 13 to 17. This is the first youth camp held at LH Bright Sparks. The volunteers and children were so excited on that day. About 20 children participated. Some of them were from St. Joseph’s Home, Children Protection Society, Noah’s Ark and some were from individual family who stays in Hong Seng Estate. The theme for the camp was “Unwrapping and Appreciating of Gifts”.

The camp started with registration at 9.00am. Then, it is followed by introduction and Ice breakers. The Ice breakers were carried out by Jessica & Katrina from the Noah’s Ark to help the teens to settle down. The two girls lead the rest of the teens to sing and dance ‘The Chada’ song. After the energetic song, the teens were all ready for the camp. Jelorie started the first session with “My giftedness”. The teens were asked to create a colourful paper dolls to represent how they see themselves such as what do they likes, what are their talents, physical gifts, dreams and what makes them happy.

At about 10:15am, it’s time for tea break. We were blessed to have Traders Hotel sponsoring some good and mouthwatering food for us. After the tea, the children were asked to break into groups to share on “My Giftedness”.

Then, in the second session, some short TV advertisement and movie clips were played for the teens. In this session, the teens learned that they are unique in their own ways; they do not have to compare themselves with others which will make them feel small of themselves and insecure. They also do not have to modify their looks and their body just to feel good about themselves.

Next session is about “My Gifts: What Matter Most to Me”. A Self-Appreciation Worksheet was hand out to the children to fill it up. The children were then asked to identify what are the things that are important to them and how they value all of it in their life.  After that, the children were asked to present what they have written on their worksheet on the whiteboard.

Then at 12:45pm, the children had their lunch catered from The Lighthouse.  After lunch, the children had another short ice breaker before they began the last session. In the last session, the children learned about appreciating their own and others giftedness. The children were asked to write for each other all the positive values that they can see in their friends. After that, they were asked to read out all the positive values that their friends have wrote for them.

At about 2.30pm, the program ended. The children went back with a confident smile on their faces. They acknowledge their uniqueness and had learned to love themselves better and valued their giftedness.

Let's learn about "My giftedness"

Great! I get to draw about myself!

Come on let me write all your good values for you!

Let's have a good meal together!

Fun at LH Bright Sparks tea break!

On 13th September, the Bright Sparks children started learning the basic of cooking. The children learned how to prepare their own tea break. They were taught of the steps on how to make toast bread with butter and jam by the centre’s caregiver, aunty Margaret Chin. Aunty Margaret then taught the children how to cut and serve the toast bread. She also showed them how to cut the oranges as dessert.

On 19th September, another group of children learned how to cook mushroom soup for tea break. They were taught of steps on how to cook and serve the soup with bread. The children enjoyed the cooking lesson very much and they also love the soup they cooked.

On 20th September, Anna Yoon came and taught the children how to cook pancakes. 9 children came. There were from St. Joseph’s Home, Children Protection centre and 2 girls from an individual family. Firstly, Anna showed them the steps and then she let the children tried on their own. It was interesting and fun for the children and all of them enjoyed making the pancakes and having it for the tea break.

Oh, mushroom soup. My favourite!

Mmmm...It's so delicious!

I'm learning how to make pancakes!

Oh, I just love cooking!

Okay, let me show you how to do it after that you can try and do it on your own

Dell's Finance Team Outreach Programs at LH Bright Sparks

On 17th July, a group of 100 staffs from Dell came and did an outreach at The Lighthouse. They went to the Bakery, Drop-in centre and the Bright Sparks centre. They helped baked chicken pies, volunteered to cook and clean up the Drop in centre.

At Bright Sparks, Dell divided themselves into 3 groups. One group was in charge of giving computer training. One group was in charge of gardening and the other group was in charge of mural arts. There were about 20 children came that day. They are from the Noah’s Ark, Crystal Family Home and 1 child from an individual family.

The group that was in charge of giving computer training taught the children how to type a document by Microsoft Word, how to make charts by Microsoft Excel and how to make presentation by Microsoft Power Point.

The group that was in charge of the mural arts painted the wall at the back of the Bright Sparks centre with a few children. Some of the staffs from Dell even came a few days earlier to made preparation. The wall painting was very nice and fun. The children just love painting the wall.

Besides that, a group of Dell who was in charge of the gardening also did a wonderful job at the little garden in front of the centre. They sponsored 80 plants for the centre and did all the planting themselves.

The program then end at 4pm with a snack from Dell. Everyone went back with a happy and fulfilling smile on their face. It was indeed an unforgettable day for the children and the volunteers.

I like computer lesson

Gardening is so fun

I love to paint on the wall

Wow! Look at the mural arts!

Housekeeping skill training at the Traders Hotel

The Traders Hotel had conducted a training on housekeeping skills for the Bright Sparks children age 12-15 years old at the Traders Hotel on 21/6 at 3pm-5pm. 11 children participated. They were from St. Joseph's Home, Crystal Home and individual family.

The training were very beneficial to the children. They were taught how to make the bed, tidy and prepare a hotel room when a guest checks out. They also get to go for a tour in the hotel guided by Ms. Anna Yoon, the hotel's Communication Manager. The children were brought to the different departments in the hotel to learn up how the hotel functions every day.

The children were very happy that they were given the opportunity to visit the Hotel and learned up the different operational work in the hotel. It was indeed a fruitful trip for them. The trip then end with a tea sponsored by Ms. Anna.

A day at The Botanical Garden

The Traders Hotel invited some of the Bright Sparks children to Botanical Garden on 8th June 2013 in conjunction with the World Environmental Day. It was organised by the HSBC group together with the Traders Hotel. The theme is : Keep our rivers clean.

The event was an exposure and learning trip for the children. About 10 children participated. They were from the Crystal Home and Noah's Ark. In this event, the children learned about the importance of water, water supplies and how to maintain our rivers to keep it clean and clear.

The event started at about 7.30am and end about 2.00pm. There were fun and games organized by the Botanical Garden staffs for the children. Traders Hotel also provided breakfast and lunch for the children. Everyone went back with an enjoyable and unforgetable experience.

Children, please pick up the rubbish from the river

See, this is how we do to keep the river clean & clear

Okay, lets' play !

Look at the camera and smile everyone!