SG Volunteer

Five very different youths took 3 days out of work and school, responding to the Outward Bound Singapore’s (OBS) call for volunteers to enable 10 other youths with special needs to go Outward Bound.

The diverse youth volunteers ranged from a 14-year-old student who had been encouraged by his mother to volunteer to a 26-year-old personal gym trainer. Starting as “givers”, the volunteers soon discovered how they had also grown personally as “receivers” from the meaningful interaction.

The 3-day camp was customised by OBS for youths with various intellectual and physical disabilities from the Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA).

Held from Mar 20 to 22, 2013, the programme included nature treks, high rope courses, maze-ing and water activities on the OBS Pulau Ubin and East Coast campuses.

Youth volunteer and two-time OBS programme participant, 19-year-old student Leow Hui Xuan, gave the priceless gift of trust to a beneficiary with a phobia of water and boat rides.

After spending half an hour coaxing 17-year-old Narisha Kaur Chahal, Hui Xuan finally enabled her to trust the care of her befrienders and the natural elements.

She soon gained enough confidence to enjoy her first taste of the great outdoors.

In return, Hui Xuan was reminded to appreciate what she already had and could easily do.

Matthew Huang enjoying the sandwiches he made together with his new friend Melker Tay.
She also felt a sense of satisfaction in helping Narisha overcome her fears. “I was able to do it because of the trust we have built up in this short period of time.”

Another youth volunteer, 26-year-old personal gym trainer Melker Tay who had attended an OBS South Africa programme herself in 2010, had to take time off from work to commit to the three days but felt that it was “all worth it” as she was able to “combine both interests in the outdoor adventure and volunteering”.

23-year-old financial consultant, Sim So Han, shared how working with the special needs youths enhanced his communication skills which was would help him relate better to others at work.

The youngest of the youth volunteers, 14-year-old Kitson Low, gushed about how he would not have exchanged this volunteer opportunity with OBS for other school holiday activities.

Faizal Nordin, Manager of community engagement programmes, was heartened by how generously the youth volunteers had given their time and energy.

Volunteers Sim So Han and Leow Hui Xuan supporting Andy Wong during the water activity.

He said, “The volunteers have really given the youths with special needs an experience that would not have been possible in an indoor setting. We should encourage more youths to help empower others with trust and confidence through such outdoor experiential learning opportunities.”

President Tony Tan Keng Yam launched the President’s Challenge 2013 on Friday with a cheque of S$1.5 million from Keppel Care Foundation.

The money will help improve services and programmes at over 50 charities in Singapore.

Keppel Corporation has also pledged 5,000 hours of community service in Singapore.

Through its human resource talents, it’ll share experience and assist social enterprises nominated for the President Challenge’s Social Enterprise Award.

President Tan said he’s heartened that Keppel Corporation, a homegrown company that has become a global leader, has chosen to celebrate its 45th anniversary by giving back to society.

He hopes the President’s Challenge will continue to grow as a movement that encourages all Singaporeans to give back to the community.

Children-At-Risk-Empowerment Association (CARE) is one of the beneficiaries under the President’s Challenge 2013 charity drive.

Donations raised from the effort will help youths like Toh Jia Yi. Her mother abandoned her when she was born. And the 14-year-old’s father has a long-running illness, hence she was left to her grandparents to raise her.

An organisation like CARE has helped Jia Yi develop life skills through its lessons.

She said: “Before the CARE lesson was introduced, I was a very self-centred person and I thought the world was only about me. But after the CARE lessons, I became more willing to help others and more open-minded.”

In 2012, the President’s Challenge raised over S$12 million in donations that’s helped to support over 50 Voluntary Welfare Organisations, providing essential services for families, children, the disabled and the elderly.

President Tony Tan said: “The essence of President’s Challenge is about giving. Giving of our time, our knowledge, our expertise and our donations. Together, such giving can go a long way towards improving the lives of the less fortunate.”

The President’s Challenge 2013 will focus on making volunteering more meaningful, by matching the expertise of volunteers to the needs of organisations.