On 12 March 2016, Youth Corps Singapore launched its new signature initiative, Common Space for Common Good, with an inaugural mass island-wide youth community service event. More than 1,000 youths aged between 16 and 35 came together to serve diverse community needs of 600 beneficiaries in different parts of Singapore.
Some of the youths shared their views on the various activities that took place that morning.
Appreciating the pioneers
At Moral Home for the Aged, the volunteers did some morning exercise with 50 of the residents before bringing them out to Bedok Food Centre for lunch and chit-chat.
Ong Yee Hwee (20) a volunteer from Nanyang Technological University shared her experience, “Volunteering and appreciating our pioneers reminded me if not for the hard work and effort put in by them, Singapore would not be the same today. It is both amazing and heartwarming to see individuals putting the needs of others ahead of their own to make the lives of others more joyful.”
Befriending the special needs
Kenneth Yap (24) and 32 other volunteers interacted with 20 residents of Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled at the Botanic Gardens. They visited the Heritage Garden and played team games. The activities culminated with a delicious picnic for everyone.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu joined in the activities and had a whale of a time. Encouraging the Youth Corps Leader Kenneth and other volunteers on the ground, she said, “The youth volunteers are a wonderful bunch of people. Though they are busy with their studies and their work, they feel that by volunteering, they are bringing meaning to the lives of people and improving their quality of life.”
Caring for the environment
Together with 360 volunteers from ITE College West, Sheila Manokaran (21) led the efforts to clean the beach at East Coast Park by picking up the litter and sorting out the recyclable items.
The Youth Corps Leader said, “It’s never about how busy you are but it’s about your priorities. I’m always grateful for the opportunities and experience that Youth Corps has given me in paying it forward.”
Delighting the families (low income)
Volunteers partnered with Beyond Social Services and Lakeside Family Services to explore the Singapore Sports Hub through fun activities
Unite to ignite
When the activities ended, the volunteers returned to the Red Box Building to install light bulbs. Each light bulb contained a small sprout and mounted on a Red Box, each bulb signified each youth volunteer and their potential in making a difference by growing in the red “incubator” and spreading the spirit of volunteerism.
As I witnessed the endless arrival of cohorts of youth volunteers, rivers of tears cascaded down my face. In the blazing hot afternoon sun, my heart melted as I witnessed firsthand how 1,000 youths dropped their personal activities to be part of this event.
These were youths who could have spent their Saturday morning in bed, who could have been mugging for exams or playing with their friends. Once called apathetic and self-contained, our youths are now a purposeful force that looks into the interests of others by paying it forward.
My life mentor Crystal Chua (Volunteer Coordinator), said this was the start of greater things to come. This youth movement does not stop here and we can look forward to more exciting initiatives organised by Youth Corps Singapore. More than that, we can start now and be part of the movement. Whether you are young or young-at-heart, everyone of us can step up and step out of our comfort zone.
Be it our pioneers, people with special needs or low-income families, we can play a part to initiate conversations and empathise with them.
If you are looking for a meaningful service-learning experience, join Youth Corps today!
Together, we can make a difference in someone else’s life.
Lee Ci En 