Reflection by Harriz: Why I volunteer and what it means to me

For the longest time, my exposure to volunteer work has always been those mandated by my school from primary all the way to junior college. I saw it more as a ‘field trip’ with friends, with the underlying reasons behind the need to help others unfortunately lost to me after a day of cleaning and painting, or a few hours of cleaning up the beach. Essentially, you could call me a ‘transient’ volunteer, I did my best while I was there, but in all likelihood, I probably would not have returned or recognize why my effort as a volunteer was necessary. However, one experience I had in JC profoundly changed my entire outlook and attitude towards volunteering.

I was involved in a CCA organized community outreach program for low income households, usually of elderly folk who lived alone in low-income housing in more mature estates. We worked together with the regional CCs to distribute food and household supplies, as well as cleaning up their homes. What made this experience different to me was when I had the chance to spend an entire day with 2 neighbors, Puan Halimah and Ms Yap.

The 2 of them were elderly retired folk in their 70s, living in low-income housing alone, away from their adult children, as they spend most of their time in their homes. While cleaning both their homes, they graciously shared their life stories with me. Most folks such as them usually ended up living there on their own as their adult children do not have the luxury of time to take care of them or there existed strained relations. They appreciated the aid given to them by community partners but were most appreciative of the volunteers who came down weekly to check up on them. They told stories of these volunteers, of varying ages, that came down with sincerity in helping these folks who would otherwise be all by their lonesome. What struck me then was how most of these volunteers were students like me, but they had the conviction and drive to help the people in our community who needed it.

These very volunteers shared to me how volunteering was what gave them a sense of fulfillment amidst the hustle and bustle of studying or working. Most of them did find it tiresome volunteering in their limited free time, but the joy and satisfaction they derived from helping those in need was the driving factor in their actions. This experience greatly changed what I felt was important in life, as I always did feel fulfilled doing such community outreach, with their words the final push for me to more deeply involve myself in volunteer work.

Im proud to say that I left that community outreach effort as a different person. For the next 3 years, I had the privilege of involving myself in more community outreach programs, especially those involving special needs children and the environment. Some of the time I spent in National Service as a police officer also helped to reaffirm my views on community work as I saw the side of Singapore hidden from public eyes. There are still plenty of marginalized and troubled folk who need that extra help by community partners such as us to get them back on their feet.

Personally, to me, volunteer work is the least I could do to give back to society, especially one that has already given so much to me. The sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that I derive from helping others and knowing their lives are a little bit better thanks to my actions has been driving me for the past 3 years since then. In fact, I had the privilege to interview one of the Assistant Programme Managers of Waterways Watch Society (WWS), who has been volunteering for more than 50 years who shares similar sentiments and leaves some words of wisdom for us younger folk and is worth a read in our ‘Partners’ tab!