HEARTBEATS - CTPCLC · Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 32 befriending...
Transcript of HEARTBEATS - CTPCLC · Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 32 befriending...
VOLUME 3
HEARTBEATS
’16
Journal of the Chua Thian PohCommunity Leadership Programme
Heartbeats: Journal of the Chua Thian Poh
Community Leadership Programme
ISSN 2345-749X | Printed in Singapore
This journal is a publication of the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme,
National University of Singapore.
Editor
Associate Professor Albert Chu-Ying TeoDirector, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Associate Editors
Ng Yan Da, ElsonFellow, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Andrea Brendan Ang Chin WeiFellow, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Gladys Ng Kai XinFellow, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Editorial Assistants
Ng Kian Sing, JasonSenior Manager, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Yeo Yee Lian LianaAssistant Manager, Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme
Copyright © 2016 Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme, National University of Singapore
Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of research or private study, or criticism or review, and only under
the Copyright Act (Chapter 63) of Singapore, this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in
any form or by any means, only with the prior permission in writing of the Publisher.
EDITORIAL BOARD
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National University of Singapore,
Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Programme,
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Singapore 138593
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Printed by: Goh Bros E-Print Pte Ltd (www.gohbros.com)
Heartbeats Volume 3 29
Promoting youth volunteerism and
intergenerational bonding
SOH WEN SHI MICOLE
Abstract
Under National University of Singapore’s Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership
Programme (CTPCLP), I embarked on a research attachment at Ren Ci Hospital from June –
July 2014. I was tasked to look at ways to improve Ren Ci’s volunteer landscape and propose
recommendations on how Ren Ci could better recruit and retain youth volunteers. To that
end, interviews, surveys and observations of volunteer activities were carried out across
the three branches of Ren Ci Hospital: Ren Ci Community Hospital, Ren Ci Nursing Home,
and Ren Ci Long Term Care. After which, I proposed the following recommendations to Ren
Ci: (i) link up with schools to develop long-term projects; (ii) use appropriate media
channels to connect with youth; (iii) follow up with ad-hoc volunteers; (iv) develop training
programmes to retain volunteers. In the longer term, changing mindsets about
volunteerism and capitalizing upon the assets of both youth volunteers and older
residents/patients could potentially help develop meaningful and long-lasting
relationships.
Introduction
In the Individual Giving Survey 2014, published by National Volunteer & Philanthropy
Centre (2015), it was reported that while fewer Singaporeans donated or committed their
time to volunteering in 2014, those who did so contributed more in both areas. Record
levels of donations were registered in 2014, totaling $1.25 billion. This was a huge 14%
increase from $1.1 billion of donations made in 2012. Average volunteer hours grew to 93
hours per volunteer, compared to 72 hours per volunteer in 2012. Evidently, Singaporeans
do give, and these resources are important in helping charitable organizations serve the
public interest and common good.
As a charity healthcare organization, Ren Ci Hospital “relies heavily on public donation
and support as well as government subvention” (2016a). Through the research attachment,
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 30
it was established that Ren Ci currently has a pool of more than 450 active volunteers,
ranging from 12 to 54 years old. More than 1000 volunteers help on an ad-hoc basis, many
of whom are from corporate or educational organizations (personal communication, June
2014). As Ren Ci acknowledges on its website, volunteers play a huge part in supporting the
patients whom Ren Ci cares for (2016c).
During my research attachment at Ren Ci Hospital from June – July 2014, I was tasked
to look at ways to improve Ren Ci’s volunteer landscape, and propose recommendations on
how Ren Ci could recruit and retain youth volunteers more effectively. In order to better
understand Ren Ci’s volunteer landscape, observations and interviews were carried out
across the three branches of Ren Ci Hospital – Ren Ci Community Hospital, Ren Ci Nursing
Home, and Ren Ci Long Term Care. Volunteer opportunities in Ren Ci can be classified into
patient-related and non-patient-related activities. The former include activities like
befriending, group karaoke and bingo, outings, haircutting, and craft sessions. Volunteers
also come in to help Ren Ci staff in carrying out activities like feeding, art therapy,
occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Non-patient-related activities include money
counting, sewing, and administrative tasks. The huge variety of volunteering activities
ensures that the needs of the patients and residents under Ren Ci’s care are well taken care
of.
Methodology
As shown in Figure 1, a three-pronged approach was adopted to uncover information
about Ren Ci’s volunteer landscape.
Figure 1. Overview of research methodology
From Ren Ci
• Understanding of volunteer recruitment workflow
• Understanding of volunteer demographics through updating of volunteer database
From Volunteers
• Observations of volunteer activities
• Interviews with regular volunteers
• Responses from Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey
• Responses from Camp REConnection Survey
From Patients/Residents
• Resident profiling in Ren Ci Nursing Home
• Interviews with patients in Ren Ci Community Hospital and Ren Ci Long Term Care
Heartbeats Volume 3 31
I arrived at an understanding of existing volunteer activities, volunteer recruitment
programmes and volunteer profiles from the Fundraising and Volunteer Development
Departments. Primary data in the form of nine observed volunteer activities, interviews,
and 123 survey responses were collected from volunteers. The bulk of data collected were
in Ren Ci Nursing Home as that was the branch of Ren Ci Hospital where most volunteer
activities were held, and where most long-staying responsive residents were in. To uncover
patient and caregiver sentiments, I carried out a profiling project in Ren Ci Nursing Home,
and informal interviews with patients in Ren Ci Community Hospital and Ren Ci Long Term
Care. Taken collectively, a comprehensive dataset on the perspectives of three stakeholders
– Ren Ci, its volunteers, and its residents/patients - was obtained.
Results
Ren Ci volunteer recruitment process
As illustrated in Figure 2, Ren Ci has a robust volunteer recruitment process that
requires individuals to go through multiple steps before they can volunteer in Ren Ci.
Figure 2. Ren Ci volunteer recruitment workflow (Source: Ren Ci Hospital, 2014)
Individuals who are not affiliated with any group, but who want to volunteer with Ren
Ci, have to submit an application form, available for download on Ren Ci’s website. S/he will
then be contacted to attend an interview. Besides screening prospective volunteers, the
interview allows Ren Ci to understand their motivations and inclinations, and match them
to Ren Ci’s existing volunteer groups. For example, prospective volunteers interested in
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 32
befriending activities in Ren Ci are referred to befriending groups like Smilez, Aspiration,
Benevolence, Compassion, and Dana. During the interview, the applicant also gains an
understanding of the nature of the beneficiaries whom s/he will be interacting with, should
s/he volunteer with Ren Ci. Upon acceptance of his/her application, Ren Ci will organize a
short orientation for the volunteer, to introduce the volunteer to the volunteering
environment, and to expose him/her to simple dos and don’ts. The volunteer will also be
exposed to nursing protocol, communication skills and simple physiotherapy via training
sessions.
Apart from regular volunteers, Ren Ci has also welcomed many corporate and student
groups who organize ad-hoc activities for its patients and residents. Staff from Charles &
Keith organized a wheelchair cleaning session in June 2013, and a group of students from
National University of Singapore’s University Scholars Programme organized a craft and
games session in July 2013. These are one-off activities, and volunteers do not need to go
through the recruitment process as stated above, though a simple thirty-minute orientation
is to be conducted at the start of the session.
