szehoong
February 3rd, 2004, 03:04 PM
Creative centre just for kids
By YIP YOKE TENG
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2004/2/p3complex.JPG
The 3C Complex under construction (above) and when it is completed in November, it will look something like the artist's impression shown below.
THE 3C (Children Creative Centre) Complex in Jalan SS13/3, Subang Jaya, said to be the country's first large-scale establishment dedicated for child development, is more than half complete.
When ready in November, it stands alongside 3K Sports Complex and Millennium Park to offer various alternatives for children and adults in the area to spend their leisure time beneficially.
The RM30mil project started in November 2002, and is now 55% complete. Its cost is shared by the Selangor Government and Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).
“Urban children today are exposed to many things on television but they seldom have the chance to personally experience them especially when their parents are busy working,” said MPSJ president Datuk Abd Hakim Borhan during a recent interview with Star Metro at the council.
“We try to help them through this social project, tickle their curiosity and develop their creativity through the educational programmes designed by professionals.
“We believe this will inspire our children to set and achieve their ambitions,” he added.
The project has come a long way since it was mooted by the former council president Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail and his team in 2000.
“The former president saw that there was no place in our municipality for children aged between six and 15 years to go to during their free time.
“We were worried that they might end up loitering in the many shopping complexes here,” said deputy council president Arpah Abdul Razak who was involved in the project's planning stage.
“I could not recall how many people were involved, everyone enthusiastically threw in ideas and searched the Internet extensively,” she added.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2004/2/m_3place.jpg
The closest models they could find were the Children Centre in the University of Philidelphia in the US, the Children Game Centre in Bangkok and the Children Discovery Centre in Singapore but all were not exactly what the team wanted. Much later, they discovered two better examples in Australia and Italy.
The team made familiarisation trips to Bangkok and Singapore while gathering the essence of all these models into the project.
Experienced educators from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Kemas, Education Department, Unity Department and children educational institutes were invited for discussions.
The team also regularly sent its members out to survey children’s sections in local shopping centres to pick up ideas.
The result of all these efforts will be a four-storey castle-like building on 2.02ha with lush greenery and ample space. It will comprise three components, namely a learning centre, workshop and gallery.
““The learning centre is equipped with classrooms, library and playground on each level. It is a place for child development and parental preparation.
“Among the activities being considered are fun art, maths development, computer-assisted learning, science discovery, world understanding and music,” said Hakim, adding that the council would appoint a consultant firm to run these programmes.
The workshop will be a place for do-it-yourself activities where the children learn about art and craft. Their work will then be exhibited at the gallery.
“This gallery is also open to the public since there is no public gallery in the municipality. Adults too are encouraged to exhibit their work here,” he added.
The 3C Complex caters to children aged between three and 15. Parents are given full opportunities to learn and explore with their children.
Kindergartens and schools are also encouraged to make use of the facilities here to complement their syllabus.
“Some schools are quite sceptical about this project; we want to assure them that this is not to compete with them but to enhance their services that may be constrained by cost or space,” Hakim said, adding that there would also be space for rental, such as the auditorium, for educational institutions to hold large-scale activities.
Also notable is that the project features a campsite, so urban children can conveniently experience fun under the sun.
“This will be another happening place in Subang Jaya and this time around, it is for the kids!” Hakim said.
By YIP YOKE TENG
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2004/2/p3complex.JPG
The 3C Complex under construction (above) and when it is completed in November, it will look something like the artist's impression shown below.
THE 3C (Children Creative Centre) Complex in Jalan SS13/3, Subang Jaya, said to be the country's first large-scale establishment dedicated for child development, is more than half complete.
When ready in November, it stands alongside 3K Sports Complex and Millennium Park to offer various alternatives for children and adults in the area to spend their leisure time beneficially.
The RM30mil project started in November 2002, and is now 55% complete. Its cost is shared by the Selangor Government and Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).
“Urban children today are exposed to many things on television but they seldom have the chance to personally experience them especially when their parents are busy working,” said MPSJ president Datuk Abd Hakim Borhan during a recent interview with Star Metro at the council.
“We try to help them through this social project, tickle their curiosity and develop their creativity through the educational programmes designed by professionals.
“We believe this will inspire our children to set and achieve their ambitions,” he added.
The project has come a long way since it was mooted by the former council president Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail and his team in 2000.
“The former president saw that there was no place in our municipality for children aged between six and 15 years to go to during their free time.
“We were worried that they might end up loitering in the many shopping complexes here,” said deputy council president Arpah Abdul Razak who was involved in the project's planning stage.
“I could not recall how many people were involved, everyone enthusiastically threw in ideas and searched the Internet extensively,” she added.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2004/2/m_3place.jpg
The closest models they could find were the Children Centre in the University of Philidelphia in the US, the Children Game Centre in Bangkok and the Children Discovery Centre in Singapore but all were not exactly what the team wanted. Much later, they discovered two better examples in Australia and Italy.
The team made familiarisation trips to Bangkok and Singapore while gathering the essence of all these models into the project.
Experienced educators from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Kemas, Education Department, Unity Department and children educational institutes were invited for discussions.
The team also regularly sent its members out to survey children’s sections in local shopping centres to pick up ideas.
The result of all these efforts will be a four-storey castle-like building on 2.02ha with lush greenery and ample space. It will comprise three components, namely a learning centre, workshop and gallery.
““The learning centre is equipped with classrooms, library and playground on each level. It is a place for child development and parental preparation.
“Among the activities being considered are fun art, maths development, computer-assisted learning, science discovery, world understanding and music,” said Hakim, adding that the council would appoint a consultant firm to run these programmes.
The workshop will be a place for do-it-yourself activities where the children learn about art and craft. Their work will then be exhibited at the gallery.
“This gallery is also open to the public since there is no public gallery in the municipality. Adults too are encouraged to exhibit their work here,” he added.
The 3C Complex caters to children aged between three and 15. Parents are given full opportunities to learn and explore with their children.
Kindergartens and schools are also encouraged to make use of the facilities here to complement their syllabus.
“Some schools are quite sceptical about this project; we want to assure them that this is not to compete with them but to enhance their services that may be constrained by cost or space,” Hakim said, adding that there would also be space for rental, such as the auditorium, for educational institutions to hold large-scale activities.
Also notable is that the project features a campsite, so urban children can conveniently experience fun under the sun.
“This will be another happening place in Subang Jaya and this time around, it is for the kids!” Hakim said.