3J Character Education: August 2011

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Service Learning

This whole experience has really changed my thinking of the place i live in. Before i went to the Home, i always feel that Singapore was such a rich and prosperous country, and that only a very small group of people are suffering and in great need. When i went to the Home, I went to talk with the elderly there. It was hard for me to communicate with them as most of them only speak dialects, and i could not. I was shocked that many of them could not speak or understand English, even though it is our everyday language. It has really changed my mindset of the way we live. I have become more aware of how some people can enjoy the simplest of things, yet we need the latest gadgets and entertainment to keep us entertained.

After conversing with them for awhile, I learnt about their family background. I learnt of the many hardships these elderly people had to go through just to make ends meet, and yet people today could not spare a thought for these things. When i first talked to one of them, she started to cry because she was so happy that people went to visit her. I was so shocked that these people were so happy just to see people visit them. Through this service-learning experience, i learnt to be more appreciative of what has been provided for me, such as housing, education and food, and not take everything for granted. I listened to how their lives were last time; it was great insight for us of the time these elderly lived in. We also talked about what are the things we enjoy and what they usually do everyday. I was amazed to learn these people do not watch a lot of television; instead they talk to each other or just rest. I was also amazed that these people do not have board games such as Chinese chess, as that is what I thought elderly people like to do. They are just a bunch of people taking life easy, living their lives one day at a time, and we, people in the fast lane, have a lot to learn from these elderly people.

Before I went to visit the Home, I did not understand the people who are experiencing hardships, having no money to pay and not even a home to stay. However, after I visited the Home, I learnt how many people are forgetting about these needy people, as they care only for themselves. These people feel neglected by the society and it hurts them emotionally, to the point in which one of them would shed tears of joy when a bunch of students visited them. In the future, I will continue giving back to the society, whenever I spot an opportunity to help needy people, I will. Also in the future, I will try my best to find time away from my studies and jobs, to come and visit these Homes to keep these elderly folks company, because without these people, there would not be the Singapore we know today.

3J Joel Ngiam (25)

3J Service Learning

Saturday 27 August 2011

3J Lloyd Teo (32)

This service-learning project was definitely a refreshing experience for me. It made me realise the importance of giving back to society and has also matured me in my thinking. Before embarking on this project, I always think that Singaporeans are selfish and self-centered . However after completing the whole project, I realise that Singaporeans are actually very generous when it comes to charity. I am also now more aware of the less well off people living in Singapore and it is our responsibility to provide assistance whenever possible. Charity does not circle around monetary terms, it can be done by simply taking care of the elderly in homes and that is just a little effort that we can make to repay the society which has nurtured us to the way we are right now.

From washing cars to visiting a home, my class have truly displayed our compassion towards helping the needy people. Everyone had the right focus in mind and that spurred us to complete our task quickly regardless of raising funds or communicating with the elderly. At the home, everyone had different allocated jobs and my job was to serve tea and communicate with the elderly. However, due to the fact that I cannot speak dialects, it was very challenging to communicate with the elderly. I have tried talking to one of them but she could not comprehend so she just replied with a smile. Later I was fortunate that i have other friends who can speak dialects to take over my position to interact with them. Although I felt helpless for a while, I suddenly recalled the sense of accomplishment when we finished washing a car, knowing that we have successfully raised another $10 and that motivated me to search for that feeling again. That was when i thought perhaps I could help the elderly by keeping the home clean. Thus i took a broom and swept the floor with the others. Although sweeping the floor is not noticable to the elderly, i was still overjoyed that I have contributed a little to help the elderly together with my classmates and that was a time that i will never forget.

By taking care of the eldery in homes, we have not only gave back to the society but we have also reassured them that there are still people out there who cares for them and that motivates them to carry on living. My contribution to the society will not end here as i want to help more needy people . These projects can mature me in terms of my thinking and help others in need at the same time therefore I will still hope to participate in more related events like this.