Ren Ci youth volunteer survey
During my attachment, I developed a Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey questionnaire
(see Appendix A) to better understand the motivations and sentiments of Ren Ci’s youth
volunteers. Questions were adapted from the original Ren Ci Volunteer Survey to factor in
the motivations, problems and takeaways that youth might have had from volunteering in
Ren Ci. The survey was then disseminated to youth volunteers in Ren Ci at the end of their
respective volunteering sessions, and a total of 123 responses were collected. A detailed
breakdown of the responses can be found in Appendix B. Respondents came from a variety
of volunteer groups in Ren Ci, though the bulk of respondents (80%) were youth who
organized one-off ad-hoc activities in Ren Ci.
One area the survey aimed to uncover was youth’s motivations for volunteering. The
responses given proved insightful. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, factors such as fulfilling
school requirements and improving their resumes/Values-In-Action (VIA) records were
important motivations for half of the volunteers. This is understandable, for many who
organize ad-hoc activities do so as part of a school requirement, for example, fulfilling the
Heartbeats Volume 3 33
local component of a Youth Expedition Project (YEP) 1 , a component of a community
problem solving project (Future Problem Solving Program Singapore, 2011) or a
requirement of an orientation camp.
Figure 3. Responses to “It was a requirement/expectation by my school/company”
Figure 4. Responses to “I wanted to improve my resume/VIA record”
Factors such as giving back to society (see Figure 5) and helping others (see Figure 6)
were rated by an overwhelming majority of respondents as either very important or
1 The YEP grant scheme supports youth from educational institutions and registered organisations to embark on service-learning projects that involve communities in ASEAN, China, India and Singapore (National Youth Council, 2016).
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Does not apply
Not at all important - 1
2
3
4
5
Extremely important - 6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Does not apply
Not at all important - 1
2
3
4
5
Extremely important - 6
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 34
extremely important. Therefore, even though youth volunteer for practical considerations,
many are also motivated by a desire to contribute back to society and to help others. These
two sets of motivations should hence not be seen as mutually exclusive.
Figure 5. Responses to “I felt that I should give back to society”
Figure 6. Responses to “I wanted to help people”
Apart from their motivations for volunteering with Ren Ci, respondents were also
asked to provide feedback on their volunteering experiences. As mentioned earlier, the
majority of the survey respondents were ad-hoc volunteers, and thus did not have to
undergo the compulsory orientation programme that all regular volunteers have to go
through. This possibly resulted in some respondents feeling not adequately prepared to
carry out their activities. Specifically, 26% of respondents felt that they did not receive
enough training and support prior to carrying out their activities (see Figure 7).
0 10 20 30 40 50
Does not apply
Not at all important - 1
2
3
4
5
Extremely important - 6
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Does not apply
Not at all important - 1
2
3
4
5
Extremely important - 6
Heartbeats Volume 3 35
Figure 7. Responses to “I received adequate training before carrying out my tasks”
This result, however, might not be solely attributable to the level of preparation
provided by Ren Ci but might also be potentially an evaluation of how personally prepared
the individuals felt. Many youth surfaced the numerous difficulties faced in communicating
with older patients and residents. As can be seen in Figure 8, more than half of the
respondents (59%) pointed out that language barrier was an important problem. In a
follow-up open-ended question, those who listed language barrier as a problem said that
they either paired up with friends who could speak the language/dialect, or resorted to
using hand gestures and body language to communicate. Some also suggested that Ren Ci
consider holding dialect classes to help youth overcome the language barrier when
volunteering with older patients and residents.
Figure 8. Responses to “I could not communicate well due to language barriers”
Strongly agree7%
Agree32%
Somewhat agree28%
Somewhat disagree17% Disagree
7% Strongly disagree
2%
Does not apply7%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Does not apply
Not at all important - 1
2
3
4
5
Extremely important - 6
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 36
However, despite not feeling adequately prepared, an overwhelming 64% of
respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had the support and guidance needed to
accomplish their activities (see Figure 9). This corroborates with how 97% of respondents
agreed with the statement that volunteering in Ren Ci was professional and pleasant on the
whole (see Figure 10). Evidently, many participants found the environment in Ren Ci
supportive and conducive for volunteerism.
Figure 9. Responses to “I have the support and guidance I need to accomplish volunteer activities”
Figure 10. Responses to “The volunteer environment is professional and pleasant”
Observation of volunteer activities
Observations of volunteer activities and interviews with volunteers supplemented the
survey results. A wider range of volunteer activities other than those organized by youths
were observed, providing a fuller picture of the range of volunteer activities in Ren Ci. A
total of nine activities were observed. With the exception of one, all activities were
conducted weekly or monthly. Interviews with the volunteers were conducted in English or
Strongly agree15%
Agree49%
Somewhat agree28%
Somewhat disagree
2%Disagree
1%
Strongly disagree
1%
Does not apply4%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Does not apply
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Somewhat disagree
Somewhat agree
Agree
Strongly agree
Heartbeats Volume 3 37
Mandarin, and the list of questions used is attached in Appendix C. A summary of the
observations of these volunteer activities can be found in Appendix D.
Amongst these nine activities, only three of them involved youth (who came from
National University of Singapore’s Community Service Club, Institute of Technical
Education College Central and Raffles Girls’ School’s Project Aurelia). The latter two were
regular volunteering activities, and thus provided valuable insights from youth volunteers
who volunteer with Ren Ci on a regular basis. A total of 14 responses from these two groups
were collected. They were administered the Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey questionnaire,
and asked to comment on the problems they faced during their volunteering experiences.
The responses received are summarized in Table 1. The most common rating for each
question is highlighted in the table.
Rating
I could not communicate well
due to language barriers
I was unsure of the needs
of the elderly
I was unsure as to how to approach the
elderly
I felt that the activities I
prepared were unsuitable
I felt that my activities were not sufficiently
engaging
6 (Extremely important)
7.1% 7.1% 7.1% 7.1% 7.1%
5 14.3% 14.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
4 42.9% 14.3% 21.4% 7.1% 28.6%
3 14.3% 28.6% 35.7% 35.7% 14.3%
2 14.3% 35.7% 35.7% 28.6% 42.9%
1 (Not at all important)
7.1% 0.0% 0.0% 14.3% 0.0%
0 (NA) 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 7.1% 7.1%
Table 1. Responses to “Rate the extent to which these issues were a problem for you throughout the
volunteering experience”
Similar to other youth surveyed, language barrier was also a problem for regular
volunteers. 64.3% of respondents agreed that they could not communicate well in Mandarin
or in dialects. The volunteers often mentioned during debriefs that they found it difficult to
understand the residents and patients, many of whom spoke to them in dialects that they
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 38
could not understand. Some of them even struggled to hold conversations with the residents
and patients in Mandarin. However, the youth reported little problem in understanding the
needs of the residents and patients, or approaching them. Yet, from my personal
observations, these youth did show some hesitation and awkwardness in their interactions
with the residents and patients, and tended to cluster in groups when conducting their
activities. This seemed to be a common problem amongst the youth aged 13-18 years; this
was especially apparent when contrasted with the older youth volunteers from universities.
However, the younger youth volunteers were highly enthusiastic and innovative – strengths
that often outweighed their shortcomings. These strengths were also likely reasons behind
their perceived ease in coming up with engaging and suitable activities.
Camp REConnection
Ren Ci’s School of Compassion and some students from National University of
Singapore’s University Scholars Programme came together to organize Camp REConnection
in 2014. Camp REConnection aimed to expose youth between 16 and 18 years old to the
problems faced by older persons in Singapore, particularly those under intermediate and
long-term care (Ministry of Health, 2016). This non-residential camp was held in both Ren
Ci and National University of Singapore from 7 to 11 December 2014, and it attracted 45
participants. As a member of the organizing team, I conducted informal interviews and
crafted a Camp REConnection Post-Camp Survey (see Appendix E). 31 responses were
collected in total, and a detailed breakdown of the responses to each question can be found
in Appendix F.
