Best Yuletide Volunteering Experience

Kevin, Ziv and I had the best yuletide volunteering experience yesterday night.

There must be something about Christmas that encourages us to spread a little cheer. Maybe it's the shiny Christmas ornament balls, illuminated Christmas tree, candies, peppy carols and the children's laughters.

Whatever the reason, one good thing about Christmas is that it gets me thinking about others and how to help those in need. Spread the love, that is.

It's a nice break from the gluttony of the season, when all of us seem to get accosted by the fruitcake, honey baked ham, candy canes, and whatnot.

Getting Ziv involved is like accomplishing another milestone for the year. He is no longer the small ignorant baby. I have to say he has been really a good help!

Afternoon of Service @ Work

My company recently organized the Afternoon of Service where we got the opportunity to take time out of our work day, once a year, to volunteer with our colleagues on team-based projects coordinated with local non profit organizations. My colleagues and I visited the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society Seniors Activity Center last week.

All of us clad in blue (our company color), were enthusiastic and yet curious about the volunteer service. The rain drizzled down and soaked us on our way to the activity center, but it did not dampen the spirit to help. For majority of the colleagues, this was their first time being exposed to volunteering. Of course, this was nothing new to me.

What we did during our visit:
- Packed food for the old folks.
- Entertained the old folks by singing for them, playing simple games like Bingo with them, chat with them, and helped to bring the food back to their apartments.
- Delivered food to those old folks who are immobile.




During the course of volunteering, we visited some of the old folks' apartments, we were appalled by their living conditions. They literally lived in close quarters, and definitely need someone to clean the apartments for them. Hopefully, the MP in that area is able to do what the MP for Hougang has been doing, gather volunteers to clean the apartments - 后港爱心总动员 programme(http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/2011/06/hey-we-care.html).

All in all, the day ended fulfilling for many of us, all of us enjoyed giving back to the local community. Hopefully with that, many of us are encouraged to join the volunteer group.

Parent Volunteer (PV)

Never did I think that I will be volunteering for any of the reputable schools so that Z can gain entry to one without having to wait at the end of the queue.

But, but, I am having second thoughts now.

All because of AL, a few months ago, he informed us that a reputable neighbourhood school was accepting applications for PV, and he even printed out the application form for us. I gave him the deadpan expression, “Why do I have to do that?” And by the way, the school is also within a km from our house. Nevertheless, I filled up the form and dumped it in the car, went for my vacations and forgot about it completely. It was AL, who reminded us, to send it to the school.

Two weeks ago, AL received a letter from the school that informed them that their application did not get through, as for us, we didn’t get any respond. AL told us, we might stand a chance. My first reaction was, “The postman must be idling, although we lived in the same condo, still, mails do get lost, mysteriously.” I didn’t care much about, if-we-get-it. Days and weeks passed, still we did not hear from the school. And to speak the truth, inquisitiveness started to grow in us.

You know, it’s psychological – humans like the feeling of being superior to their peers and tend to yearn for things that others couldn’t get. And so being as human as possible, I found myself thinking, “Am I really so lucky? Or did my MIL actually passed my application to the school cleaner?” I mean, I didn’t even submit the application personally.

What is the possibility that we can get selected where there were thousands and thousands of applications and the school would shortlist only 20 odds applications? What made our application stands out? My picture? Just kidding.

So, that aside, what do I look for in a school?

• Convenient location – Z stays with the in-law after school, and so, the school must be stone throw away from my in law’s place and reasonable distance to our place.
  



• Reputable school – Do you assign your most convincing salesman to an outskirt and quiet shop, or do you assign him to the most vibrant shop in town? The answer is obvious, so I was thinking; do they allocate good teachers to reputable schools or the so-so schools? It looks like it is not a bad idea if I go for a more reputable school, isn’t it? They have an image to maintain.
  



• Stress level – In my opinion, good, and reputable school usually incite a lot of pressures to the students, and it makes perfect sense to do so. But knowing that education is not everything and does not determine the future, I am actually hoping that Z can mature and develop in a less stressful environment. Of course, as compared to a school in town, a neighbourhood school will definitely be the best bet. Since apart from results, you don’t have to compare about the amount of pocket money that you give to your children or the continental car you drive to send and pick up your children.

Initially, I hoped to send Z to an international school, thinking that interaction is actually very important at a young age, and I actually prefer to develop my son’s EQ than IQ at such young age. Which is why, I don’t send him to any extra classes, except for music. Mainly for character building, and introduce cultures to him.

However, I also understand that he might have problem catching up with the MOE syllabus if we decided to switch him back to government school after that.

As for the application, regardless of whether we are accepted, Kev and I will definitely take serious considerations before committing to the PV program. However, sometimes I wonder, what is the true meaning of volunteering? Now that it comes with a motive. And it is a shame that, some people volunteer for a hidden agenda, which entire defeats the meaning of volunteering. And I have to say, I am not that kind of people, and will never tolerate that.

On the other hand, being an active volunteer in the community, I do not mind adding one more volunteering job to my already-full plate. But, I will make sure that I am volunteering for the sake of the school, and not because I need a seat in the school.

I joked with Kev, if the chance of getting selected is as slim as winning a lottery, I rather I win a million-dollar lottery. That’s how much I love my son.

Stay tuned for the outcome.

Learn to give back

I have been spending part of my time doing community work for the past two years or more, and some on and off one-day volunteering events.

I recalled my short stint as a volunteer very long ago with A and D. It was enriching, and exceptionally inspirational. And a few years later, after giving birth to Ziv, I joined a volunteer group, nurturing children.

However, after GE 2011, I decided to contribute in a different way, by volunteering for the Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC. So, I am literally thither and yon.

I assist in house visiting on a regular basis, on some days, I attend briefing and brainstorming sessions with the members, and coordinate and support the constituencies for the weekend activities. (Yes, weekend, but I don’t have a choice, as this is community work.) It has been extremely fulfilling, and at times pleasantly challenging.

I have to say that by volunteering for the alternative party, I see more, learn more, and feel more. I see generous efforts spent to serve the residents, unwavering perseverance in every attempt to reach out to the residents, and tremendous passion to help the residents, all that from the MPs of the alternative party.

Something happened last week, and it set me ponder about a lot of things. I asked myself if I will approve of my son, who graduated from NUS to clean filthy apartments on a regular basis without collecting a single cent? As a very protective mother, I would gave a resounding NO. But my MP friend did it last week.

Give the ruling party the benefit of doubt, and obviously I don’t volunteer for the ruling party, so I do not know if they would do the same. To some, this can be a nitty-gritty chore, “what so great about cleaning dirty homes?”, however, think of it from a mother’s perspective. I would probably think that my university graduate son can do better in private sectors, and why can’t he mind his own business and lead a comfortable life with his equally capable wife, and haveva few grandchildren for me?

Having see so many people from different walks of lives throughout the volunteering journey, I got some answers to some of the most selfish questions I ever asked myself.

After each volunteering session, I heard a lot of “Thank You”. I told my friend, I should be the one thanking her and her husband for all the wonderful jobs both have done for the residents.

Volunteering does not guarantee you the road to Damascus, but certainly, it shed some light on what really happens on the tiny island that we always thought is the best place on earth to stay.

Some pictures to share.

A one-day HGCC tour around Singapore. Can you spot me?



Cleaning up the apartment.



Photos taken from SL's blog.