The power of empowerment

It's Hari Keusahawanan again. Every class has to sell something to raise money for the school. The usual business is to sell food and drinks. Some classes offer games. There is even a mystery house. Out of the blue I thought of a new business to venture - cyber cafe and cinema. Utilizing the two computer labs that the school have, I'm all equipped for the new business.

I divided my 13 boys into two groups. The cyber cafe group was led by Shakir and the cinema group was led by Hafiz. I just gave each group the general instructions and they have to work out the details themselves. The cyber cafe group find their own games to install, reset the LAN connections so that our customers can play games with each other and set the time table for whose on duty. The cinema group find the movies themselves. They borrowed a home theater system and a lap top. Time table for person on duty was also set.

As for the my girls, I gave them the conventional business of selling food and drinks. Forming a working committee, I just gave them the general ideas of how they should go about it. They have to figure out how to organize themselves.

Sometimes my students asked me administrative questions. I always asked them to refer to their group leaders. I'm just an advisor, they have to organize their activities themselves.

Total empowerment that I gave them has positive results. They learned to organize themselves, how to share works, and most importantly how to communicate effectively with each other. So far I can only see enjoyment and no conflict. They were willing to put up long hours in the evening just to install games, set up the cinema, and go shopping for things needed by our stall. They seen to enjoy themselves tremendously.

Even though Hari Keusahawanan will only commence this saturday, we opened our cyber cafe and cinema since wednesday after school hours, giving us a three days head start. The response on Wednesday was ok but we discussed on ways to improve our service. Today (Thursday) we have more customers. Our income on this second day is approximately double than on Wednesday. Praise be to Allah. We expect to get more customers tomorrow and the peak will be on saturday itself.

This experience has shown me the power of empowerment. When people are given the trust and freedom to do what they like, their creativity will flourish. Profit is not my major target. I just want my students to learn to organize themselves, work together, and enjoy the experiences. Hopefully this will be an event that they will remember for a long, long time.

May Allah bless us all.

Report Card

"OK. Write down your target for PMR trial". It's report card day. I have to think like a parent myself to give the right feedback to my students' parents. Apart from their kid's present performance, they want to know what areas that their kids can improve.

I asked my students to write down their target for PMR trial examination so that I can record them. It's another one a half month before trial and I want them them to target how much they can improve in that time. It's a race against time. I will compare their real performance with their targets today.

Some of them have mental blocks. "I can't", is one of them. I explained to them that it is a matter of your state of mind. If you think you can't, then you can't. As simple as that. As prophet Muhammad said, peace be upon him (p.b.u.h), Allah will not change the fate of a race that did nothing to chance it's own fate. Every progress have to start with us believing in ourselves first. Positive thinking can make wonders in our life. I have my lifespan to testify to that.

I'm in the process to make history with my students. To come out with among the best result any KAA class has ever achived. It's impossible? It's all in the state of our mind. If I belive we can do it together and we work hard at it, then the rest is the work of Allah. May Allah bless our effort with great success. Aminn....

May Allah bless us all.

My son

"He is not concentrating in class. He used to be my star student but after his trip to Paris, he seems to be uninterested in his study. We teachers are wondering whether he had any problem at home". I had the same complaint last year after a similar trip to Paris. What problem does a six years old boy has? Thinking too much about games I guess. Appreciating his teacher's concern about his study, I don't want to pressure a six year old boy too much who is suppose to enjoy his times as a kid. But at the same time I don't want the present problem to go unsolved.

I discussed with his sister and brothers. All of us agreed that we should spend some times for his lessons and kindergarten's home works. Doing his school works with him. I bought a workbook for him to do at home. His favourite brother, Arif, reported that he need to be strict with Aiman to make sure he finish his homework. He really has problem to focus.

Then we changed our tactics. Every time he asked to buy a new toy we will ask him whether he has study well or not. Then he will list the things that he has achieved so far and we will praise him for all his progresses. His self esteem is on the rise. I always try to convey to him that if we study hard we will stand to gain a lot of things. I want him to study because he want to study, not because of all the goodies he will receive if he study. The goodies are just a bonus, not the the drive or the purpose.

Today, after watching the tv he said to himself that he wanted to study hard so that he will excel. It was as though the words just suddenly crossed his heart. I thank Allah for this. Allah has always answered my prayers. Now he is consciously studying for the his own benefits, not for the goodies.

Education is a long journey, either to my kids or to my students. I know giving my very best as a teacher, Allah will give the best to my kids. Allah has always been kind to me.

May Allah bless us all.