The camp attracted a group of youth who were highly interested in social issues. Many
of them rated statements such as ‘I wanted to learn something new’, ‘I am interested in
interacting with the elderly’ and ‘I see it as an opportunity to make a difference’ as important
or extremely important motivating factors for joining the camp (see Table 2). Conversely,
statements such as ‘I wanted to improve my resume/VIA record’ and ‘It was a requirement
by my school’ were rated as low in importance. Some participants expressed interest in
social work or medical courses in university, and many were already volunteering their
time in a variety of causes.
Heartbeats Volume 3 39
Rating
I wanted to learn
something new.
I am interested in interacting
with the elderly.
I saw it as the opportunity to
make a difference.
I wanted to improve my resume/VIA
records.
It was a requirement/ expectation by
my school.
6 (Extremely important)
42% 42% 35% 0% 0%
5 32% 39% 42% 16% 6%
4 23% 19% 19% 23% 3%
3 0% 0% 3% 19% 3%
2 3% 0% 0% 19% 3%
1 (Not at all important)
0% 0% 0% 13% 45%
0 (NA) 0% 0% 0% 10% 39%
Table 2. Responses to “Rate what motivated you to join the camp”
Camp REConnection consisted of a range of activities designed to get youth to
empathize with older persons in Singapore, and to learn how to interact more effectively
with them. Participants attended dialect and language classes, learning basic Cantonese,
Hokkien, Teochew and Bahasa Melayu across four days. They also participated in an
Amazing Race to expose themselves to mature estates in Singapore, and took part in an
experiential learning activity organized by Ren Ci. The experiential learning activity had
participants putting on foggy glasses and weights, and using ambulatory aids, for a few
hours to simulate the life of a sick and disabled older person. Interactions with the residents
in Ren Ci Nursing Home assumed a key component in the camp. Participants did craft
activities with the residents, collected their life stories for a patchbook project, and engaged
them in an outdoor kite-flying activity.
Overall evaluations of Camp REConnection were largely positive. As can be seen in
Figure 11, all of the respondents agreed that they learnt useful skills from their participation
in Camp REConnection, with 65% strongly agreeing with the statement. An important goal
of the camp, which was to get youth to better understand the needs of older persons, was
also met. All the participants agreed with the statement “I can better understand the needs
of the elderly now” (see Figure 12).
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 40
Figure 11. Responses to “I learnt useful skills from the camp”
Figure 12. Responses to “I can better understand the needs of the elderly now”
81% of the respondents indicated that their perspectives on older persons changed
after the camp. Many of them typed long responses to explain why. One respondent wrote,
“I have come to realize the many ways in which they are just like us, from the constant need
for companionship to the occasionally judgmental attitudes some of them take to the people
around them. It really struck me how much we can learn from them if we just take the time
to listen to them.” Similarly, another respondent said, “Before the camp, although I didn't
really think of them as inferior to us or as beneficiaries, I always thought that they were
more dependent, may be due to the physical disabilities of old age. They may not be able to
do as much as we can, but after interaction with the elderly in this camp, I realised there is
so much I can and have to learn from them”. From the survey responses and the reflection
sessions at Camp REConnection, it was evident that many participants had valuable
takeaways from their participation in the camp.
0 4 8 12 16 20
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
0 4 8 12 16 20
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
Heartbeats Volume 3 41
In terms of specific aspects of the camp, some questions elicited extreme responses
(i.e., with high percentages of agreement or disagreement). Experiential learning and
reflections were aspects that received particularly positive evaluations. These activities
were seen as meaningful (see Figure 13) and effective in helping the youth empathize with
older persons (see Figure 14), achieving important goals of the camp.
Figure 13. Responses to “Reflections were meaningful”
Figure 14. Responses to “Experiential learning helped me better empathize with the elderly”
While there were no programmes that had more than 80% unfavorable ratings, the
following two questions had a sizable number of respondents in disagreement. As can be
seen in Figure 15, 45% of the respondents felt that the language classes were not effective
in helping them interact with the residents. However, a majority of the respondents said
that the materials used in these language classes were appropriate (see Figure 16), and that
the classes sparked their interest in dialects (see Figure 17). Thus, it is unlikely that the
problem lies in the lessons per se. Rather, while the dialect classes provided a crash course
for the participants, these classes were not sufficient in equipping the participants with the
necessary skills to hold conversations with the residents. This therefore necessitates a
0 3 6 9 12 15
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 42
rethink of how dialect classes should be conducted in future runs of the camp. Perhaps, a
greater emphasis on building proficiency in one or two dialects, instead of exposing
participants to a range of dialects, would be advisable.
Figure 15. Responses to “Dialect/language lessons helped my interaction with the elderly”
Figure 16. Responses to “The material taught was appropriate”
Figure 17. Responses to “The dialect/language classes sparked my interest in the dialect”
0 2 4 6 8
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
0 3 6 9 12 15
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
0 2 4 6 8
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
Heartbeats Volume 3 43
Another less favorably rated aspect of the camp was the Amazing Race. Approximately
half of the respondents surveyed mentioned that it did not help them better understand the
ways of life of older persons (see Figure 18). The Amazing Race was specially tailored to
allow participants to complete older person-centric activities such as practicing taichi,
visiting mature estates and striking conversations with older persons. However, due to time
and situational constraints, not all the locations and activities were fully explored and
conducted, which therefore reduced the intended takeaways.
Figure 18. Responses to “Amazing Race helped me understand the elderly's life”
Resident profiling in Ren Ci Nursing Home
I also executed a Resident Profiling Project in Ren Ci Nursing Home during my
attachment. It was aligned to efforts undertaken by a workgroup in Ren Ci, to identify
individuals who could potentially live in a group home setting. The Resident Profiling
Project was also useful in identifying gaps in meeting the needs of the residents. 62
identified residents in Ren Ci Nursing Home were interviewed to obtain information on
their present and past interests, previous occupations, family support, food preferences,
ambulation and physical function, and general feedback.
Based on the interviews, the popular interests of the residents were tabulated. These
results are shown in Table 3. The top 5 most popular activities are highlighted in the table.
Activity Percentage interested
Watch TV 40.7%
Karaoke and bingo 40.7%
Volunteers' befriending 31.5%
0 2 4 6 8 10
Does not apply
Strongly Disagree 1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree 6
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 44
Sports 31.5%
Exercise/ Therapy 24.1%
Listen to radio 18.5%
Outings 16.7%
Watch movies 14.8%
Chitchat 13.0%
Cooking 11.2%
Religious activities 11.2%
Read newspapers 11.2%
Chinese chess 9.3%
Table 3. Interested activities of residents
Activities like watching television, taking part in karaoke, doing therapy, and talking
to volunteers are activities which the residents currently engage in. This indicates that the
interests and needs of the residents are already currently being met. However, when probed
if they would like to see any other improvements, the residents generally found it difficult
to think of anything else. This raises the question of whether residents have become so
accustomed to the current environment in Ren Ci Nursing Home, that attempts to change
and make amendments to the routine might be difficult. This poses an extra challenge for
Ren Ci to push the able-bodied and cognitively-sound residents to take ownership of their
lives in the nursing home, and make their residential experiences as fulfilling as possible.
