Dumpling Festival - The First Attempt

Our dumpling festival this year is different from the ones that we had for the past few years, as this is our first in house attempt to wrap and steam dumplings for the residents. The volunteers were fortunate to be guided by a group of uncles and aunties from Pasir Ris East Resident Committee, who imparted the niche dumpling wrapping skills on them. The ingredients for this year was also sponsored by the Committee, and we thank them for their generosity =)

On a side note, today's celebration was very hectic - dumpling wrapping, birthday celebration, SG Cares new volunteers orientation, performances by Mosaic Ministries & Volunteer Guitar Connection, and visit by Medtronic CSR Team all cramped in a single day.

Thanks to all who turned up to support.

A key challenge is to maintain a firm pressure on the dumpling during the knot tying part. It's difficult to ensure the ingredients do not fall out; the bamboo leaf is very slippery while you are tying the ruffian string around that conical shaped thing.




Volunteers reached the Home as early as 9.30am to setup the stations, undergo briefing and training.




Main ingredients: Seasoned Glutinous Rice, Braised Pork & Mushroom, Dried shrimps, and chestnut.




We were lucky the trainers are very very patient. Imagine being bombarded with questions posed by 15 beginners at the same time. How to do this, how to do that, why it does not work the way you did earlier, why the rice fall out, I do not know how to tie the knot please help.... etc kinda questions.










































Key to success - initial rice amount should be very little, followed by appropriate amount of meat, and more rice in the end... There are other intricacies not that easily articulated, this is a skill that takes years to be perfected.









Dumplings ready to be steamed....















Sio Bak Zhang - ready to serve!







Special mention to Vivien who took up the challenge to coordinate food & beverage for more than 80 residents!



Birthday Celebration - for residents born in the month of June.









Water chestnuts for our guessing game. Residents are required to guess the number of chestnuts correctly to win a prize.


A prize or two would cheer you up - this the uncle who guessed the number of chestnuts correctly. The answer is thirty.







Performance by Mosaic Ministry - upbeat songs were belted, and lifted spirits of everyone in hall.












Performance by Volunteer Guitar Connection - Dumpling Festival Theme (Sio Bak Zhang) was performed and received thunderous applause from the audience.




Passing the Parcel Game - music stops, and you win a Grand Prize.



After the celebration, volunteers took one step further to sing & strum at various wards for those who did not participate in the celebration earlier.





Debriefing to all volunteers to share experiences & collect feedback.



The largest turn out for this year - a staggering 60 plus volunteers. Thank you very much for your time and effort to make this celebration a memorable one!