Past Projects
Project Namaste XV
WHEN
May 2023 - Jun 2023
​
WHERE
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Online
​
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Singapore International Foundation (SIF)
Dinas Perpustakaan Dan Arsip Daerah (DPAD)
WHAT WE DID
As the 15th instalment of Project Namaste, we continued our partnership with SIF and DPAD and returned back to Yogyakarta digitally to continue on our mission to groom the students into better digital users and what we had accomplished in Project Namaste XIV.
Building upon the feedback and evaluation from the previous iteration, Project Namaste XV aimed to refine the programme’s framework and curriculum to better train the students with regards to digital literacy and internet safety.
Our Project began with careful planning and collaboration between our volunteering partners and within our team. We even had the opportunity to meet the previous iteration's participants, where we gained deeper insights on the social issue which we are intending to solve alongside the students we planned to teach. The meeting also enabled us to better recognize and understand the students’ needs, their current digital literacy levels and the resources available to them.
In this iteration, we continued on with the aim of tackling misinformation, fake news and other relevant skills for the students to protect themselves from malicious threats online. In addition, with the rising trend in use of AI technology such as ChatGPT and deepfake technology, we introduced new contents that help to address these issues to the students.
Armed with the insights we gathered and our goal in mind, we spent weeks designing a comprehensive curriculum that would effectively equip the students with strong digital skills to protect themselves from the online dangers. We incorporated fun learning activities and games into our curriculum to enable our students to have fun while learning more about digital literacy and online safety. As part of cultural exchange, we’ve also thoughtfully weaved in contents related to Singapore and Indonesia to allow everyone to learn more about each others’ culture.
After weeks of preparation, we then kickstarted our digital journey of empowering our students with strong digital literacy skills. Throughout the programme, the students showed boundless passion and enthusiasm in learning as they actively participated in all our activities and games. It was heartwarming to know that all the students enjoyed the learning activities and games that were thoughtfully curated for them, and had gained new knowledge from our workshops.
Grateful beyond words for the incredible Project Namaste XV team. Every sub-team’s effort for going above and beyond, for turning challenges into triumphs and for making our collective goal a reality, has paid off as we witness the impact of our curriculum on the students. Seeing their newfound enthusiasm, curiosity, and growing confidence in navigating the digital world affirmed the value of our efforts and reinforced our belief in the power of education to change lives.
Additionally, a heartfelt appreciation goes to our partners: C4SR, SIF and DPAD, for believing in us and providing us with strong support, which made the project a successful one. Their unwavering support has played a vital role in creating an unforgettable experience for the students.
Lastly, thank you to all our beneficiaries for being part of Project Namaste XV. From the bottom of our hearts, we deeply appreciated the warmth and joy all of you have brought to us. As the curtains close on an unforgettable journey, we bid farewell to Project Namaste XV with memories that will last a lifetime and friendships that will endure beyond this chapter.
We hope that the warm feelings experienced throughout all editions of Project Namaste will be passed on to the next as we continue being the longest-running Overseas Community Service Project (OCSP) in Singapore Management University (SMU).
.png)
REFLECTIONS
Daniel Ngon
Project Namaste XV
Member
Seah Huilan
Project Namaste XV
Member
.jpeg)
Zhuang Xinru
Project Namaste XV
Leader
Poornima Valsan
Project Namaste XV
Leader
Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much more. This summer break with Project Namaste XV has been an exhilarating journey filled with countless memories. From the planning phase to the execution stage, Project Namaste XV has gifted me with many experiences and memories with my project members and students from Yogyakarta.
During the two months curating learning materials, we encountered our fair share of challenges. However, knowing that our efforts would impact our Indonesian friends ignited and boost our enthusiasm to work on the slide contents. Though this iteration is conducted online, it did not hinder us from immersing ourselves in the Indonesian culture. We indulged in munching on Indonesian snacks, and the Lato-Lato competition brought endless laughter and a sense of camaraderie among ourselves.
Prior the execution stage, we anticipated a potential language barrier between the volunteers and the Indonesian students, given that English is not their first language. Although we experience a few hiccups along the way, our Indonesian volunteers provided translations and helped to clarify doubts. One of the unexpected challenges was the level of engagement for higher difficulty activities. Some activities planned veered towards the theoretical approach and also requires the students to complete it independently. The team took proactive measures and adapted swiftly, guiding the students through the activity instead.
Throughout the seven engagements, witnessing the blossoming friendships between our volunteers and the students of Yogyakarta filled our hearts wth joy. Our small karaoke session and the oseng terong (stir fry eggplant) mukbang are the memorable moments, encapsulating the spirit of cross-cultural friendships.
It was a very meaningful and fun project for me. I've made a lot of friends along the way, both SMU and Indonesian friends. Although we did a virtual CSP, it was still enjoyable and interactive teaching the students.
I enjoyed learning about the Indonesian culture as well as teaching them about digital literacy. The students were really friendly and engaged throughout our week of presentation. Building up to the execution week, our team had many meetings to ensure the materials we used were concise and engaging.
Overall, I am thankful to have been given this chance to help the Indonesian community through a lighthearted and engaging program.
Having the opportunity to lead and be part of Project Namaste XV has been immensely impactful and fruitful for me. Given that it was my first time leading a volunteering project, it was indeed daunting for me at the start as I was unsure if I could handle the role. Thankfully, I had a group of supporting friends in Namaste XV who were always there for me. They really made the journey more enjoyable and worthwhile! Through my role as a leader, it gifted me many valuable lessons and experiences that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, as I got the opportunity to oversee the entire project come to reality from start to end, and from a bigger picture. The journey taught me the true value of team collaboration and serving the community.
Embarking on this project, our team encountered various challenges such as having to work in a tight timeline and engage the students more in a virtual setting. Despite that, we managed to turn our challenges into triumphs, thanks to the team’s tireless efforts and dedication.
The weeks and months of planning the curriculum with the team also became my fondest memory of the project. From us not knowing each other to joking around about everything, it was warming to see how our relationship grew since the start and I’m really grateful to have made these new friends from Project Namaste.
Although the planning was quite tiring, the outcome was worth it as we witnessed how the students from Yogyakarta enjoyed our lessons and learnt new knowledge from us. Seeing how our workshops brought smiles to them and hearing their appreciation of ‘thanks’ to us after each session, I was truly touched as it affirmed our efforts. Through the project, I also learnt more about the Indonesian culture from the students and made friends with some of the Yogyakarta students. I even got to know one student who likes to do digital drawing just like me!
“Moments come and go, while memories last forever”. As the project came to an end, the memories I’ve collected from here will forever have a place in my heart.
Participating in Project Namaste XV has been an incredibly enriching and enjoyable experience for me. Throughout the project, I had the opportunity to make meaningful connections and foster friendships with both my peers from SMU and the Indonesian students, making it a truly memorable journey.
Teaching the importance of digital literacy to the Indonesian students allowed me to not only share valuable knowledge but also immerse myself in the vibrant cultural exchange between Singapore and Indonesia. Witnessing their enthusiasm and receptiveness throughout our week-long presentations was heartwarming and it also makes the virtual setting feel just as interactive and rewarding as an in-person experience.
The success of our project was the result of the collective effort put forth by our dedicated team, C4SR and our partners, SIF and DPAD.
Ultimately, I am thankful for this experience that taught me the power of education, cultural exchange, and the joy that comes from serving others. This virtual CSP has not only reinforced the value of community service but also demonstrated the positive impact we can create, even from a distance. I am truly humbled to have played a part in shaping the digital literacy journey of these bright young individuals.