Apart from these existing activities, the high interest in sports (31.5%) stood out as
an exception. Many of the residents interviewed spoke of their younger days when they
engaged in sports like basketball, football, and swimming. These activities, however, are
now unfeasible due to the limited mobility of wheelchair or bedbound residents.
Nonetheless, the interest in sports is an avenue that could be further explored.
Recommendations
Based on the results discussed above, both short-term and long-term
recommendations to improve the volunteer landscape in Ren Ci are proposed.
Heartbeats Volume 3 45
Short-term recommendations
Ren Ci could implement the following short-term recommendations to attract and
retain youth volunteers. Firstly, Ren Ci could conduct outreach activities in schools, which
could potentially increase awareness of volunteering opportunities in Ren Ci amongst
youth. When asked for feedback in the Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey, 10 respondents
suggested that Ren Ci could do more outreach to youth. A volunteer recommended that Ren
Ci could “[spread] more awareness about what Ren Ci does and how to volunteer”. As can
be seen in Figure 19, a substantial 71% of youth volunteering in Ren Ci first learnt about
volunteering opportunities in Ren Ci through their schools. Ren Ci could therefore organize
outreach activities in schools to increase its visibility amongst youth. Tie-ups with schools
for one-off VIA activities could also be considered. Compared to other developed countries
such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom, Singapore ranks higher in
terms of youth volunteerism rates (Kok, 2015). One reason for the high numbers is the
mandatory Community Involvement Programme that has been put in place in schools since
1977, requiring students to spend time on community work as part of the curriculum (Kok,
2015). Working with schools to mobilize students as volunteers is an avenue that Ren Ci
could consider embarking on.
Figure 19. Responses to “How did you FIRST learn about volunteer opportunities in Ren Ci?”
There might also be a need to use appropriate channels to reach out to youth
volunteers, to ensure that publicity materials on volunteer activities reach them. While
Facebook has been listed as the top social networking platform in Singapore (Kemp, 2015),
and is actively used by Ren Ci to promote its activities, anecdotal evidence from youth
At work/school
71%
Ren Ci staff/volunteer
2% Personal experiences
1%
Media/Social media
1%Ren Ci website
6%
From a friend19%
Others0%
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 46
between the ages of 13 and 18 suggests that they do not frequently use Facebook. None of
the Camp REConnection participants heard about the event through Facebook, despite it
being used as a publicity channel (see Figure 20). Camp participants mentioned that
Facebook is no longer the preferred means of connecting with their peers. Other social
media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, are more commonly used. Alternatively,
school mailers were commonly highlighted (61%) as the channel through which the
students got to know about the camp (see Figure 20), which highlights the importance of
Ren Ci working with schools to increase its visibility.
Figure 20. Responses to “How did you hear about Camp REConnection?”
Secondly, it might be important for Ren Ci to follow up with ad-hoc volunteers who
volunteer for one-off activities. Many Youth Volunteer Survey respondents said that they
had a good experience volunteering in Ren Ci. Specifically, 98% of the respondents rated
their volunteering experience as either excellent or good (see Figure 21), and 94% said that
they would recommend Ren Ci to a friend as a place to volunteer (see Figure 22).
From school
61%
From CCA16%
From friends
7%
Others16%
From Facebook
0%
Heartbeats Volume 3 47
Figure 21. Responses to “How would you rate your overall volunteer experience with Ren Ci?”
Figure 22. Responses to “I would recommend Ren Ci to a friend as a place to volunteer”
When asked if they themselves would continue volunteering at Ren Ci in the future,
89% of respondents said they would, with those who said no mentioned that they already
have other volunteering commitments. There is a lot of value in following up with this pool
of keen volunteers, like sharing with them about the volunteering opportunities at Ren Ci,
and advising them on the volunteer recruitment process. These efforts can potentially
retain these ad-hoc volunteers.
Thirdly, Ren Ci could consider crafting a training programme that is tailored for youth
volunteers. Achievement programmes such as the National Youth Achievement Award
(National Youth Achievement Award Council, 2016), where youth have to complete certain
activities in order to attain different award tiers, is a concept familiar to them. In order to
motivate youth to complete the training programme, Ren Ci could consider adopting a
Excellent40%
Good58%
Fair2%
0 11 22 33 44 55
Does not apply
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Somewhat disagree
Somewhat agree
Agree
Strongly agree
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 48
similar structure. Milestones in nursing, communication, and therapy would need to be
achieved before the volunteer is certified as a trained volunteer. As many youth listed
language barrier as a common difficulty faced when volunteering in Ren Ci, dialect classes
could specifically be incorporated into the training for youth volunteers. This suggestion
was welcomed by some of the youth surveyed. Amongst those who provided suggestions in
the Youth Volunteer Survey, 7 respondents suggested having dialect classes as part of their
training programme. A volunteer mentioned that teaching youth dialects would help
“prepare youth volunteers more sufficiently”.
Lastly, judging from the positive response that Camp REConnection garnered, annual
runs of the camp could be considered. As a concept familiar to youth, camps are a good
means to reach out to students and engage them in learning through fun and meaningful
activities. Subsequent runs could expand in scale, and better ways of publicizing the camp
to schools to attract more participants could be considered. Fine-tuning of the programme,
based on the feedback obtained from its inaugural run in 2014, would be advisable.
Long-term recommendations
As an extension to the first short-term recommendation, Ren Ci could consider
developing long-term projects with schools, which could be handed over to subsequent
batches of students in the respective schools. This fits in with the way volunteerism is
currently being carried out in schools. As illustrated in the 2012 Budget debate, then
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat described the VIA programme in terms of “four-year or
six-year development plans in order to move towards more coherent and sustainable
learning through community involvement” (Kok, 2015). Projects that are more long-term
in nature can both meet the needs of schools, and foster long-term partnerships between
schools and Ren Ci. These projects could come in the form of befriending programmes taken
on by service-oriented student clubs in schools, and Art programmes developed by students
in art-oriented student clubs or the Art Elective Programme. Strong linkups with schools
would not only provide a sustainable pool of volunteers for Ren Ci, but also increase the
continuity of volunteer programmes and students' commitment to volunteering, since these
activities would be incorporated into schools’ curriculum and co-curriculum.
Heartbeats Volume 3 49
In the long run, the way in which volunteering is viewed and carried out should also
be redefined. Asset-based community development, the idea of focusing on the strengths
and assets of a community instead of dwelling on its needs (Mathie & Cunningham, 2003),
could potentially revolutionize the volunteer landscape. Applying to the Ren Ci volunteer
environment, it would mean considering the residents in the nursing home as having skills,
assets and resources, and not just as beneficiaries. Instead of organizing unidirectional
activities, in which volunteers give and beneficiaries receive, interactions between both
parties would be reciprocal and would focus on relationship building. This is especially
relevant in the older persons sector. Nursing home residents often form warm relationships
with youth volunteers, calling these youth their “grandchildren”. Thus, it would be valuable
if Ren Ci could realign volunteer activities to foster more meaningful two-way interactions
between the nursing home residents and the youth volunteers. This shift in perspective
should be conveyed to the volunteers, and would in turn imply changes in the activities that
volunteers and residents engage in.
