Haha, how time flies! ASH's volunteer group is almost 1 year old! I really didn't anticipate that I'll volunteer for so long because I thought that it would only be a 3 day event spread over 3 Saturday. We signed up for the Volunteer-A-Day 2005 programme and the first session started on 16 July 2005 and the outdoor trip planned to Chinatown on 30 July. Hmm, I was pretty aloof or so is now, but haha I have enjoyed throughly during the one year of volunteering. You know knowing so many wonderful friends like Eric, Jiahao, Weini, Carolyn and the elderly who freely dispensed advice on good health and life.
Anyway, back to today session, we went around the home to sing. It is one of the most anticipated singing session that the elderly look forward too. Hehe, we must also learn new songs lest the elderly get bored by the usual songs though there are the most requested song like the Hokkian song- Strive Hard to Win. Today, we practised Stand by me, Never on Sunday and many more. Hmm, we learnt alot of new songs today.
Hey, just feel free to join us on Saturday afternoon. It start at 2.30 pm to about 5 pm. As the saying goes; the more the merrier. I include the song lyrics of Stand by Me, one of the songs we practised today.
Stand by Me - Ben E. King
When the night has come
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light
we'll seeNo I won't be afraid,
no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me,
oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me,
oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me,
stand by me
Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
My Most Memorable Volunteering Experience- 10 June 2006
Last Sat, I arrived at the ASH with a heavy heart as I intended to stop volunteering indefinitely. My heavy workload is getting on me. I was wondering if I could commit on Sat.
I arrived from work and was really late for the meeting on ASH fund-raising event which will be held in November. For your information, there will be games, some handicraft stalls and food stalls to be set up for this fund-raising event. After the discussion on the ASH fund-raising event which was complemented with some snacks; courtesy of Surin, we proceeded to our usual singing session.
At level 3, one elderly uncle pointed at us, the regular volunteers and excitedly exclaimed that we were there last week and the week before. He also wondered when the next handicraft classes will start. It was at that moment that I realised the significant of volunteering.
Volunteering is a commitment. From the elderly response, I realised that though they are happy to see volunteers, they are MOST happy when they see familiar faces - the regular volunteers as it signified that they are sincere in befriending them, keeping the friendship alive and are committed. It indicates that they are so important that volunteers willingly spend the precious Saturday with them. It meant that they are not forsaken.
Last Saturday was the most memorable experience as it dawned on me that I should continue where possible as it meant a lot to the elderly. Also, I realised that it is important to ensure the continuity of any activities implemented as long as the activity serves its purpose in engaging the elderly and satisfying their needs. During the public talk held on Sunday at Henderson Community Centre, I shared my most memorable volunteering experience though I don't really know all of the volunteers. However, I believe that, being senior volunteers, they could share with me their advice and experience.
Volunteering is a committment. I will continue where possible.
I arrived from work and was really late for the meeting on ASH fund-raising event which will be held in November. For your information, there will be games, some handicraft stalls and food stalls to be set up for this fund-raising event. After the discussion on the ASH fund-raising event which was complemented with some snacks; courtesy of Surin, we proceeded to our usual singing session.
At level 3, one elderly uncle pointed at us, the regular volunteers and excitedly exclaimed that we were there last week and the week before. He also wondered when the next handicraft classes will start. It was at that moment that I realised the significant of volunteering.
Volunteering is a commitment. From the elderly response, I realised that though they are happy to see volunteers, they are MOST happy when they see familiar faces - the regular volunteers as it signified that they are sincere in befriending them, keeping the friendship alive and are committed. It indicates that they are so important that volunteers willingly spend the precious Saturday with them. It meant that they are not forsaken.
Last Saturday was the most memorable experience as it dawned on me that I should continue where possible as it meant a lot to the elderly. Also, I realised that it is important to ensure the continuity of any activities implemented as long as the activity serves its purpose in engaging the elderly and satisfying their needs. During the public talk held on Sunday at Henderson Community Centre, I shared my most memorable volunteering experience though I don't really know all of the volunteers. However, I believe that, being senior volunteers, they could share with me their advice and experience.
Volunteering is a committment. I will continue where possible.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Dumpling Festival - 3rd June 2006- Part 2
On 3rd June, we celebrated Dumpling festival organised by our Chairman, Eric and our great committee with Jiahao, Weini, Sharon, Carolyn,Kee Teck, Esther, our senior volunteers and their friends. Under the hot smoldering sun, you guess it right! we perspired uncontrollably! Special thanks must goes to Touch Ubi volunteers who spent an hour giving a stellar performance of song, dance and number-guessing game. Hee, the elderly really love the oldies particularly one duet song. One uncle pulled me over, flashed an appreciative smile with his thumb up, and said, '' Very good!".
