By Sabyasachi Chowdhury
“Volunteering has been my passion. Being able to contribute and seeing how those you have helped improving and getting better simply brings immense satisfaction. I believe many people share this very idea, if not, at least the 50 people who joined VOLTAGE (Volunteer To Aspire Generations) do.”
This is what Soo Xi Ying, President of VOLTAGE had to say when asked about the VOLTAGE Project Guide.
Residing in a Calvary home, without the guidance of their parents, the children are less fortunate than most of us, to have to grow up in such an environment.
Project Guide aims to get to know the children staying in a welfare home and guide them in their academic and personal development.
Lack of guidance and opportunities, most of the children are not having enough help with their studies. This is what motivated Xi Ying and the rest of VOLTAGE to organise Project Guide. Xi Ying says “education is vital to provide the children with a brighter future.
Project Guide aims to kindle the children’s interest and confidence to learn. This can be achieved through a good 1 to 1 volunteer-kid ratio, teaching and guiding the children using books, stories, games and crafts.”
But that is assuming the kids are comfortable with the volunteers and are ready to accept their help. That is why, the first few visits were made to let the kids know their future “guides”.
On 3rd November 2012, 27 volunteers had their first visit to the home; that Saturday started early for the volunteers.
By 9.00 am, VOLTAGE arrived at the Calvary home, a three storey complex with the second floor being the living rooms/ dormitories for the children, whilst the 3rd floor was the common area.
Some of the volunteers were pleased when they saw the children, but for some like Yi Yan Fen, a Stage 1 student, it made them thought about how they should deal with these kids, since they have no experience of taking care of children.
But soon, the tension dispersed as an Ice-breaking session started. The various ice breaker games were VOLTAGE’s idea of successfully building a rapport between the volunteers (teachers) and the children.
At 11.00am, the kids were asked to sit down with the volunteers and design their Progress Books. Its purpose is to record the kids’ performance with a mini scrap-book in the first page to let the teachers know about the kids.
The session ended at about late noon with another session of games. This time, the children were awarded if they successfully identified the name of a volunteer. Chong Yan Mei, a 1st year, mentioned her “child” Stephanie won the prize and she felt happy for her.
At the end of the day, at around 12 noon, it was time for the volunteers to leave. The children were reluctant to see the volunteers leave so soon. The children can only look forward to their next visit.
Soo Xi Ying commented, “With more helping hands, the impact attained is certainly wider. Together, we are making a difference, volunteering to aspire coming generations (the children). Keep a count on how many hearts have you touched."
Project Guide comprises of weekly visits to the home (every Saturday), 9am to 12pm. Feel free to join VOLTAGE and to have fun with helping the children.
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