As many youth pointed out, they often have a poor grasp of dialects. The expertise of
older persons who are fluent in dialects could be capitalized on, when Ren Ci conducts
dialect classes for the volunteers. In this situation, the common scenario of the volunteer
instructing the resident on what to do would be reversed. The resident would now assume
the role of the instructor, and impart his/her assets, resources and skills (e.g., knowledge of
dialects) to the youth volunteer. Not only would the skills of the resident be utilized, but
worries about unsuitable activities and lack of common topics would also be solved. Apart
from harnessing the assets of the residents, the skill sets of volunteers should also be tapped
on. Volunteers with certain talents or interests, like art, music, dance, writing or
photography, should be encouraged to propose activities for the residents. Renci’s
engagement with Singapore Police Force (SPF) is a good example of such asset-based
activities. SPF K-9 trainers make monthly visits to Ren Ci Nursing Home with their friendly
police dogs, spending an hour with those residents who love dogs. Sharing such examples
with the youth would motivate them to come up with activities that they themselves would
enjoy and could share with the residents. By tapping into the expertise of both the
volunteers and the residents, more meaningful activities that engage both parties could be
created, fostering commitment to these volunteering activities. Developing volunteering
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 50
activities that both volunteers and residents would enjoy could help create meaningful
volunteerism.
The interests of the residents, discussed earlier in the profiling exercise, should also
be considered. Of all the activities that were highly rated, sporting activities stood out for
their high but currently unfulfilled demand. Though many of Ren Ci’s residents are no
longer physically mobile and have issues engaging in strenuous physical activity, modifying
activities to retain the fun spirit of competitive sports could be considered. Sporting
activities could be modified to make them suitable for wheelchair- or bed-bound residents.
Modified games such as wheelchair balloon volleyball, table bowling, or pass-the-parcel
memory games could be played. Wii games could also be used as a substitute for sports,
with tournaments held between residents on the sponsored Wii console in Ren Ci Nursing
Home. Such interesting and innovative activities could be made feasible with the help of
volunteers.
Conclusion
Ren Ci currently has a pool of committed and dedicated volunteers who contribute
time, effort and money to serve and work with Ren Ci’s patients and residents. With a strong
volunteer management system in place, Ren Ci has a wide range of activities and volunteer
groups that support its work. Ren Ci’s success in maintaining a strong volunteer network
can be attributed to three key factors (see Figure 23) – the supportive volunteer
environment that Ren Ci provides, the engaged volunteers who come forward to serve, and
the volunteers’ dedication to enhance the well-being of the patients and residents. In
particular, the first factor – from the on-the-ground nurses whom volunteers come into
contact with, to the staff in the Fundraising and Volunteer Development – has been
mentioned by many volunteers to be valuable in helping them carry out their volunteer
activities.
Heartbeats Volume 3 51
Figure 23. Summary of Ren Ci’s success
As the bulk of my research has been carried out in Ren Ci Nursing Home, the
applicability of the recommendations to the two other branches in Ren Ci – Community
Hospital and Long Term Care – needs to be qualified. These two branches serve patients
with different needs, and hence the nature of activities and volunteers required would also
differ. This research focuses on youth volunteerism, and considers the unique strengths that
youth can bring to the patients and residents of Ren Ci. Nevertheless, the strengths of other
volunteers, such as homemakers who have the time and ability to volunteer, should
definitely not be discounted.
With measures in place to change the way in which nursing homes are envisioned, the
conception and model of volunteering in nursing homes has enormous potential to be
changed and improved upon. Going forward, Singapore can take a leaf out of care facilities
in the Netherlands, where nursing home residents are given more autonomy and freedom
to make their own lifestyle choices. This is a departure from current nursing home models
in Singapore, which have been criticized for being too institutionalized (Tan, 2016). With a
change in how nursing homes function, it is hoped that volunteering practices will adapt
and become a meaningful albeit never-ending work-in-progress in Ren Ci.
Success
Supportive Ren Ci
environment
Engaged volunteers
Meeting real needs of
patients & residents
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 52
References
Future Problem Solving Program Singapore. (2011). Community problem solving.
Retrieved from http://fpsp.org.sg/programs/community-problem-solving
Kemp, S. (2015, January 21). Digital, social & mobile in 2015. We Are Social. Retrieved
from http://wearesocial.sg/blog/2015/01/digital-social-mobile-2015/
Kok, X. H. (2015, May 25). Are youth really not volunteering enough? The Straits Times.
Retrieved from http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/are-youth-really-not-
volunteering-enough?nopaging=1
Mathie, A., & Cunningham, G. (2003). From clients to citizens: Asset-based community
development as a strategy for community-driven development. Development in
Practice, 13, 474-486.
Ministry of Health. (2016). Intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services. Retrieved
from
https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/our_healthcare_system/Healt
hcare_Services/Intermediate_And_Long-Term_Care_Services.html
National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. (2015). Individual giving survey 2014.
Retrieved
fromhttp://www.nvpc.org.sg/Portals/0/Documents/Research%20and%20Public
ations/2014/IGS%202014%20Topline/IGS%202014_Topline.pdf
National Youth Achievement Award Council. (2016). National Youth Achievement Award.
Retrieved from http://www.nyaa.org/
Ren Ci Hospital. (2016a). About us. Retrieved from http://www.renci.org.sg/about-us/
Ren Ci Hospital (2016b). Our services. Retrieved from http://www.renci.org.sg/our-
services/
Ren Ci Hospital (2016c). Volunteers. Retrieved from http://www.renci.org.sg/volunteers/
Tan, W. (2016, January 24). Dutch-style care facilities offer independent living. The Straits
Times. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dutch-style-care-
facilities-offer-independent-living
Heartbeats Volume 3 53
National Youth Council. (2016). Youth Expedition Project (YEP). Retrieved from
https://www.resourceportal.nyc.sg/nycp//ShowProperty//WLP%20Repository/
nyc/grants/Youth%20Expedition%20Project%20Grant
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 54
Appendix A: Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey
REN CI YOUTH VOLUNTEER SURVEY
Name
Volunteer Group/Activity
Ren Ci is interested in learning about your experience volunteering with us. The
feedback you provide through this survey enables us to evaluate and strengthen
our volunteer management program. We sincerely appreciate you taking the
time to provide us with your comments and suggestions.
1 Which age group do you belong to?
13 – 16 17 – 20
21 – 25 26 – 30
31 – 35
2 What is your occupation?
Full-time student (Please go to Q3)
Employed (Please go to Q4)
Unemployed (Please go to Q5)
3 Which educational institution do you attend?
Secondary school Junior College/Pre-University
Polytechnic Institute of Technical Education
University
4 Which sector of work are you in?
__________________________________________________________________
5 How long have you been volunteering at Ren Ci?
6 months or less 6 to 12 months
1 to 2 years 2 years and above
Heartbeats Volume 3 55
6 How often do you volunteer at Ren Ci?
Several times a week Weekly
Fortnightly Monthly
Ad Hoc Others: _________________________
7 How did you FIRST learn about volunteer opportunities at Ren Ci?
Ren Ci website From a friend
Media/Social media At work/school
Ren Ci staff/volunteer Personal Experiences
Others: ______________________
8 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate what motivated you to volunteer by ticking the box that best represents how you feel.
No
t at
all
Im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
Im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I wanted to learn something new.
I felt that I should give back to society.
I wanted to help people.
I wanted to improve my resume/VIA records.
I saw it as the opportunity to make a difference.
It fulfills my moral principles.
I wanted to occupy my free time.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 56
It was a requirement/expectation by my school/company.
Other reasons:
9 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which these issues were a problem for you throughout the volunteering experience.
No
t at
all
Im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
Im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I could not communicate well due to language barriers. (e.g. dialects)
I was unsure as to how to approach the elderly.
