Planet CRuSH Peer-Mentoring Programme Planet CRuSH Peer-Mentoring Programme Say “yucks” three times to negative peer pressure. Peer mentoring, however, TOUCH Cyber Wellness & Sports believes, is a different story with a happy ending. Aimed at relatively net savvy students, the Planet CRuSH Peer-Mentoring Programme will train them to become a positive influence on their peers and juniors in cyberspace. And that’s already been done with the pioneering batch of 20 TKSS and NASS students. Held at TKSS last October, the four sessions ran the gamut from Internet dangers to online communication skills. It wasn’t all lectures and no play though. In fact role-plays, icebreakers, role-plays, group work and even raps were incorporated to impart objectives and induce thinking participation. In fact, by the end of it, some were already looking forward to e-mentoring others to surf safely and healthily. If youthful enthusiasm is contagious, then perhaps, the world or cyber world rather can be saved. Big Bad Wolf and Other Internet Dangers Know a cyber stalker when you see one? What masquerade as porn, paedophiles, gaming addiction, hacking, online gambling, drug pushing and hoaxes? They are not the evils taken from the movie “Seven” but just some of the dangers that a group of students raised in the first session after course objectives were clearly established. Case studies of real-life experiences were then given along with group work to reinforce the six categories of threats. To tie up any loose ends or doubts, a 3 rope magic trick was performed to drive home the reality of Internet dangers, not forgetting complacency on the net and helping others along the way. He ain’t the big bad wolf but the resident CRuSH rapper and trainer, Enerjhee “Choose an object to describe your feelings today (and what you want to achieve),” Scallop exhorts Cast Your Net, We Mean, Vision Far and Wide… For Planet CRuSH that is! The second session otherwise known as the Goal Setting Session was really about encouraging the students to set concrete goals that will transform the cyber-culture in their school communities. Kind of like building the Tower of Babel together, “united we stand, divided we fall.” By conjuring up these dreams and helping them develop concrete steps with the SMART criteria, a sense of ownership is inculcated. Among some of the things on the wish list include a livelier forum, more web content (think sports and entertainment reviews), downloads, in-house games, chat rooms and even advice! In turn we shared our own plans of Project PAID and Planeteen, an upcoming e-zine by teens for teens. An exuberant Nig Nig with some TKSS boys Check out our tower, don’t play play POST With Care and Caution Since most of the e- mentoring will be done via the forum, it was only natural that effective online communication skills were taught in this session. Instead of just delivering the points on “Dos” and “Don’ts”, role-play was done with some of the students to sufficiently impress upon the class key principles of communication. Encapsulated by POST- Purposeful Expression, Openness, Sensitivity and Tone were the key things to watch out for. The highlight for the students was perhaps, brainstorming on how to redesign the virtual space or forum for their schools. Unconventional boards would be on “Makan”, “All about Teachers”, “World Cup” and you ain’t seeing things, “Homework Advisory Board”! Ingenious twist aside, the session ended with thinking about the person who understands them the most and how he or she communicates... All ears peeled during the session on listening and communication Let’s Talk About Values For the students to be true mentors, TYS is primarily concerned with imparting solid absolute values in a relative world. In the gray world of the net, Planet CRuSH’s values are crucial in the areas of contact, community, content, confusion and commerce. Basically, not to trust strangers on the net, help build a safe online community, being careful of what you expose yourself to on the web, developing real life communication skills and exercising caution on net issues. Challenging teenage issues were also discussed where students shared their perspectives on BGR & parent-teen issues, computer gaming & pornography. The students were then asked to think about what they’d tell their juniors before we defined the ideal e-mentor. To conclude the course, the e-mentor’s creed was an apt way of reminding them their purpose, to build a safe online community – anchor & help others surf, pointing them to a balanced lifestyle. As a new-generation youth, we pledge to be astute and responsible in the use of information technology….