Program Details
Kathina Volunteering Event 2018
Date: 28 Oct 2018
Venue: Santi Forest Monastery
Organizer: Persatuan Mahasiswa Buddha Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (PMBUTM) and Santi Forest Monastery
Position: Volunteer
Mini Report
This program is organized by Persatuan Mahasiswa Buddha Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Santi Forest Monastery. Kathina is a Buddhist festival that comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists. It is a time for giving, for the laity to express gratitude to bhikkhus (Buddhist monks). Students joined as volunteers who help the monastery to smooth the Kathina ceremony.
The objective of this program is to create awareness among youths about volunteering events. From this program, the Graduate Attribute related is Leadership and Teamworking Skills. The volunteers were divided into several groups to accomplish each task. Our task is to classify the alms into different categories. It seems to be an easy task but it requires a good team working among the volunteers to accomplish it. Apart from that, the Graduate Attribute related is communication skills. Volunteers are not only UTM students and also the public. We need to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. While accomplishing the tasks given, we also need to listen and respond to our group leaders in order to complete the tasks within a shorter period. Throughout this program, the UTM volunteers able to communicate well with people, and a great team-working skill is also created.
Self - Reflection
When I first saw this program, Kathina Volunteering Event, I felt that it might be interesting because I had never joined this kind of program before. On the day, I felt so excited. The Santi Forest Monastery was so crowded. Before the ceremony began, all volunteers were gathered and we were separated into a few groups.
From this program, the Graduate Attribute that I have gained is Leadership and Teamworking Skills. To accomplish the tasks, I learned how to work in a team. Teamworking skill allows me to work well with others. Furthermore, communication skill is the Graduate Attribute I have gained in this program. Volunteers are not only UTM students and also the public. I learned how to communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
One of the challenges I have faced is when I was assigned to a group that there was no one I recognized, I felt panic at first. I tried to communicate with group members. After that, I was able to get along with group members. This makes us to accomplish the tasks in a happier environment.
It was a great program. I learned a lot from this program.