I felt that the activities I prepared were unsuitable.
I felt that my activities were not sufficiently engaging.
I was unsure of the needs of the elderly.
Other issues:
10 How did you overcome some of the abovementioned problems?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Heartbeats Volume 3 57
11 Please provide your opinion about the Ren Ci volunteer environment by
ticking the box that best represents how you feel.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Agr
ee
Agr
ee
Str
on
gly
A
gree
Do
es n
ot
Ap
ply
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I received adequate training before carrying out my tasks.
I have the support and guidance I need to accomplish my volunteer activities.
The volunteer environment is professional and pleasant.
I feel that my work is making a difference.
I feel that my efforts are being/have been recognized and appreciated.
I am able to share my ideas/ suggestions/comments to the staff freely.
I am treated properly and with respect.
Ren Ci makes an effort to make me feel that I am a valuable member of the organization.
My volunteer job gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Ren Ci is an excellent place to volunteer.
I would recommend Ren Ci to a friend as a place to volunteer.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 58
12 Considering your Ren Ci experience, please evaluate the extent to which
your volunteer work at Ren Ci has had an impact on you.
No
t at
all
Im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
Im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
My volunteer work has: 1 2 3 4 5 6 0
Allowed me to use my skills and abilities to do meaningful work.
Increased my self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
Improved my relationship with the elderly around me.
Helped me develop a social network with other volunteers and paid staff.
Increased my awareness of community needs.
Increased my involvement in other areas of community engagement.
Other areas of impact:
13
12
How would you rate your overall volunteer experience with Ren Ci?
Excellent Good
Fair Poor
14 Will you continue volunteering at Ren Ci in the future?
Yes, Why? ______________________________________________________________________
No, Why? ______________________________________________________________________
15 Are there any suggestions or comments you would like to share? (e.g.
activities that can be done, how to better engage youth volunteers)
__________________________________________________________________________________
THANK YOU!
Heartbeats Volume 3 59
Appendix B: Summary of results for Ren Ci Youth Volunteer Survey
1. Which age group do you belong to?
Age Group Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
13-16 7 6%
17-20 91 74%
21-25 23 19%
26-30 1 1%
31-35 1 1%
2. What is your occupation?
Occupation Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
Full-time Student 118 96%
Employed 3 2%
Unemployed 2 2%
3. Which educational institution do you attend?
Educational Institution Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
Secondary School 6 5%
Institute of Technical
Education
9 7%
Junior College/Pre-
University
18 15%
Polytechnic 47 38%
University 41 33%
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 60
5. How long have you been volunteering at Ren Ci?
Duration Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
6 months or less 119 97%
6 to 12 months 3 2%
1 to 2 years 1 1%
2 years and above 0 0%
6. How often do you volunteer at Ren Ci?
Educational Institution Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
Several times a week 2 2%
Weekly 13 11%
Fortnightly 4 3%
Monthly 4 3%
Ad Hoc 98 80%
Other 2 2%
7. How did you FIRST learn about volunteer opportunities at Ren Ci?
Channel Number of
Responses
Percentage of
Responses
Ren Ci website 7 6%
From a friend 24 20%
Media/Social media 1 1%
At work/school 87 71%
Ren Ci staff/volunteer 3 2%
Personal experiences 1 1%
Other 0 0%
Heartbeats Volume 3 61
8a. On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate what motivated you to volunteer by ticking the box
that best represents how you feel.
No
t at
all
im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I wanted to learn something
new.
2 3 10 31 45 26 6
2% 2% 8% 25% 37% 21% 5%
I felt that I should give back to
society.
0 2 2 16 45 55 3
0% 2% 2% 13% 37% 45% 2%
I wanted to help people. 0 1 2 12 39 66 3
0% 1% 2% 10% 32% 54% 2%
I wanted to improve my
resume/VIA records.
18 18 18 30 20 9 10
15% 15% 15% 24% 16% 7% 8%
I saw it as the opportunity to
make a difference.
0 2 9 22 44 41 5
0% 2% 7% 18% 36% 33% 4%
It fulfills my moral principles. 0 0 9 27 47 37 3
0% 0% 7% 22% 38% 30% 2%
I wanted to occupy my free time 21 13 22 34 19 8 6
17% 11% 18% 28% 15% 7% 5%
It was a
requirement/expectation by my
school/company.
15 19 17 22 26 12 12
12% 15% 14% 18% 21% 10% 10%
Other reasons : Talk to elderly
Good way to spend time
Learn about the living conditions at Ren Ci
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 62
9. On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which these issues were a problem for
you throughout the volunteering experience.
No
t at
all
im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I could not communicate well
due to language barriers. (e.g.
dialects)
11 19 20 42 10 12 0
9% 15% 16% 34% 15% 10% 0%
I was unsure as to how to
approach the elderly.
5 24 30 30 26 8 0
4% 20% 24% 24% 21% 7% 0%
I felt that the activities I
prepared were unsuitable.
16 29 27 28 11 4 8
13% 24% 22% 23% 9% 3% 7%
I felt that my activities were not
sufficiently engaging.
9 28 31 33 14 3 5
7% 23% 25% 27% 12% 2% 4%
I was unsure of the needs of the
elderly.
6 18 32 37 21 8 1
5% 15% 26% 30% 17% 7% 1%
Heartbeats Volume 3 63
10. How did you overcome some of the abovementioned problems?
Asked for assistance
From staff: Asked therapists/nurse for help when unsure Asked the nurses what to do. Try to get some information from nurse or their family first.
Then start the conversation. Asked the staff Asking the staff for help Ask them more questions and seek help from nurses about
their needs. By pairing up with my supervisor (I am an intern
accompanying my supervisor)
From experienced volunteers: Ask help from older members with better dialects Our seniors also gave us good advice and reassurance before
our visit. Approach veteran volunteers for advice. Talk to the organisers
From friends: My friends with me would help translate what I don't
understand. Friends helped with different dialects. and we tried to think
from an elderly's point of view when preparing activities and if we were unsure which activities to take in, we would just decide to talk with them.
Friends who speak the language helped translate. With help and moral support from my friends/classmates. Get friends who could speak the language to attend to the
elderly. Changed activity to suit elderly. Seek help from peers. Think of common topics. With the help of friends Volunteers help each other Got a friend who could speak Chinese/dialects. Friends helped translate. Use actions. Getting people who know the dialect. Got a Chinese friend to accompany and used hand gestures. Try to ask help from friends that speak Mandarin Asking my friend to translate Tried to communicate through my friend's translation. My partner was chinese so she was able to help out with the
interaction. Find a friend that can speak Mandarin.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 64
I approach the patients with friends who are able to converse in Mandarin or Malay
I try to approach the elderly with friends that are able to speak different languages.
Self-improvement (Lessons/self-learnt)
Lessons: Took some language lessons offered through the
volunteering programme at Ren Ci and outside. Self-learnt: I tried to learn dialects. As time passed, I became more
confident with the elderly. Learning the languages, improving my speaking skills Learning the dialects. Use google translate, hand language and seek help from
friends. Tried using google translator while communicating Use Google Translate and force myself out of my comfort
zone Increased communication to facilitate understanding
Talking to the elderly enabled me to better anticipate and understand their needs.
I try my best to communicate with the elderly. By entertaining the elderly every time when I visit, I can
understand what they need, how to communicate with them, and improve our relationship. Spending more time with them removes the feeling of talking to strangers for them.
