March'21 Updates
A Newsletter Publication by Children's Wishing Well
CWW Volunteer Feature - Mr Shangjun!
This month’s Volunteers of CWW features one of our dedicated volunteers at our Bukit Merah centre, Shangjun! As a lawyer by profession and father of two daughters, he shares with us what drives him to volunteer with our children.
CWW: Why did you choose to volunteer with CWW?
I recently commenced a break from my 10-year long career as a lawyer, and was determined to devote some time during this period to serve the community. As parents of two young girls, my wife and I know how crucial it is for children to receive love, support, nourishment, and education. Additionally, I enjoy working with and guiding children along as they journey through life. With these in mind, I therefore decided to volunteer with charities that benefit children. I decided to volunteer with CWW at their Bukit Merah centre. CWW’s foci of serving and empowering disadvantaged children by, amongst others, providing hot meals, tuition, fresh groceries and supplies, and a safe space to ‘hang out’ after formal school hours, are aspects that I can certainly affirm and lend my support to.
CWW: What do you enjoy most about volunteering at CWW?
My time at CWW has been thoroughly fulfilling. As much as I hope my presence and efforts have benefited the children, I have also been undeniably blessed by and through them as well. Over the past weeks, I have gotten to know the children at CWW better through various activities, including by reading books and playing board games like ‘Monopoly’ or the ‘Gruffalo Memory Game.’ I have also assisted some children with their English (yes, I am the stereotypical lawyer who is poor at Math!), and do my best to bring across lessons and concepts in an interesting and engaging manner. Having these interactions with them, and seeing them make progress in their studies, give me plenty of pause for thought, reflection, and joy.
CWW: What motivates you to volunteer at CWW?
My twofold motivation is simple, yet daunting. It is:
(1) A hope that I can provide love, affirmation, and guidance to the children at CWW, because I firmly believe that everyone is intrinsically valuable and deserving of the same, and
(2) A desire to help them improve academically because education provides an excellent pathway towards social levelling.
CWW: What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?
We all have a shared responsibility and duty to serve and give back to the community that we are all a part of. Taking the first step to do something different such as volunteering may perhaps be difficult due to the multifaceted considerations we often have in our busy lives. Do not over-think it – I would suggest simply biting the bullet and signing up to serve in an area that you are comfortable with and passionate about.
Thank you, Shangjun! You are an inspiration to all of us.
Learning Journey - Popiah Heritage Tour @ Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah
During the March Holidays, our children at CWW had their calendars filled with a wide array of enriching activities! One of which was our Learning Journey programme where our children were invited to participate in a Popiah Heritage Tour.
A big thank you to Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah for hosting our children from our Clementi and Bukit Merah centres respectively over the course of 2 days! During the interactive tour, our children learnt about the origins of popiah and why it remains an important tradition for families during Chinese festivals like Qing Ming. They had an appreciation of the hardships that our forefathers as street hawkers went through plying their trade. Our children also learnt about the Popiah dough and skin making process, and the evolution of the techniques used through the years with the introduction of more advanced technology. Last but not least, they had an enjoyable time making their very own DIY popiah creations! We got feedback that the popiah not only looked but tasted good too.
It was truly a memorable March Holiday Learning Journey for all!
Rolling their own DIY popiah!
Stirring the Popiah dough takes strength and patience!
Look at my masterpiece!
Life Skills - Anti-Cyberbullying Workshop
Given the prevalence of cyberbullying and an increasing amount of time spent on the internet, combatting cyberbullying is thus a very important and relevant topic for our children. They were privileged to participate in a Pick-A-Hero Anti-Cyberbullying Workshop conducted by Singapore Repertory Theatre during this March holidays!
Through engaging in role-plays and participative discussions, our children were fully immersed in the activities from start to end. Displaying their acting chops, the role-play helped in bringing words to life. The session concluded with the children writing a letter on ways to defeat cyberbullying, summarising the important points that they had learnt.
The entire workshop was made possible by our partner, Acronis Cyber Foundation, and their VP of Business Development, Miss Natalia Chernysheva, who generously sponsored this educational workshop. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Acronis for their strong support of the children of CWW!
Reflections on Service Learning and Values-in-Action Projects
During this time of the year, we often receive many emails from students who would like to volunteer with us for their Service Learning or Values-in-Action projects. Over the years, we have had students from various junior colleges, polytechnics as well as universities volunteering with us as we are firm believers in the value of such projects. However, there are times when it would be good to press the "Pause" button and reflect on how such projects should be carried out, so that our youths are not merely going through motions and meeting their quotas when they volunteer their services.
Here are some of our thoughts, in the form of 4As:
1. Always make it a point to read up on the organization you are contacting, the profile of beneficiaries; and the kinds of programs being run.
2. Always ensure that you have some concrete plans in mind, ideally in the form of a draft proposal of what you would like to offer to the organization.
3. Avoid prioritizing your own needs over the organization’s needs. Not that your needs do not matter. However, make it a point to meet the needs of the organization and value-add to its current programs, while fulfilling your VIA requirements.
4. Avoid making direct phone calls to the organization and asking immediately if you can volunteer. The organization is unlikely to say yes to you immediately without knowing what you can offer and how.
We believe such projects are called Service Learning and Values-in-Action for very good reasons. We will learn much only when we take action and serve with the right attitude, posture and values. We look forward to welcoming more Service Learning and Values-in-Action projects that are done in the right spirit!
Your contribution counts!
1. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, adaptability in the face of adversity is key and we have tweaked the services we provide to respond to the most pressing needs of our families. It is of utmost importance that no child goes hungry and always has something nutritious to eat. Any amount you contribute, big or small, will go a long way in supporting them, be it funding a hot meal or a tuition lesson. Click on the following link to make a donation: https://www.giving.sg/childrens-wishing-well
2. Our Children Enrichment Programme is a holistic child development programme which aims to realise the aspirations of children from low-income families and disadvantaged backgrounds. Your contribution will enable us to support more children and help ensure that this valuable programme continues to run. Support this fundraising campaign at - https://www.giving.sg/childrens-wishing-well/children_enrichment_programme_-_holistic_education
Contact Us
Email: info@wishingwell.org.sg
Website: wishingwell.org.sg
Location: 365 Clementi Avenue 2 #01-503, Singapore 120365
Phone: 67770041
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