Wong Heng Yee, Alicia | Community Service

Alone We Can Do So Little;

Together We Can Do So Much

-Helen Keller

Community Service

Reading Odyssey

(2017 - 2020)

Reading Odyssey is a 8-weeks community-based intervention programme for children with reading difficulties by SHINE Children & Youth Services that happens twice a year.

I have been volunteering for this programme since 2017 when I was in my 2nd year of study in NP. So far, I have been through 3 runs and was the student leader for 2 runs. During the 8 weeks, I got the opportunity to do mass reading for children before the start of the session and was paired with a child through this 8 weeks where we would play cognitive games and having reading time together.

Apart from volunteering for this 8-weeks programme, I also helped in planning and organising some of their ac-hod events like Reading Odyssey Carnival 2017 and Task Challenge 2018.

Camp Hiro

(2016)

Camp Hiro is an SE that is started by four Year 2 Business & Social Enterprise (BZSE) students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP). The purpose of this SE is to educate youths on pressing social issues all in the name of fun.

I joined the team for 2 runs. The first run was conducted for students from various secondary schools while the second run was for students from the various Community Service clubs in NP.

The students learnt to empathise with elderly through the different activities such as trying to write with a glove that prevents them to bend their fingers and wearing body bender to simulate how some elderly hunch forward as they age.

Hi-Cream

(2016)

Hi-Cream is a new social enterprise (SE) start-up project by Dialogue in the Dark Singapore (DiD), leading by two Year 3 Business & Social Enterprise (BZSE) students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) (as seen in the picture on the right). The purpose of this SE is to spread social inclusion and deaf awareness to the public.

My friends and I will form two groups of 3 to 4 students and volunteer to promote the social enterprise’s social mission whenever we have the time by selling ice-cream to students and lecturers in NP. Before the students and lecturers can purchase the ice-cream at $2 each, they will be guided to use sign languages to purchase their ice-cream.

I enjoyed helping this SE as I can help to spread social inclusion and deaf awareness to my fellow friends and schoolmates. I also got to learn the basic sign languages like how to sign the alphabet, numbers and basic greeting like hello, thank you and welcome.

Running Hour

(2016)

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Running Hour is an annual event run by Runninghour Co-operative Limited. As volunteers, we had to report to East Coast Park by 4.30am so that the charge of each department can brief us and also allow us to have breakfast before the start of the event. I was being appointed to the programme department and was later moved to the baggage area.

I enjoyed volunteering for this event a lot because I got to have small interactions with people with visual impairment and people with special needs while they hand over their pieces of baggage for us to look after before the run. See those smiles on their faces as they are getting themselves ready for the run, I also felt happy and respected them because, despite their disabilities, they are still keen to run either 5 km run or the 10 km run, with the help of a sighted person.

I ended the one-day event with short interactions with the participants again, but this time, with them telling me about their race experiences and how much they had enjoyed themselves in this event.

The Boy's Bridges

(2012 - 2014)

I went back to my primary school every Saturday morning with my church friends to help out with the Boy's Bridge Co-Curriculum Activity (CCA), even though my CCA in primary school was badminton.

Through my time serving there, many new camaraderies had been formed and I have learnt to become a leader. I have also learnt to understand and work with others, through the weekly programmes proposed and facilitated by the person-in-charge, the organising committee and me.

References

Hi-Cream. (2016). [Photograph]. https://www.instagram.com/p/BEU9ZoemCkq/?taken-by=hicream.official

Singapore Sports Council. (n.d.). [Photograph]. https://www.myactivesg.com/whats-on/event/2017/5/runninghour-2017