Keep trying to communicate with the elderly. Try to talk more and play together. Got more familiar with their needs over time. Keep trying and observe if the elderly are willing to open up. Approaching the elderly and being aware of their needs
became more natural after the first day. The elderly could recognize us and were cooperative.
Have conversations with the elderly themselves. Communicated through common languages/ body language/ sign language/ smiling
Tried using Malay and English. Spoke to the elderly that I could communicate to. Tried to use a mix of sign language, broken Malay/Chinese
and English to communicate. A lot of smiling, sign language and rudimentary dialect if
needed. Interpret body language. Body Language. Body Language. Smile more and be more talkative. Just smiled even when I couldn't understand the elderly. Using body language instead Used broken Hokkien to get the elderly to teach me. I approached elderly that knows how to speak mandarin and
improvised.
Heartbeats Volume 3 65
Use hand gestures I try use hand gesture
Good conversation topics/ techniques
Tried to start on simple conversation topics e.g. meals Thought of more personal questions to build a closer
relationship. Figured out that sometimes a conversation is what they
need Tried to find topics the elderly are interested in. Build upon what the elderly talked about Asking few questions about their past, give an attentive ear
to them Ask few question Just continue to interact, any subject just brought up to
them, just get them talking with you or share their stories. I prompt them to talk and open up to me so that I could get
to know their problems. Even when I don't understand them I think just lending a
listening ear is important enough. Even though I couldn't understand what she is saying, I tried
to keep the conversation going by nodding my head, encouraging her to go on.
By talking to them Tried my best just talking. Try to talk to them with simple routine questions Find common topics of interest I tried to find connection through experiences and
knowledge we have Giving the elderly attention at the same time maintaining a
positive attitude and trying to empathize with them. Be a listening ear and smile Try to be attentive and listen.
Good interactive activities
I managed to find someone to play Chinese Chess with. With Chinese Chess Thought about suitable activities on the spot Thought about possible activities the elderly might enjoy
based on experience, their possible needs, and the best ways to address them.
Helped the elderly with the origami activity prepared as they couldn't fold it themselves.
Just giving them a listening ear and doing origami. The elderly likes old songs so we just sing for him on our
own. Be more proactive/ confident
Approaching the elderly Approach those who are easy going We approached the elderly in pairs so that we can help each
other out and will feel less awkward with the elderly.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 66
Just approach and talk to the elderly. They usually react very positively when I showed the effort to engage.
By taking the first step, something amazing might just happen.
Make the first move, start the conversation. By hook or by crook, you will have to try it Just taking the first step to start Initiate the conversation During interaction By keeping up a high level of enthusiasm. Be spontaneous and proactive. Just did my best to communicate and be enthusiastic. Open minded, with more experience will help Try my best and just do it. Learn to be confident. I try to be friendly as possible. Engage more with the elders and make initiatives Break down the social barrier. Be confident and ask question Have the courage to speak out. Be open minded and communicate with the patients.
Be more flexible
Think on the spot and change the activities according to the needs of the elderly and the situations.
Instead of going ahead with our ideal plans, we decided to spend most of the time talking to the elderly instead, as we realised that they prefer talking to us than playing some of the games.
We did not carry out the activities that we planned to do with them, but we just spent time talking to them and understanding them better.
We planned to play chess, in the end we talked to the elderly.
We tried talking different elderly and work together as a group
Constantly providing them with a listening ear. Scrape whatever we planned to do and just spend time chit-
chat with them Go with the flow Be flexible and improvise based on situations. Talk to them about their experiences instead of carrying out
the activities we prepared Others I got lucky and managed to find people who were receptive.
The elderly turned out to very willing to share. I just be myself and treat the elderly like my own
grandparents. Trial and error
Heartbeats Volume 3 67
11. Please provide your opinion about the Ren Ci volunteer environment by ticking the
box that best represents how you feel.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
agre
e
Agr
ee
Str
on
gly
ag
ree
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I received adequate training before carrying out my tasks.
3 8 21 35 39 8 9
2% 7% 17% 28% 32% 7% 7%
I have the support and guidance I need to accomplish my volunteer activities.
1 1 3 34 60 19 5
1% 1% 3% 34% 60% 19% 5%
The volunteer environment is professional and pleasant.
0 0 1 19 64 37 2
0% 0% 1% 15% 52% 30% 2%
I feel that my work is making a difference.
2 1 7 23 49 40 1
2% 1% 6% 19% 40% 33% 1%
I feel that my efforts are being/have been recognized and appreciated.
1 1 0 29 53 38 1
1% 1% 0% 24% 43% 31% 1%
I am able to share my ideas/ suggestions/comments to the staff freely.
0 0 3 36 44 33 7
0% 0% 2% 29% 36% 27% 6%
I am treated properly and with respect.
0 0 0 12 52 57 2
0% 0% 0% 10% 42% 46% 2%
Ren Ci makes an effort to make me feel that I am a valuable member of the organization.
0 0 3 22 58 32 8
0% 0% 2% 18% 47% 26% 7%
My volunteer job gives me a sense of accomplishment.
0 1 5 15 56 42 4
0% 1% 4% 12% 46% 34% 3%
Ren Ci is an excellent place to volunteer.
0 0 4 17 62 37 3
0% 0% 3% 14% 50% 30% 2%
I would recommend Ren Ci to a friend as a place to volunteer.
0 0 4 17 53 47 2
0% 0% 3% 14% 43% 38% 2%
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 68
12. Considering your Ren Ci experience, please evaluate the extent to which your
volunteer work at Ren Ci has had an impact on you.
No
t at
all
To
a g
reat
ex
ten
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
Allowed me to use my skills and abilities to do meaningful work.
0 2 5 42 45 25 4
0% 2% 4% 34% 37% 20% 3%
Increased my self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
0 1 6 27 60 26 3
0% 1% 5% 22% 49% 21% 2%
Improved my relationship with the elderly around me.
0 0 5 21 49 42 6
0% 0% 4% 17% 40% 34% 5%
Helped me develop a social network with other volunteers and paid staff.
4 3 11 37 41 20 7
3% 2% 9% 30% 33% 16% 6%
Increased my awareness of community need.
0 1 5 23 51 41 2
0% 1% 4% 19% 41% 33% 2%
Increased my involvement in other areas of community engagement.
0 1 11 30 43 33 5
0% 1% 9% 24% 35% 27% 4%
13. How would you rate your overall volunteer experience with Ren Ci?
Rating Number of Responses Percentage of Responses
Excellent 49 40%
Good 71 58%
Fair 3 2
Poor 0 0%
14. Will you continue volunteering at Ren Ci in the future?
Yes No
Yes. Got to learn useful skills for the future No. Busy with studies
Yes. It is a great experience and I love
interacting with the elderly here.
No. Already volunteering with another
organisation.
Heartbeats Volume 3 69
Yes. It is meaningful and rewarding to
work with the elderly.
No. Most patients can only speak dialects
or Chinese and I find it hard to interact
with them.
Yes. It is meaningful and enjoyable to
interact with the elderly.
No. I feel that my inability to properly
communicate with the residents
disallows me from truly helping.
Yes. I think that it's meaningful and we
have gotten to know the elderly.
No. I'm not comfortable interacting with
patients.
Yes. It is meaningful and enjoyable. No. Already volunteering with another
organisation.
Yes. It is enjoyable. No. Already volunteering with another
organisation.
Yes. It is fulfilling. Yes and No. Enjoy interacting with the
elderly but not very good at
communicating with elderly. Problems
with language.
