Helping Hands:

Our latest on volunteer opportunities

The American Women’s Association (AWA) features local charities for its members to volunteer with and support throughout the year. This means members – Americans and non-Americans alike – can give back to the local community. Many say they want to do something here in Singapore where they make their home, even if it’s only for a short while.

Tell us about one of your volunteering experiences.

Last year, I volunteered at the Chinese New Year Reunion Lunch of the Henderson-Dawson Citizens Consultative Committee. The reunion lunch was held for senior citizens in the Henderson-Dawson area of Tanjong Pagar, who were from low-income backgrounds and living alone with no living relatives in Singapore.

I brought my son and daughter along to help in this service, and we all pitched in to assist the catering staff. At each individual table, we helped distribute the various courses, made conversation with the lovely seniors and even took them up for a dance on stage!

Why did you choose the reunion lunch to donate your time to?

I chose this particular activity because it was an opportunity for my children, who are 14 and 11 years old, to participate. As a family, we were able to interact with those Singaporeans we don’t usually come in contact with on a regular basis and assist in making them feel special on such an important holiday – one that places such emphasis on celebrating with family members. It was a delight to see them open up and talk to us about their life. They make up the pioneer generation of Singapore so the conversations were so interesting! It was a bonus for the children and me to use our Mandarin.

What did you take away from this volunteering opportunity?

The knowledge that we’ve made a small contribution to Singapore, a place that has given us so much in return. I was able to spend quality time with my children while – I hope – bringing a little joy and pleasure to the seniors’ routine. My kids thought it was so worthwhile to spend time with older Singaporeans as their own grandparents were so far away during Chinese New Year. It was like helping them out by proxy.