Camp OutReach '09 Committee - Media & Infocomm Officer

Name: Tan Joo Yi Geneca
Course/Year: CBE/4

Email contact: tanj0047@ntu.edu.sg

I joined Kallang Tuition Centre (NTU Welfare Service Club Regular Service Project Hearing Impaired) in 2005 during my first year in NTU. From there, I picked up sign language and has been actively interacting with the deaf whenever iI can.

Last year, i joined Camp OutReach'08 as the Chief Interpreter. As the chief terp of COR 08, I've gained many valuable experiences interacting with the deaf and learnT alot of local and new signs from them while I was terping.

Joining COR09 this yr as the MIO, I hope to capture all the wonderful moments of COR and share it with everyone. With prior experiences that I had, i'm also involved in the planning of the programme for the upcoming camp.

Interview

1) Why do you want to join the Camp Outreach Organising Committee for
the second time?

I enjoyed myself during COR08 be it as a committee member or a participant for the camp. Being able to interact with the deaf, getting to know them better, looking at how the deafs got excited over things that most of us found it mundane in life and looking at how much they enjoyed themselves during the camp, really inspired me to stay on in the organizing com so as to be able to bring them on another camp that they will surely enjoy and open their world to.


2) What does your new role as MIO require you to do? How different is
it from your job as Chief Terp last year?

As the MIO, i'm required to take pictures and video down the happy memories of the actual camp itself. Also, as part of the organizing committee, i'm also required to contribute ideas to the programme, and give any suggestions or feedbacks.

Role as MIO is very different from being the Chief Terp. The only similarity is for both roles, you will always be working alone. As the Chief Terp, you have a great responsibility to the deaf especially during the camp itself. You will be the one who will be able to bridge the language barrier between someone and a deaf. Being the chief terp is really an enriching experience. Not only do you have be quick in your thinking, you must also process the information and make them into simpler terms before communicating the information across to the deaf. You will also be able to sense the trust that the deafs place in you for helping them to relay and receive their messages or replies.

As the MIO, you will only be capturing down the special moments and memories of the entire camp. Though the responsibilty may not be as great as that of a chief terp, but i believe that, MIO is still important in helping everyone in the camp to remember the times we spent together during the camp.


3) What kind of challenges you have met thus far and how did you (will
you) overcome them?

Till now, there haven been any challenges that i have met so far.


4) How will this year's COR be different from last year's?

Different programme, different organizing committee, different dynamics and different style.


5) Any goal you plan to achieve from COR 09?

To be able to get to know more deaf friends and learn from them


6) What do you hope the participants can gain or achieve from COR 09?

I hope that they will be able to gain valuable life experiences and get to know more people.

7) Any prior experience with the local deaf community? How will this help
you as MIO?

Yup. I was in RSPHI for almost 3 years. This helped me as MIO as I will be able to predict their behaviour and will be able to capture their special moments of the camp down.

Thank You Geneca (: