At Singapore Children’s Society, we help to protect and nurture children, youth and families in need. The transformational stories are countless and include those of service users who not only receive help but also pay it forward to benefit others.
Here’s a story about Aysha, 13, from a family of eight who are seeking casework and counselling support from Yishun Family Service Centre @ Children’s Society for school fees-related matters. After receiving help from YFC, she was inspired to give back to other children in the community.
To the outside world, Aysha comes across as a reserved and serious adolescent. The cards that life has dealt her have brought out a precocious persona, but Aysha is so much more than that.
In April 2024, Aysha got her first taste of volunteering with YFC’s Kaki Learn Homework Support Programme. On average, Aysha volunteers twice a week, from 3pm to 5.30pm, tutoring younger children with schoolwork. She also stepped up to help as a childminder when we requested caregiving support for two children of another client, which enabled their mother to attend our parent support group session. Since then, she has been a reliable and valuable contributor to YFC.
Let’s hear from Aysha about her voluntary experience!
What motivated you to volunteer with YFC?
During a home visit, my sister told Ms Loh, the social worker, that I tend to overthink and worry about our family’s financial challenges a lot. I also do not share with other people my feelings! Ms Loh suggested to my mother that I could develop myself and try coaching the Kaki Learn children with their studies. I thought to myself, “Why not give it a try? There is nothing to lose!” Moreover, I have good memories of my experience in primary school where I received help from the school volunteers and teachers. This invitation to volunteer is an opportune time for me to pay it forward!
Aysha helping a Kaki Learn child wears his in-line skating gear
How has volunteering with children impacted you?
I didn’t know that volunteering can be so fun! Helping children and talking to them entertains me too! Moreover, teaching them in a way that they can understand can help me to revise my own studies.
The children I work with are just slightly younger than me, so it is easy for me to communicate with them. It is like teaching my friends because of the similar ways we communicate. We speak the same lingo and are on the same wavelength.
I used to think that I have little patience. At home, I used to not communicate much with my siblings. Whenever they are in the room, I will be in the hall and when they are in the hall, I will be in the room. I fight a lot with my eight-year-old brother. We know we like each other, but we don’t know how to express our love for each other in a warm and positive manner. On the surface, it looks like we don’t get along very well. Volunteering has made me more sociable and communicative at home.
Volunteering at YFC and hearing about the children’s family situations also gave me a fresh perspective on my own challenges. I am glad I can be there to listen and I think that they feel comfortable opening up to me because I can connect with them as a friend. This experience has indeed helped me in many ways.
Aysha coaching a Kaki Learn child in the Homework Support Programme
Can you describe some memorable moments in your volunteering experience?
All the sessions are memorable. Upon reaching home after school and while getting ready to come for Kaki Learn, I would think about how I could start a conversation with the children and how to slowly gain their trust so I can build a friendly relationship with them. From a student’s point of view, they talk to me like a friend more than a teacher. I like it this way. It is better to be a friend to them as they can share what is going on in their lives with me. This way, I can also help to inform the staff should any risks or safety concerns arise, in case they need professional counselling.
What advice will you give someone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer?
Volunteer as quick as possible. It is very fun! At first, I was not a big fan of volunteering and was not able to communicate well with the students. Over time, this volunteer experience has shown me that I have the potential to do so. Volunteerism opens the way for me to know more about myself. It also opens opportunities for me to know more about others and realise that there are many things in the world we should feel grateful for. The world is still a place of beauty and hope for me.
If you are inspired by Aysha’s story, you can join Singapore Children’s Society as a volunteer too! Find out more about our volunteering opportunities here.
Click here to read the story in Chinese.
请点击此处阅读中文版本
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