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View AllI feel very happy. I look forward to colouring and painting because there are so many colours. The elderly were not able to tell which colour they wanted so I made choices for them. I hope they liked the...
read moreStudent Volunteer
Together with a group of like minded volunteers, we organise various activities such as monthly birthday parties, festival celebrations, snack distributions on public holidays, boss for the day and outings. I have a love one who is afflicted with...
read moreMr Yong Kwon Seng
When 1st stepped foot in the home and met the resident, felt heavy burden what can I contribute to make their stay @ the home better and happier? I knew it was not a easy task but if we...
read moreBenard Tan
It was good to bring joy to the residents of the Saint Andrew Nursing Home, especially to those who seldom have visitors. Celebrating the various special holidays would give the residents a sense of time, with a change of...
read moreLim Eng Sin
I did not know that I could influence people. I proved myself wrong when I encouraged an elderly to colour. I gave him time to think whether he would like to do the activity. I started colouring first because...
read moreStudent Volunteer
1Jn3:18 ‘My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.’ This was in our hearts when we started serving in the community. When the Church asked for volunteers to befriend...
read moreEliska Ho
When I first became a Befriender at SANH, I was worried that I would not be effective since I speak mainly English. However, I soon realized that I only need to listen to the residents more than talk, and...
read moreTarnin Thamrin
Happy and sad because some of them could not hear or see. I am glad that I could at least help them with the activity.
read moreStudent Volunteer
My first impression at St Andrew’s Nursing Home….What can we do with the residents when 85% are on wheelchair? They were also not too enthusiastic with exercises. Some even refuse to talk when I try to engage them. We...
read moreJessie Tong
Student Volunteer
I feel very happy. I look forward to colouring and painting because there are so many colours. The elderly were not able to tell which colour they wanted so I made choices for them. I hope they liked the pictures with vibrant colours.
Mr Yong Kwon Seng
Together with a group of like minded volunteers, we organise various activities such as monthly birthday parties, festival celebrations, snack distributions on public holidays, boss for the day and outings.
I have a love one who is afflicted with mental illness hence I hold the mental health cause very close to my heart. Mental illness is unfortunately shrouded in stigma therefore I see myself as an advocate. I strongly believe as volunteers we have to be the voices of our special friends. In addition, I am inspired by the many dedicated volunteers who put in time and effort to further the cause, in particular, Mr Lee PL and Mdm Catherine Chua who have been my volunteer mentors for the past 8 years. I have learnt so much from them. Lastly, I am very fortunate to be given the opportunity by our special friends to enter their lives. They share generously with me their life stories and I have benefited from these anecdotes. To be able to contribute to their happiness drives me to want to do more for the mental health community.
Ultimately, volunteering makes you a better person. Over the course of volunteering, I realised I have become more observant, caring and less judgmental. I develop a heart of empathy for our special friends. Because my sister also volunteers so our relationship is even better than before. Volunteering teaches you to plan your time better so that you can set aside time weekly.
Volunteering also taught me to look past things especially when certain things do not go as expected. Our special friends have showed me that they may have health conditions and may bigger issues to worry about but they try to keep a smile on their faces when they see the volunteers. Our special friends are the most appreciate group of people I have ever met and they do have a place in our society.
Benard Tan
When 1st stepped foot in the home and met the resident, felt heavy burden what can I contribute to make their stay @ the home better and happier? I knew it was not a easy task but if we are doing His work we have to surrender our fear and desires to his will. After a few visits witnessed the residents' eagerness to do the exercises and enjoying singing and the games played. The initial fears evaporated and it's place hope, arises that the residents feel their stay have improved for the glory of Christ. Now whenever I am at the home it becomes a place of hope not despairs.
Lim Eng Sin
It was good to bring joy to the residents of the Saint Andrew Nursing Home, especially to those who seldom have visitors. Celebrating the various special holidays would give the residents a sense of time, with a change of their daily routine. I think the residents look forward to our visits.
Student Volunteer
I did not know that I could influence people. I proved myself wrong when I encouraged an elderly to colour. I gave him time to think whether he would like to do the activity. I started colouring first because the elderly refused to do the task. Soon, he picked up a colour pencil and joined me in the colouring. I’m not sure what made him participate. Maybe he felt sorry for me as I had pleaded for him to join me.
Eliska Ho
1Jn3:18
‘My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.’
This was in our hearts when we started serving in the community. When the Church asked for volunteers to befriend the residents of SANH we stepped forward. We wanted to do something meaningful and yet fun for the residents so together with Evergreen Group we started the exercise session in the befriender program.
Our greatest hurdle was residents’ participation but we build bonds with the residents as well as bonding with one another. After some weeks we begin to see more participation. That was a big encouragement to the volunteers and especially for us leading the exercises.
Fun things to do. We all love it. Karaoke and games, arts and craft. They loved to sing. When they hold the mike, it’s their moment, it’s their stage. Some of them even dance. And the volunteers also dance and sing along with them. We now know who are the karaoke king and queen amongst us. When we play games with them, it seem they momentarily return to their childhood days. They were so joyful. They were having fun. So care free. It brought smiles and joy to all the volunteers seeing them enjoying themselves.
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Tarnin Thamrin
When I first became a Befriender at SANH, I was worried that I would not be effective since I speak mainly English. However, I soon realized that I only need to listen to the residents more than talk, and a smile, a simple “Hello” or “您好吗?”, a gentle pat on the hand, are more than enough to reach out to them. Seeing them enthusiastically participating in the activities organised for them, and their happy faces after each session give me much joy and gratitude for the opportunity to do something worthwhile for them and with them.
Student Volunteer
Happy and sad because some of them could not hear or see. I am glad that I could at least help them with the activity.
Jessie Tong
My first impression at St Andrew’s Nursing Home….What can we do with the residents when 85% are on wheelchair? They were also not too enthusiastic with exercises. Some even refuse to talk when I try to engage them.
We had arts & craft with the residents before CNY, teaching them to make lanterns to decorate the multi-purpose hall for the CNY celebration. This exercise brought a lot of interaction between the volunteers and the residents. Seeing this brought a lot of joy to my heart.
We invited the Yio Chu Kang CC line dance participantst to perform during our CNY celebration & the recent National Day celebration. One line dance participant commented that the residents are more responsive this round. Though she was there to perform she too was encouraged that a little act could change the residents countertance.
As we make effort to know the residents by name, I personnaly felt that they do look forward to our visits. Our goal is really to spread some joy and I believe we managed to, to some extent. From Jessie Tong, COOS Evergreen Fellowship
