Implementation of Action Plan
1) The New Charis Mission (TNCM)
On 29th January 2019, I was invited to attend their orientation programmes. (7:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
Before the day, I was really worried about going as I am afraid that the staff there would be scary and the volunteer work would be different from what I had experienced before and what was posted on their website.
As I am more interested in the elderly session, I did not really look into other aspects of the organisation.
During the orientation, they gave me a brief introduction of their company’s history, Mission, goals and also their rules. The journey from how they came about from only helping the ex-offenders led to helping with the cleaning and befriend of the elderly(senior) really interest me as they are really a very thoughtful social enterprise. The New Charis Mission(TNCM) not only takes in ex-offenders but also a gambler and drug deals.
It started off in 2007 as a non-profit organisation which only does reaching out to elderly in rental flat through the home visit to slowly evolving to Home Improvement & Project HOL (refurbishment of homes on every Saturday), Major Celebrations (such as CNY, Christmas, carnival and other), Day tours (to crowded area like orchard little India) and weekly visitation (on every Wednesday giving free hair cut too).
After the presentation given by Mr Thomas Chang, we had a situation role-play activity where one of the in-charge (Mike) act as a resident and me as a volunteer on how would I react to it. At first, I was awkward however, I know that I need to be serious in doing it as they would be looking at me and to see if I am ready to be a volunteer with them.
After the presentation given by Mr Thomas Chang, we had a role-play activity where one of the in-charge (Mike) act as a resident and me as a volunteer in a giving situation how would I react to it. At first, I was awkward however, I know that I need to be serious in doing it as they would be looking at me and to see if I am ready to be a volunteer with them. As I have experience with a similar situation, I was not very afraid to show.
After the orientation ends, I did a short interview with him. It took me by suprise that he himself is a drug dealer in the past at the age of 13 with many jail records grew up in a broken family with a past history of divorce with his ex-wife. His story of repeating of crime are sad each time however he manages to find the faith to bring him to what he is today. Now, He not only works in The New Charis Makers to help contribute back to the community but also giving talks in prison and school to encourage youth to turn over a new leaf. Mr Thomas Chan also takes up course despite his age of 40 with no education background after Secondary 1.
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Photo Taken with Mr Thomas Chang ~
2) Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital
The volunteer positions apply were as a Karaoke Coordinator, on 30th January 2019 from 2 pm to 5 pm,
Before the day of the event, I read up on the description of the volunteer role. However, I felt not confident as it was my first time volunteering at the hospital. The volunteer job was to be friendly with the elderly and to spread positive vibes. The organisation also had services for young children and people with disabilities.
Before the start of the event, we were briefed about the hospital and their procedures. One of the therapy nurses showed us the proper way of using a wheelchair and gave us some safety rules. I was amazed by the different type of wheelchair as some part could be removed. We then pushed around the wheelchair and asked if the elderly would like to go for a karaoke session. They not necessarily had to sing, but they could also listen to the song and clap along. When I was in each ward pushing the wheelchair, I felt broken-hearted just by seeing that most of the elderly were looking sad and weak. Some even had huge injuries which I did not dare to look at.
When I was pushing the elderly on wheelchairs to the venue for the karaoke sessions, I conversed with them, asking about their days and how they are feeling. I was assigned to bring Madam Ong to the venue but was kind of shy in starting a conversation. However, when I started by asking by a simple greeting, she was very friendly and talked to me quite a lot about herself.
During the events, there were also organisation volunteer members leading the singing of the events and encouraging the patients to sing and clap along. It was an eye-opening moment for me as I did not expect the elderly to sing so well and it was pure innocent to see the moment expectably knowing most of the time they are stuck at the bed. The smile and joy on their faces, and the way they moved to the song make me feel so pleased to be there.
They do not allow photography ~
Even though the song played was an old song from different dialects, I was hyped up and clapped loudly to engage the elderly to sing. At first, I did not dare to walk around as I was unsure how to interact, but when I saw some of the elderly being quiet, I went over and talked to them. Some of them shared quite a lot of personal feelings with me. This pained my heart, as when you grow old you just wish to have a company/pather with you. Being sick is really painful and you would not know when you will get to see your family because you are stuck at the hospital. During the whole event, I was being very cautious and glanced around often as I was worried that an accident might happen.
