What: Bingo & Afternoon Tea Session with the Elderly
When: 18 December 2014
Participants: Bi Hui, Edith, Jaslin, Jean, Jiamin, May Yen, Xinyi, Yanling, Yanping
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Edith, Participant:
It has been a long time since I did volunteer work and I’m really glad to be able to help out for the Bingo Session/Afternoon Tea with the elderly.
After a 10min walk from AMK MRT station, we arrived at the senior activity centre and started packing and distributing snacks to the elderly.
Soon after, it’s Bingo time! My task was to help the elderly look out for the numbers that were drawn and it was definitely heartening to see all the smiles on their faces regardless whether they won a prize or not.
It was a memorable experience and I hope to be able to volunteer again soon.
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What: Bingo & Afternoon Tea Session with the Elderly
When: 10 December 2014
Participants: Bi Hui, Jaslin, Jiamin, Joanne, Phyllis, Xinyi, Yanjun, Yanling, Yanping
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Yanjun, Participant:
This isn’t the first time I’m doing volunteer work in the elderly environment but this is definitely the first time I’m playing the BINGO game with the elderly. Having the mindset that the elderly are clueless about the rules of BINGO and being a non-dialect speaker myself, I was a little worried that I won’t be able to explain the rules to them well. However, this worry was uncalled for because little did I know, they are actually experts at the BINGO game and in fact, they play the game every week at the activity centre.
It’s been a really meaningful Wednesday afternoon and I believe that it has created fond memories for not just the volunteers but also the elderly. It’s really heartwarming to see the enthusiasm of the elderly and I hope they have enjoyed our companionship even though it was for a mere few hours. The smiles of the elderly is definitely more than enough if there’s ever a need for reciprocation.
It’s a great feeling to be showered with care and love from strangers, isn’t it? I think it feels even better to be the one to shower those care and love to make someone’s day.
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Jiamin, Participant:
It’s been almost 4 years since we had a similar volunteering session – playing bingo with the elderly that I almost forgot how the game was being played. Luckily, the Senior Activity Centre’s In-Charge gave us a short briefing and soon the game began!
We started with a few rounds of warm up and prizes (sponsored by both the centre and our members) were given out at each round. Each of us took care of 1-2 tables and our job is to assist the elderly in case they missed out any numbers. Even though most of us do not speak their dialects, but we could still communicate easily through a mix of Chinese/English + hand gestures. It was fun seeing the elderly “chanting†their anticipated numbers and even more heartening to see the smiles on their faces when they bingo-ed.
It was definitely a well spent afternoon and I really hope we can do more of such charity on a regular basis.
Community | Comments Off on Bingo & Afternoon Tea Session with the Elderly (10 Dec)
What: RBKD Newspaper Collection Drive
When: 1 & 2 November 2014
Where: All around Singapore
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Angela, Participant:
If you want to do charity but not sure how, a good start will be to join RBKD’s newspaper collection.
You only need to keep as much newspapers as you can (at least ankle height). RBKD will arrange for collection, sell them and donate the money to charity.
Although I kept only ankle height of newspapers, I used my place for a friend who had kept more than knee height but was unable to store them.
On the day of collection, RBKD came to my place to collect the newspapers. Feels happy to be able to do a part for charity. Thanks RBKD!
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Yanling, Participant:
Newspaper drive this year included going to a private company to collect boxes of paper. As it was on a weekday, we could only rely on a van to transport the papers.
Upon the sight of the whole chunk of boxes, we realised we needed more than 5 trips (and maybe much more) to be able to clear everything!
The boss nicely helped us with the loading of the boxes but our van could only take that many boxes each time.. Thankfully, we met a really nice supervisor uncle on our 2nd trip to the recycling center, who introduced a garang guni uncle to us. With the help of the uncle and his assistant, we loaded one whole big lorry of boxes and cleared allllll the boxes within one day!
Annual Giving, Community, weareone | Comments Off on Annual Giving (Charity) – RBKD Newspaper Collection Drive
What: Annual Giving (Volunteering) – Free Breakfast Project
When: 25 October 2014
Participants: Adelyn, Allan, Jiamin, Joanne, Shu Pei, Yeeling
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Shu Pei, Participant:
Free breakfast was provided for elderly at the service centre, and also included a talk on how to apply and use ATM cards. This is to help the elderly receive aid from the government. The talk was given by a representative in English, but a volunteer helped to translate it into Hokkien.
When the talk ended, we assisted the old folks to fill in the application form for the ATM cards. The elderly had Mee Goreng and coffee for breakfast. As there was not enough people, we were 手忙脚乱 when distributing the food. I noticed that a lot of the old folks did not eat their food or left it half eaten, and it was almost 11am. Upon asking, I found that they were keeping the food for lunch. Some elderly also stayed back to chat with each other after the event ended. I find that the centre is a good place for the elderly to meet up and accompany each other. The elderly would not feel lonely when they have activities they can enjoy as a group.