English course

Driving home on the last day of a five day English course at Institute of Diplomatic and Foreign Relation in Kuala Lumpur, the faces of my course mates and lecturers kept on flashing in my mind. We are government offices from various agencies coming together with the intention to improve our written language. It was a jovial group and lots of jokes were exchanged to ease the seriousness of our difficult assignments. We exchanged our knowledge and experiences during the daily four meals.

Among all the participants, I was quite close with Kak Shima. What distinguished her to me from the rest are her advices and the experiences that she shared with us. Being very humble, no one had any idea that she is a PHD holder until the very last day. She said she wanted to further her study at USIM learning more about Islam. Then someone asked her whether she wanted to do her master or PHD. That was when she revealed that she has already done her PHD and she just wanted to to further her study for the sake of learning.

That is one thing common among most of us, to learn as much as possible. We have to apply for the course, we were not directed to go. Those who go for the course are those that really want to increase their knowledge.

Then there is Sara, a counsellor. Ever willing to share her experiences and ideas about teenagers, family, among other topics, her friendly personality attracts everyone to her like a magnet. We could listen to her for hours without realizing how time has fly. She never hesitate to share, a very generous person at hearth.

It was an eye opening course to me, both its content and its participants. I learned a lot about the correct writing techniques. I also learned the scope of job of others especially from different agencies.

Hopefully next year I can attend a different course at the same place and improve myself further. Beside the content, I can learn from the people I meet too. May Allah bless me with knowledge and wisdom.

May Allah bless us all.

My new passion

With my maid gone, the whole house is under my administration now. I's a hugh task but I'm happy to say that it's a labour of love. To cook for my family, tidy up all the shelves, mop the floor, take care of the laundry, iron all the clothes...... the list just go on and on. With three of my kids leaving the nest to further their study leaving only two at homes, I feel my task now is a lot easier.

When all my kids were small and I have no maid, to cook lunch or dinner itself was an enormous task. One or two of my kids were always crying because of hunger or discomfort or sick. There are times just to finish frying four fish, I have to put off the fire two to three times to cater to my crying kids before continuing again. Not to mention all the other tasks waiting to be done. We very rarely eat out because all our resources were for the needs of the kids like their milk. No pampers for they are expensive. Just diapers that had to be washed. The moment I arrived at my school to start teaching in the afternoon session, I was already very tired. Sitting down on my chair in the staff room felt like heaven because I hardly had time to sit down at home in the morning. Thinking about it, it felt like it was just yesterday. Time really flies. Now my 'babies' are in university already.

But Allah is always fair. When we were young, our income were small. But we were strong and energetics. We don't have back pains or the such. When we grow older our energy level goes down drastically. But we have the experience and wiseness to work smart. And our income has improved. Actually our bigger income are rezeki from Allah for our kids.

Today I bought two pots of flowers which I hang outside my two kitchen windows. When I wash my dishes or when I'm cooking, the bright colours of the flowers will cheer me up and make my work feel light. I want to enjoy every moment of my life, even when I'm cooking. May Allah bless my family and all other family.

May Allah bless us all.

Our words

How do we judge how much is a person's worth is? From his/her income and position? From the quantity of his/her property? From his/her manners? From the sweetness or nastiness of his/her talk? What is a person's worth?

In the first place why should we ask this question. Everyone is unique. Everyone has a role to play. Nor everyone can be the boss. And certainly we need someone to mop the floor. We should respect everyone just the same - with sincerity. Our smile should be for everyone - not just for certain few.

Certainly those who are closer to Allah are the better one. We can see from their actions. There is one teacher in my school who are close to Allah. She always perform Dhuha prayer even though her time table is packed on that day. She don't talk much and certainly she doesn't like to chip in whenever people talk about the bad of a particular person. Less talk, less sin.

Even though she credited me as one of the person that shows her the way to practicing true Islam, I always feel that the credit should be on her for giving good example on avoiding making sins from our words. I can't remember any bad words coming from her mouth. I'm the opposite. I think I had talk too much. Initially on the purpose of discussion but I usually transgress into defaming people. The line is very thin between the two and syaitan or the devil/satan will make us forgot the limit. Ya Allah, please give me the will to avoid making sins especially from my words.

Quiet people sometimes are regarded as unfriendly. But to me the less you said, the less sins you make. I want to be use my words to show people the beauty of Islam. That the purpose of this blog. With all my short comings, I ask Allah to forgive all my sins and to always protect me. May the words of Allah spread to all. Amin.

May Allah bless us all.