MEETING /
HALL'S NOT JUST FOR STAYING, BUT LOVING TOO RACHEL TENG |
22.10.2011
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For the first time in Sheares hall, young cancer patients were invited to have a day of fun as part of the Children’s Day and Halloween celebrations on Oct. 15, 2011.
Sheares hall is one of the seven halls of residences at the Kent Ridge campus of the National University of Singapore.
The Sheares hall Voluntary Corps, affectionately known as VC, held its inaugural charity event for children by organising a day of games and interactions with the hall residents, who call themselves Shearites.
Organisers planned for simple games such dress-up and charades, and included some free time for the volunteers to interact with the children individually.
This collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Foundation initially brought much apprehension for VC as their charitable efforts has always been focused on the elderly. Understandably, fears of inexperience in handling children, especially if there were to be illnesses, arose.
However, with the children’s parents and nurses nearby, Shearites allayed their fears and put their minds at rest.
Inevitably, the organisers still faced some hiccups. A handful of children struggled at the games, and were unable to “connect with the emcee to provide the right answer”, according to Jessie Toh, chairperson of VC. In spite of this, she felt that the patience and friendliness portrayed by Shearites served as encouragement to the children.
The pre-event briefing proved useful then, when VC members shared tips with the other Sheares hall residents on interacting with children, and also raised the awareness of the various types of children’s cancers. Prior to this, most residents only perceived leukaemia as the only type of cancer in children.
Jeremy Koh, a 21-year-old resident, shared how this event was a “humbling experience” despite having had previous experience in volunteering for children.
“It makes you treasure what you have in life – no difficulties whatsoever,” he said of appreciating being a healthy and normal individual.
“Through helping to organise events like these, we come to realize how fortunate we are for even just being healthy, something which we always take for granted,” Toh added.
Third-year undergraduate, Melissa Liew, 21, agreed.
“I definitely think that volunteerism is beneficial to both the beneficiaries and volunteers,” she said.
Looking forward, there are more plans for VC to work with children as well as to continue their volunteer services for the elderly with Operation Homeworks, an annual project to clean up their homes.
Toh shared that she hopes projects carried out by VC can spur a spirit of volunteerism among Shearites. She commented that even though there are several volunteering projects carried out at the hall and school level, “more Singaporeans should fork out some time to volunteer” as there is no such thing as too much help.
“Not only did we see joy on the children’s faces, but all the volunteers went home that day with smiles on their faces as well,” Toh said with a huge smile plastered on her own.
“This kind of joy can only be experienced if you were there personally.”
Sheares hall is one of the seven halls of residences at the Kent Ridge campus of the National University of Singapore.
The Sheares hall Voluntary Corps, affectionately known as VC, held its inaugural charity event for children by organising a day of games and interactions with the hall residents, who call themselves Shearites.
Organisers planned for simple games such dress-up and charades, and included some free time for the volunteers to interact with the children individually.
This collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Foundation initially brought much apprehension for VC as their charitable efforts has always been focused on the elderly. Understandably, fears of inexperience in handling children, especially if there were to be illnesses, arose.
However, with the children’s parents and nurses nearby, Shearites allayed their fears and put their minds at rest.
Inevitably, the organisers still faced some hiccups. A handful of children struggled at the games, and were unable to “connect with the emcee to provide the right answer”, according to Jessie Toh, chairperson of VC. In spite of this, she felt that the patience and friendliness portrayed by Shearites served as encouragement to the children.
The pre-event briefing proved useful then, when VC members shared tips with the other Sheares hall residents on interacting with children, and also raised the awareness of the various types of children’s cancers. Prior to this, most residents only perceived leukaemia as the only type of cancer in children.
Jeremy Koh, a 21-year-old resident, shared how this event was a “humbling experience” despite having had previous experience in volunteering for children.
“It makes you treasure what you have in life – no difficulties whatsoever,” he said of appreciating being a healthy and normal individual.
“Through helping to organise events like these, we come to realize how fortunate we are for even just being healthy, something which we always take for granted,” Toh added.
Third-year undergraduate, Melissa Liew, 21, agreed.
“I definitely think that volunteerism is beneficial to both the beneficiaries and volunteers,” she said.
Looking forward, there are more plans for VC to work with children as well as to continue their volunteer services for the elderly with Operation Homeworks, an annual project to clean up their homes.
Toh shared that she hopes projects carried out by VC can spur a spirit of volunteerism among Shearites. She commented that even though there are several volunteering projects carried out at the hall and school level, “more Singaporeans should fork out some time to volunteer” as there is no such thing as too much help.
“Not only did we see joy on the children’s faces, but all the volunteers went home that day with smiles on their faces as well,” Toh said with a huge smile plastered on her own.
“This kind of joy can only be experienced if you were there personally.”