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Adelyn, Participant:
The breakfast project held on 25 October is a memorable day for me even though I’m new. This project gives me the opportunity to interact with the lower income families and letting me know how blessed I am. If given another chance, I will continue to participate in projects like this.
Annual Giving, Community, weareone | Comments Off on Annual Giving (Volunteering) – Free Breakfast Project
What: Annual Giving (Volunteering) – Free Breakfast Project
When: 27 September 2014
Participants: Bi Hui, Celest, Celest’s Mum, Jean, Jiamin, Ming, Pei Jun, Xinyi, Yanling
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Bi Hui, Participant:
Waking up early in the morning on a weekend… definitely not something anyone would do, including me. But for a good cause, we are here at Bukit Merah View, doing voluntary work! *Yays with thick eyebags*
I would say that it is really nice to have such events where the centres give free breakfast to the elderlies, as it was really pleasing to see that such little things that you do, could bring big smiles to the elderlies. It was rather hectic at my place, as when we started preparing for the breakfast, elderlies also started to crowd around our booths.
We had some communication problems too as 3 of us don’t speak fluent Cantonese, but luckily we managed to pull through!
Definitely something nice to start up your day doing something meaningful, and I also hope that we can be involved in other kinds of charity events like this other than making breakfast.
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Celest, Participant:
I am pleased to participate in RBKD’s “Year End Volunteering†activity.
On a Saturday morning at THK Seniors Activity Centre @ Henderson, we began preparing breakfast by spreading butter and kaya on the white bread, and pouring out 3-in-1 coffee into cups. Soon the elderly residing at the neighbourhood, started making their entrance one by one into the centre and sat down at the table while waiting to be served. From the looks on their faces, I could tell that they were really looking forward to the breakfast. As we served them coffee and bread with a plain spread of kaya and butter, they ate and drank with satisfaction, notwithstanding. A few of them even expressed their gratitude before they left, which I did not expect at all.
How many of us would be easily contented eating bread with only kaya and butter? I personally do eat bread too almost every morning, but with a change in my bread spreads everyday.
Being a volunteer in this “Free Breakfast Project†has indeed been a meaningful one for me.
Annual Giving, Community, weareone | Comments Off on Annual Giving (Volunteering) – Free Breakfast Project
What: RBKD Newspaper Collection Drive 2014
When: 14 & 15 June 2014
Where: All around Singapore
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Yanling, Participant:
Every Newspaper Drive, I would always feel this message strongly: 积少æˆå¤š. Nothing is too little or too much, without everyone’s efforts, we would not have gotten the whole lorry and one whole tonne of newspapers.
Unity is definitely strength! :)
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What: Chinese New Year Charity
When: 26 January 2014
Where: Ang Mo Kio
Participant(s): Bengyan, Bihui, Candice, Clarence, Corine, Eunice, Jasmine, Jean, Jiamin, Joanne, Jolie, Junyee, Lionel, May Yen, Ming, Peijun, Phyllis, Ser Chee, Shirley, Shu Pei, Shuwen, Vanessa, Xin Jie, Xinyi, Yanjun, Yanling, Yanping, Yeeling, Yingmei, Yunxian, Yvonne, Zhiqing
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Vanessa, Participant:
Being just my second year participating in the charity, I was eager to find out what was in store for the day. There were new items to be distributed, and more blocks for us to visit, so it was no doubt going to be quite a busy day for us.
I reached early to help out with the unloading, and one by one, everyone arrived and soon we had everything set and were ready to go!
As usual, we went through our list and distributed the rations to our old friends, having small talk with them and greeting them “æ–°å¹´å¿«ä¹” and “Happy New Year!”. Some households still remembered us, and it’s delightful that they look forward to seeing us every time. No doubt, there’s that subtle sense of happiness when they thanked us, or said things like “God bless youâ€.
We ended with our lohei and well wishes for the new year; another moment when I felt that we were together as a family again, with everyone aiming together for our goals~ :)
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Yanling, Participant:
This was actually my first year taking part in the distribution of food packs directly to the elderly. Initially, I was kind of worried as to what to say to the elderly because I basically can’t lame and crap with them right.. Haha.. But thankfully, when we were at the first house, the aunty and uncle were very friendly! In addition, we were conversing in Hokkien which is the same dialect as my family, “ga-kee-nang” man! Chill la~ haha..
The aunty was really friendly and kept saying that we were of her grandchildren’s age. She also kept asking what we were doing (schooling or working) and commented “Oh can get married already!” Hahaha something that you really get when you 拜年 to your relatives!