After the karaoke session ended, we were required to push the elderly back their ward bed. It was sad for some of the elderly as they were having fun. I hope that I did bring some joy to some of them and would be able to have a chance to volunteer again.
3) The New Charis Mission (TNCM)
On 30th January 2019, I volunteered for the position of a Befriender & cleaner for the event of "Bringing Joy to the Aged” organized by The New Charis Mission. ( 730 PM to 930 PM )
Before the start of the event, we are briefed on the ground rule and divided into teams. We were then assigned to a different unit of the block to conduct a home check-up route. The objective of the visit is to go to the elderly house and do a regular check-up with them and be friends, it one of the common service that The New Charis Mission’s provides.
I experienced a few new things that day. Firstly, I had a chance of experiencing home visiting as I always wanted to volunteer for resident visit community service. The house wasn’t in very bad condition from what I expected just that it small and have lots of stuff, I had an unexplainable feeling of doing housework at someone else home such as sweeping the floor and clearing of bags on the bin.
Secondly, I had a chance to write the history report for each resident that we visited and what to take note before we visit as they might have problems or condition that was recorded by the previous volunteer. The record written by us is important, especially for us to monitor their health aspect.
Thirdly, during the visit, I felt that the resident are very friendly in nature and have already know the visit schedule of the organisation. I felt that the bond and trust between the volunteer and the resident is very important especially where we are needed to go into their house. Despite being a stranger to them I can felt that they are opening up to me in telling about personal stuff and even trust me in going around their house, it can be also due to the similar faces of the people with me.
Lastly, we then had overall feedback where the volunteer state their experience and update if there any important thing that we need to take note for the next visit. The staff in-charge were also giving some of his experience for new volunteer and encourage to visit again.
There also another role as a health assistant where we knock on residents door and talk to them while using the “heart beep machine” to check on their blood pressure accompanied by a nurse.
This is a very special experience for me and I enjoy it and would volunteer again when I am available.
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YESSSSSS!
4) Leng Kee Youth Club
On 2nd February 2019, I volunteer for the event of Valentine's Day Craft at United Medicare Centre By Leng Kee Youth Club (YEC) as a Befriender. (830 AM TO 11 AM)
Leng Kee Youth Club (YEC) is a platform for youths to be empowered in making a difference in purposeful causes for the community. Youths from age 15-35 have been advancing community service, youth outreach, and volunteerism within the constituency through programs and activities such as Colours, Happy Active Seniors (HAS), Genius in Us - a children's program and many more.
On the day of 2nd Feb 2019, I went to United Medicare Centre at Queensway for a valentine day card making event organised by Leng Kee CC Youth Club. There was also student volunteer here to earn their CIP points. The nurse was separating those senior elderly that can do the craft from those who could not.
We were given choices to either take the craft material to the seniors to do the craft or we could go the other side to just have a small talk with the seniors. I decided to approach the senior to talk as I do not know the craft as the staff mention that it is sent to the WhatsApp group but I was not added in.
After 10min, I decided to ask the staff for the design for the day and they told me I can do anything I want and could also not need to be about Valentine days.
So I went up to a senior lady and started to talk and draw, she does not have any special thing she wants to do or draw but just wants to see me do it as she wants to learn. I drew animal like cat, rabbits and others and even make paper craft such as cane and frog and also paper lantern learn from Youtube.
What I notice about the seniors make me felt a sense of compassion, especially when there were some elderly(senior) being tied to the pole and asking me if I could help them untie the rope. I do not know and did not ask the reason why some of them are being tied to the pole which limited their movement because I am afraid that it could be their personal reason.
It makes me very depressed as I could not bring myself in rejecting one of the elderly whom continuously asking me to untie his rope, however, I tell myself that they must have a reason to tie him up and it might be for the benefit of others elderly. I also notice some elderly being tie to their wheelchair and I assume that this could be due to their back problems.
I did face problem such as difficulties in communicating with some of the seniors as most of them can not really speak simple Mandarin and some could not hear what I say even when I raised my voice slightly, therefore I actually walked away disheartened, apart from giving them a smile. I do not really know what I can do in this situation which I am only talking and they do not respond back.
" One of the most takeaways I get from this visit was to be patient and try not to give up as they are also trying their best to communicate with us. "
~ OVERALL THOUGHTS ~
Ignore the 3 3 sound ><
ENJOYYYYYY!