Years ago, I did volunteer work for 2 or 3 years (I cant quite remember) with Youth Volunteer Involvement Programme or YVIP (I wonder if there is still such a programme). No, we didnt go to Cambodia, or India, or China, or Nepal or other countries to help the poor there. We went for a camp where all the volunteers bonded and after that were deployed to do various community work with the poor in Singapore. We were sent to old folks homes, homes for children with special needs, orphanages, one-room flats where almost all of the inhabitants were elderly couples or destitutes to clean and paint their houses, collecting donations by ringing bells for the Salvation Army and many other duties. It was an eye opener for me to see so much hardship these people had to go through and although 2 years wasnt such a long time, it was a beneficial learning journey for me. Yes, going to China, Cambodia, India or Nepal to help the poor looks good on your CCA card or whatever they call it now. But nothing beats the humbling feeling that helping your own people gives. I give you one anecdote. We barely stepped in into a home for children with special needs when a girl, one of the residents of that home came to me and held my hand and led me around the home. For those of you who know me as a softie, yes I teared. I hope to be able to volunteer again soon and I beseech parents to not send your children overseas to help the poor. Not that it is wrong, but it is wrong when there are still many of your fellow countrymen needing help but help is not rendered. Remember, compassion begins at home.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 04:49:00 +0000
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