We then had a group photo with the two elderly people at home. When the photographer, Vincent, was counting the usual 1, 2, 3, he actually said it in hokkien “Yeo, li, sha”!! Hahaha it was totally unexpected and we had to control our laughter to maintain our smiles for the photo!
Although I left my group earlier, there were many interesting stories shared during our debrief for me to experience the joy of giving as well :)
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Jolie, Participant:
After so many years, I finally managed to join RBKD for the charity drive this time round. As I missed out on the past few years, I was kind of clueless about what we had to do, but my group leader, Joanne, showed us the ropes and we caught on very quickly. I have learnt that a trolley is very important. If it is too bulky, IKEA’s recyclable bag is even better! Bananas, thanks for not sharing such a good and useful item.
Whenever we go to the houses and give the CNY goodies to the elderly, the thankful smiles and looks they have on their faces are really the best part of doing all these. A couple that we visited even had the polaroid that some of the members took with them last year. They shared with us that during the previous CNY, his wife was unable to celebrate CNY as she was hospitalized, and so they were looking forward to celebrating it together this year.
I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s charity drive and hope I will be able to join again!
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Community | Comments Off on RBKD CNY Charity 2014 as Rui En’s Birthday Gift
What: weareone: our fifth chapter Spring Cleaning
When: End Sept/Early Oct
Where: Jalan Bukit Merah
Participants: Bi Hui, Jiamin, Joanne Chong, Madeline, May Yen, Ming, Pei Jun, Rui En, Xinyi and Yanling
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May Yen, Participant:
I consider myself privileged to be able take part in the weareone Spring Cleaning. This experience left me reflecting on my own blessedness and determination to do more whenever possible.
I was tasked to pack and clean up the kitchen area so that we could give the kitchen a fresh coat. Cockroaches came crawling/ flying out from all directions when we were cleaning the kitchen. That was the greatest obstacle that we faced. Most of us were afraid of these little insects, so cans of Baygon spray were always by our side so that we could spray at them instantaneously before they could come close to us! This was the first time I have seen so many roaches (in the hundreds) ranging from baby to adult – one very apt Chinese phrase to describe this is 祖宗三代.
Before…
… and After!
It took us 5 full days to “transform†this little unit into a warm and inviting home. What warmed my heart were the commitment and the enduring spirit that Rangels have shown during the spring cleaning. All of them put in 101% effort in all areas, even in the littlest tasks such as clearing the rubbish. No one uttered a word of complaint; in fact, everyone was cleaning the house with a joyous spirit.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Rui En join us in this spring cleaning activity. She dirtied her hands by packing and cleaning the house, and she also witnessed the flying insects and braved it together with us even though that’s her greatest fear! One incident I remembered vividly was when she actually climbed up the kitchen cabinet and joined me to scrub the kitchen grill on the last night of our work. She also chatted with us while working, and also with the family members as well as their neighbours. She enjoyed herself thoroughly and served humbly.
One thing that I experienced is that serving and giving derives much more joy than receiving.
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Madeline, Participant:
I’m very grateful to have been part of this year’s weareone spring cleaning project. I joined the team for the first 2 weeks of spring cleaning, where we cleaned out the flat in the first week and scrubbed the flat the next week.
I still remember the first time I stepped into the flat – I simply could not comprehend how such a large family could all fit into, much less live in such a small and cluttered space. At that moment, the idea of cleaning out the entire flat seemed so daunting, but thankfully once we started the packing and sorting, the mountain of clothes and bags slowly started to disappear.
On one of the days, a few of us were tasked to clear out the kitchen area, which was full of opened food items and cockroaches ranging from egg to monstrosity. We were all quite afraid of picking up the cockroach-infested items and ended up spraying the can of (useless) Baygon most of the time, and so things were progressing pretty slowly. Everything changed when May Yen came and was able to speak in Malay to the owner of the flat who allowed us to throw everything away, which speeded up the process quite considerably. Having never seen so many cockroaches in my life before, this was quite an experience for me.
It was very heartening to see how welcoming the family was – the lady owner trusted us so much with her belongings even though I could barely communicate a word with her, and the kids looked forward to our presence and were so full of energy while they helped us with the cleaning.
It was also quite a surprise to see Rui En join us on several occasions. It’s not every day that you get to see your idol lug trash bags across the corridor or bend down next to you to sort food packages, and then appear on your TV screen the very next day. Seeing her sincerity in giving back to the society and helping out so earnestly really made me respect her even more.
Even though I wasn’t around towards the end of the project, seeing the photos of the happy family in their clean & newly-painted flat really made my day. It would take a lot of effort on the family’s part to prevent things from reverting back to their original state, but I’m glad that we did whatever we could, and were able to make a difference to this family.
