Have a Heart

Into The Heartland With Volunteers

One quiet Saturday afternoon, in the heartland

of Singapore, ordinary people like you and me are out putting smiles on the

faces of the needy.

One and two-room HDB (Housing Development Board) flats are hard to come by in Singapore these days. But in a quiet corner in Hougang, just minutes away from the estate’s heart lie a cluster of these one and two room blocks and this is where our journey with our volunteers begins.

This is the neighbourhood where volunteer activities are carried out. The Lions Befrienders Association is in charge of the entire cluster of flats. The St. John’s Chapel volunteer group have been assigned to 55 units under the supervision of Pastor Loon Fu-Man.

A glimpse at the neighbourhood. The blocks in the background house one and two-room flats as well.

The first thing to catch your attention is the number of benches such as these found at the void decks of the blocks.

Many of the residents who are elderly folk gather here to meet up with their friends, and neighbours to chat.

It is not unusual to see some residents lounging on these benches the whole day or merely sitting down to have a cigarette.

One of the many benches you will find at the void decks of the blocks.

The residents of these one and two-room flats in Hougang are supported by government welfare and organizations like the Lions Befrienders and well-wishing volunteers from St. John’s Chapel.

Most of them have no family of their own or are mentally disabled. Their only friends are their neighbours. These people usually live alone.

One excited resident posing for the camera. The people in the background are also residents like him.

Pastor Loon Fu-Man

is one of the volunteers who gives his time to the community by helping the less fortunate in Hougang. He has a group of 15 young volunteers under his care at present who visit the residents at Hougang every second Saturday of the month.

Pastor Loon Fu-Man is the man in charge of coordinating volunteer activities between the Lions Befrienders and St. John’s Chapel.

Each time the volunteers come down, they bring with them foodstuff and some other essentials to distribute to the residents. Pastor Fu-Man says that the church as a fund set aside for volunteer activities and these items are purchased with money from that fund.

Cream cracker biscuits and some other essentials for the residents.

Taking a closer look at the interior of the blocks reveals the narrow corridors that lead to the flats of the residents. These corridors are not well-lit and often very quiet. Unlike newer HDB blocks that have brightly lit corridors, residents here have to make do with the light from a small fluorescent tube at the end of the corridor.

The long, narrow and dingy corridors that lead to the flats. Without the use of a flash, the length of the corridor cannot be seen.

Most of the residents here live alone. Hence they are extra cautious about their homes and their belongings. Being old and frail, they are also more likely to be the victims of theft and burglary.A resident’s home and possessions under lock, key and

chains.

These restrooms were specially built for the residents as they spend a lot time at the void decks. Some of the residents are ailing and do not have as much control over their bowels as before. These restrooms were built for their convienience.

These restrooms are located at the void deck of the blocks for the residents to use.

One of the volunteers from St. John’s Chapel at the home of one of the residents. The elderly lady is wheel-chaired bound after becoming immobile because of an illness. She lives alone.

At one resident’s home with one of the volunteers from St. John’s Chapel.

Sooching is one of the volunteers who comes every month to visit this resident. During each visit, Sooching and a fellow volunteer Aileen help to clean up the resident’s house and bring her food from the nearby hawker centre.

The volunteer Sooching and resident of the two-room flat.

Aside from doing household chores, one of the biggest aspects of Sooching’s job as a volunteer is to interact with the residents. Most of these elderly folks are lonely and enjoy the company that the volunteers give them.

A little sing-along session to brighten up everyone’s day.

The volunteers from St. John’s Chapel are a group of energetic, young people. After completing their duties during each visit, they usually spend time at one of the void decks interacting with the residents there and also give feedback about the residents they visited to Pastor Fu-Man.

After doing their rounds, Pastor Fu-Man and his volunteers meet up at the void deck and spend time with the residents there before heading back home.

There are many out there who need care and concern. If you’d like to lend a helping hand and be a volunteer feel free to get in touch with either

Pastor Loon Fu-Manvia

fuman@mbox2.singnet.com.sg OR

The Lions Befrienders Association

1800 – 3758 600

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Mahatma Ghandi

The End