This event also displayed how talented our All Saints Home's volunteers are. We have really good MCs who successfully built up the atmosphere and we discovered a potential singer like Weini. Haha, so next time you all know who to look for a solo singing performance. The talent is all in here. What's more, Edmund, one of us senior volunteers spent the day to be our photographer who took all the professional photo shots as shown.
The weather was already hot. Add to the sizzling and sexy dance by one of the ASH staff, you can imagine what the atmosphere was like. It was simply hot coupled with the volunteers' burning desire to share the dumpling festival with the elderly. It was a mind-blowing event. Don't regret not joining us hor, we be celebrating Mooncake festival, you can join us then.
We also played two games namely the dragonboat and Bingo games. For the dragonboat game, there were 4 pairs of elderly competiting to be the fastest in passing the dragonboat picture starting from elderly A to elderly B and back to elderly A. It was a really exciting game and great exercise for their arms too.
As for the bingo game, the winner must strike 5 numbers and they would win a prize. Hee, there were total of 10 prizes. The volunteers assisted the elderly to help check the list of numbers they had with 25 numbers scrambled by Edmund.
ASH volunteers also performed five songs; 1 English(Top of the World), 1 Hokkian(Strive to Win) and 3 Chinese songs( Shanghai Tang, and Catch the fish )
Special thanks must goes to Tianchi and his collegues who donated $150 for the food and drinks. The elderly had some goreng pisang and etc. Though they didn't join us, their love and kindness had spread far and wide to the elderly. What is a celebration like without some good food?
The event was a success. Although all volunteers were tired from the long event, it was all worth it. They had made a difference that day to so many elderly.
Meanwhile, do join us for the Mooncake festival. Stay tune.
This event also displayed how talented our All Saints Home's volunteers are. We have really good MCs who successfully built up the atmosphere and we discovered a potential singer like Weini. Haha, so next time you all know who to look for a solo singing performance. The talent is all in here. What's more, Edmund, one of us senior volunteers spent the day to be our photographer who took all the professional photo shots as shown.
The weather was already hot. Add to the sizzling and sexy dance by one of the ASH staff, you can imagine what the atmosphere was like. It was simply hot coupled with the volunteers' burning desire to share the dumpling festival with the elderly. It was a mind-blowing event. Don't regret not joining us hor, we be celebrating Mooncake festival, you can join us then.
We also played two games namely the dragonboat and Bingo games. For the dragonboat game, there were 4 pairs of elderly competiting to be the fastest in passing the dragonboat picture starting from elderly A to elderly B and back to elderly A. It was a really exciting game and great exercise for their arms too.
As for the bingo game, the winner must strike 5 numbers and they would win a prize. Hee, there were total of 10 prizes. The volunteers assisted the elderly to help check the list of numbers they had with 25 numbers scrambled by Edmund.
ASH volunteers also performed five songs; 1 English(Top of the World), 1 Hokkian(Strive to Win) and 3 Chinese songs( Shanghai Tang, and Catch the fish )
Special thanks must goes to Tianchi and his collegues who donated $150 for the food and drinks. The elderly had some goreng pisang and etc. Though they didn't join us, their love and kindness had spread far and wide to the elderly. What is a celebration like without some good food?
The event was a success. Although all volunteers were tired from the long event, it was all worth it. They had made a difference that day to so many elderly.
Meanwhile, do join us for the Mooncake festival. Stay tune.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Dumpling Festival - 3rd June 2006
The photos taken during our dumpling festival celebration are here...
All Saints Volunteers
Sharon being our MC for the day
Our humourous MC
All Saints nurse performing dance!
Volunteers & old folks - Having fun together
Showing Enjoyment
Michelle and Sze Li
Touch Ubi volunteers and Trainees performing
Weini giving out snacks!
Jia Hao being our sound director for the event
Teck Ee looking on.
A talented elderly performing.
Volunteers and staffs serving food and drinks.
SerHui posing with the elderly.
Touch Ubi hosting the show.
Weini and Michelle posing with a cool aunty.
ASH volunteers and Touch Ubi volunteers performing Line-dancing.
Playing the Dragonboat theme game.
Who pull the Dragonboat picture first
Jiayou, we'll be the first!
ASH volunteers singing and dancing.
Playing the Bingo game. MC for the game, Sharon asked, "Who got the number? "
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