Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/31/2016 - 22:31

Diversity and Inclusion

Children and Youth

Health

Education

Elderly

9-year-old Christine shows us why her school holidays are 'way cool' and how no one is too young to help.
You get to be trishaw rider, courier and cook
You get to be trishaw rider, courier and cook

Volunteering is like a fun day out in KidZania.  

In KidZania, I made burgers and pizzas for myself. But at Willing Hearts, I packed and prepared meals to feed thousands! That was way cool.

In KidZania, I could only play with my sister and other children while my mother watched. At Willing Hearts, everyone in my family can work and play together. 

During one visit, my whole family stood side by side to cut sausages. I have never seen so many sausages in my whole entire life! 

During the school holidays, the Tan family would embark on volunteering stints around Singapore. Here, the family helps with meal preparations at Willing Hearts, a volunteer-run soup kitchen that serves 5,000 meals a day.
9-year-old Christine was the spark of these family outings. Having boundless energy and always curious, she’d coax her mother Dorothy to take her out on these volunteering stints whenever the school holidays came around.
Dorothy helps Christine’s younger sister, Angie, put on plastic gloves as they help with packing meals at Willing Hearts.
The girls make themselves useful, diving right into the heat of activity with other volunteers in the kitchen.
 
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In a room full of adults, Christine learns to communicate with volunteers to ensure that the packing process runs swiftly and smoothly.
She packs fried fish and chilli in boxes of rice and vegetables for meal recipients, who are often elderly people that are physically immobile.
After packing meals, the girls head off in their mother’s car to deliver food personally to meal recipients. Angie helps direct her mother as she reads out a list of addresses.
Christine and Angie lead the way, reading out door numbers, as they locate the right address to deliver each meal to.
They’d ring on doorbells to hand over the meal personally. If no one answers, the meal is hung on the door frame to be collected later.
Dorothy greets a meal recipient before handing lunch over.
The girls are tireless despite having worked in the kitchen and running about.
On another day, Dorothy borrowed an elder-friendly trishaw from Cycling Without Age to take her mother and a neighbour out on a ride around Bishan Park – a rare treat. The girls try their hand at steering the wheel.
Madam Choo was Dorothy’s neighbour in a previous neighbourhood she lived in. The outing offered a chance for her to bond with the girls.
With everyone packed in the trishaw, Dorothy leads the way around the park as everyone enjoyed the cool breeze.
The two older ladies enjoy a short stroll near a lake as Dorothy looks on. Madam Choo loves flowers and kept pointing out the different varieties she saw.
Madam Choo points out changes in the neighbourhood that she hasn’t noticed recently. The ride offered her a chance to explore the area beyond where she’d normally be.
Despite the hot afternoon sun, it’s a lovely ride at the park.

Another time, my little sister and I stood in line with 5 other adults to pack lunch boxes. We just watched and learnt on the spot. It was not as difficult as it seemed.

I felt rather useful that I can do an important job like any adult. 

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I have worked as a courier in KidZania. Outside of KidZania, I was also a courier.

I delivered meals instead of mail. We had to buzz around like bumble bees. We buzzed from door to door, making sure everyone got their meals on time. 

I did not get to be a taxi driver in KidZania, but riding on a trishaw was way cool.

During the June school holidays, my mother and I did a charity trishaw ride with Cycling Without Age. She rode while I tried to offer rides to strangers. Only 2 persons rode with us for a short distance. I wondered why. Everyone was really busy. 

For our second ride, we decided to ask a few elderly people we knew. Thankfully, Ah Ma and her friend, Aunty Choo, agreed quickly.

I was really excited because I think Aunty Choo would really enjoy the ride. She has trouble walking for a long time. I think she has not been to many places.  

Ah Ma, Aunty Choo and Mummy spoke a lot in Chinese dialect. I couldn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. They looked like they enjoyed themselves. I will ask Mummy if we can ride with them again. 

I think volunteering is really enjoyable, especially when it’s with friends and family. We get to learn new skills and meet new people. 

When I am able to serve others, I feel I become a really useful person. 

When elderly people see my sister and I bringing them their meals, some would give us a big smile.  Do you know a lot of them have not seen young children in a long time? 

Volunteering does not take up much time. No one is too young to help.  The best part is, helping out in the kitchen is really, really fun. Time flies when we are having fun.

Volunteer with Willing Hearts or take some seniors out on a trishaw ride.

Not your cup of tea? You can also volunteer as a running guide with Running Hour, play tennis with blind tennis players at Soundball Singapore or do some Zumba with the elderly. 

Wellness
Aging
Mobility
Hunger
Volunteering
Values
Active Aging
Family
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Meet Christine
Christine Tan spent her school holidays volunteering with her family in different capacities, from preparing free meals for the underprivileged at Willing Hearts to doing a charity trishaw ride with Cycling Without Age.
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