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Community, weareone | 1 Comment
What: Making of Pineapple Tarts
When: 3rd/4th week of Jan
Participants: Bengyan, Jean, Phyllis, Ser Chee, Shirley, Xinyi and Yanling
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Shirley, Participant:
Let’s take a look into the Pineapple Tarts making process..
It’s a love/hate relationship.
Love being; for the recipients.
Hate being; You smell it but you can’t eat it while you’re making it.
Momentum picked up fast this time round but we’re basically racing to meet our dear ovens’ requirements (meaning to produce fully filled-up trays before hitting the re-heating point.) So what do we do when trays were in the ovens? You see tracks of unbaked pineapple tarts on the working table…
Pineapples, were our best friends and enemies for that few days åˆçˆ±åˆæ¨å•Š~~
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Now, let’s take a peep into some of the Pineapple Tarts making process..
Wrapping of pineapple paste with the dough
Standardizing the size of the pineapple tarts
Waiting to be sent into the oven
The Final Product :)
And lastly, into the containers!!!!!
What: Chinese New Year Charity
When: 26th January 2013
Where: ComCare Network Senior Activity Centre (Ang Mo Kio)
Participant(s): Bengyan, Bi Hui, Clarence, Eunice Zee, Jasmine, Jean, Jiamin, Joanne Chong, Jun Yee, Kahyin, Lionel, Lionel’s Mum, Melissa, Pei Jun, Phyllis, Phyllis’s Mum, Rui En, Sandra Teo, Ser Chee, Shirley, Shu Pei, Xinyi, Yanjun, Yanling, Yanping, Yeeling, Yvonne Lim, Zhiqing
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Jun Yee, Participant:
I am thankful to be given an opportunity to participate in a charity event at the start of the year, as this has motivated me to work harder for my A levels, which will happen at the end of the year. Before the event, I felt that life is tough as I have to juggle between my CCA and studies, and I do not think that I am able to cope with such a “terrible” life. However, after communicating and witnessing the lifestyle of the residents we visited, I have learnt to 知足常ä¹ã€‚
For example, a girl who lives with her parents and two other siblings in a one-room flat made me feel guilty. When I stepped into her house, the first thing that caught my attention was a photo of her and her mother, attending an award ceremony. Despite living in such a cramp environment, she is still able to focus on her studies and achieve good results. Then I started asking myself this question: why am I still not studying as hard despite having my own room and study table? 我真是ä¸æ‡‚得惜ç¦å•Šã€‚。
Anyway, I am very proud of my group. Yan Ping, Pei Jun and I were so cheerful during the event that many elderly wanted to offer us drinks. 真是的, shy leh. HAHAHA! I really like the new idea of grouping in 3s. 三个人，ä¸å¤šï¼Œä¸å°‘，刚刚好ï¼We managed to bond with one another and I have lost count of the number of funny things we said. I only know that I was laughing throughout the entire event. SO HAPPY to do a charity happily :D
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Lionel’s mum, Participant:
I felt very happy to be able to get involved in this year charity work as I have been a housewife for quite some time and never had a chance to try something new. It has been an interesting day for me to spend time with young people who are kind and warm to care for others, and it warms my heart too as I followed them to each household.
The warmth and laughter they brought to the elderly heartens me too.
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Melissa, Participant:
This CNY Charity is my first volunteering experience with RBKD. As this was my first time, my teammates, Lionel and Jasmine, did a great job in guiding me along.
We really had lots of fun visiting and chatting with the elderly, sharing jokes and also “fighting†for the lifts with fellow Rangels. I think everyone was exhausted, from all that going up and down and lugging of the 5kg rice/eggs/goodies to every unit, but there were lots of joy and laughter. This experience gave me a chance to do something I would otherwise never get to do (i.e. to interact with elderly).
The goodies for the elderly
My group came across this granny who is 89 years old, has hearing difficulties and cannot stand for long periods of time. When she goes out, she has to be in a wheelchair. But when she was talking to us about her life, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, you could see the joy in her eyes. She told us how filial they are and how much she enjoys cooking for them even though it tires her to stand in the kitchen all day. Basically, she is an optimist who smiles through her difficulties. If you were there first-hand listening to her, you would actually feel her zest.
Just like my teammate, Jasmine, said, people like this granny really inspire one to not give up, no matter what difficulties you might be facing, because there are people who have to go through more than you and are still living. It might be easier said than done but really, when you feel down and out, just remember.
This volunteering experience also made me love RBKD so much more. RBKD is not just a fan club. It is so much more. RBKD is a group of people who CAN do other things, like benefiting our society, other than just cheering for our Idol. I am proud that I can be a part of RBKD. I really loved this experience and hope to have more of such opportunities in future. Of course, Idol’s surprise appearance made the experience even sweeter.
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Community | Comments Off on RBKD CNY Charity 2013 as Rui En’s Birthday Gift