Yes. I can help more people. No. I'm not naturally inclined towards
welfare help.
Yes. I feel happy when I help people who
are in need.
No. Language barriers, can't speak
Chinese.
Yes. I like to push the elderly. No. I'm not suited to working with the
elderly.
Yes, if there's a chance in the future. No. I'm currently involved with other
organizations.
Yes. I love helping the elderly and the
needy.
No. Time commitment.
Yes. I feel happy helping the elderly. No. Alas, time constraint
Yes. Happy to see them. No. But if I can squeeze time, I will still
choose to volunteer at Ren Ci.
Yes. I feel like I'm making a difference No. But if I can squeeze time, I will still
choose to volunteer at Ren Ci.
Yes. I can spend my time meaningfully
Yes
Yes
Yes. Engage them if I have time.
Yes. Still slightly hesitant, but the old folks
here are fun to banter with.
Yes. To play Chinese Chess.
Yes. Ren Ci has a conducive environment.
Yes
Yes. Staff are friendly and approachable,
worthy cause to volunteer with
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 70
Yes. Good and comfortable environment.
Yes. The time spent was too short to make
an impact on the elderly.
Yes and No. Enjoy interacting with the
elderly but not very good at
communicating with elderly. Problems
with language.
Yes. To provide any help Ren Ci patients
need.
Yes. I want to help the patients at Ren Ci.
Yes. It is a stress-free environment to work
in.
Yes. Meaningful and hope to continue the
relationship with the old folks that I
interacted with.
Yes. Great satisfaction in serving and
helping others in need.
Yes. I would like to continue to bring cheer
into the elderly's lives.
Yes. Elderly are very cute and I wish to
have more contact.
Yes. Good volunteering experience.
Yes. There are many more others to reach
out to.
Yes. I empathise with the elderly's
problems
Yes. To better understand the needs of the
elderly and to contribute in whatever way I
can.
Yes. Feel for the elderly, want to see them
smile.
Yes. It's a very personal experience.
Yes. I find it meaningful to engage with the
old folks here.
Yes. To learn more about how to help the
elderly
Yes.
It was enjoyable and I feel emotionally
attached to the elderly, especially towards
those whom I have interacted with.
Yes. Give back to society.
Yes
Heartbeats Volume 3 71
Yes
Yes. I love to contribute to society.
Yes. Seeing people smile makes me happy.
Yes. I want to make the elderly know there
are people who care for them, not only
their children or nurse and also help them
kill time to let them memorable memories.
Yes. The environment is comfortable and
suitable.
Yes. The elderly are very friendly here.
Yes. A practical place to stay on
Yes. You reap what you sow.
Yes. I want to communicate with the
elderly more.
Yes. Interaction and learning.
Yes. To help.
Yes. Why not?
Yes
Yes. Why not?
Yes. I want to have an impact on the
elderly.
Yes if time permits
Yes. It is always great to give back we'll
never know what we may receive will be
greater.
Yes. No comments
Yes. Can help old people and I am happy
here
Yes. It is a nice environment with good
support staff.
Yes. I would like to make a difference in the
elderly's life :)
Yes. To have continuity after the YEP trip
Yes. A requirement for my school project
and I want to contribute to society.
Yes. To know more about how the folks
feel.
Yes. The elderly here do not have that
much activities so doing something during
their free time would bring joy.
Yes. It's a good experience
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 72
Yes. Very experiencing
Yes. I want to volunteer
Yes. I feel that I can continue to contribute.
Yes. Continue to serve my country, elderly
Yes. Giving back to community
Yes. I realised the elderly just need a
listening ear and all of them seemed lonely.
Yes. To make them happy :)
Yes. It is a fruitful experience.
Yes. It was very enriching and fulfilling.
Yes. Interesting and I love helping.
Yes. Cause I want to.
Yes. I enjoy it.
Yes
Yes. It was rewarding.
Yes. Good opportunity to interact with the
elderly.
Yes. It is a fulfilling activity.
Yes. I have learnt a lot from the
experiences shared by the elderly and this
has allowed me to reflect and become
more willing to be involved in CIP.
Yes
Yes. Perhaps after A levels. Will come with
friends again.
Yes. If given the time, I will want to talk to
more elderly and to know more about
them.
Yes. I think it is meaningful.
Yes. I think the environment here is good
and the elderly here are friendly and
approachable.
Yes. On an adhoc basis
Yes. The staff are very nice.
Yes. The staff and elderly are friendly.
Yes. It was fun.
Yes. Staff are very friendly.
Yes. It was enjoyable talking to the elderly
and it was satisfying to make them happy.
Yes. I feel that old people need a listening
ear.
Heartbeats Volume 3 73
Yes. Because the elderly is friendly.
Yes. Well informed, organised, meaningful
Yes. It was fruitful to spend time with the
elderly.
Total: 104 Responses Total: 13 Responses
15. Are there any suggestions or comments you would like to share? (e.g. activities that can
be done, how to better engage youth volunteers)
Greater
outreach
Perhaps greater outreach to schools to raise awareness and
recruit more volunteers. Opening up regular slots to those
volunteers who initially started with ad hoc activities.
Spreading awareness among the volunteering and interacting
with the elderly.
Make it more public.
Public awareness of activities.
Use social platform.
Teens need to be able to empathize with the elderly. It would help
attract more volunteers. Spreading more awareness about what
Ren Ci does and how to volunteer.
Using social media platform to better encourage and engage
youth volunteers.
Educate them to sympathize and feel from elderly' perspective
Better information channels.
A partnership with USP. Do more Flag events.
Volunteer
training
Teach youth volunteers dialects to better prepare them.
Simple dialect training or provide a list of people indicating their
dialect, so we know who we can approach.
A guide/handbook for dialects and basic things to observe when
interacting with the elderly.
Prepare youth volunteers more sufficiently, teach them dialects.
There should be a translator to translate the language for those
who don't understand.
To have language workshops
Some simple books at the sides for language barriers, like how to
say 'how do you do?' in Cantonese
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 74
Better
activities
Maybe we can have some other CIP activities such as cleaning or
decorating the wards
I think more activities like the Bingo session on Friday should be
conducted. The elderly really enjoyed playing bingo. Perhaps a
Chinese chess session could be implemented. Ren Ci can tie up
with schools for VIA activities. The elderly enjoyed our company
very much and were happy that we were there to talk to them.
More activities can be planned to engage the patients.
Make it more lively. Sing a long session for patients that can
move around or sing at the ward.
Plan for something that can cater to a more general crowd (i.e.
English songs instead of just Chinese songs just because the
population is largely Chinese) Also, expect rejections
No bingo, more older songs, include English songs
Activities done with the elderly should not need much effort and
can be done when their on bed
Try to design activities that can really engage elderly i.e. simply
games, old songs
Human horse racing is a good idea
There is room for improvements in terms of entertainment and
commitment.
Better
organization
Better communication between the planning committee and the
staff.
Not many patients were awake and available to interact with.
Inform the patients that the volunteers are coming.
Others Attach one volunteer to a group of elderly that get along.
Those patients who I talked to wanted a greater variety of food.
Ren Ci was very welcoming
I hope the programme can be extended.
Heartbeats Volume 3 75
Appendix C: Interview questions for volunteers
1. How long have you been volunteering at Ren Ci?
2. How often does your group come down to volunteer?
3. How does a typical volunteer session run and what is your role in these
volunteer sessions?
4. Where do you get your materials and resources (food, prizes etc)?
5. How has your volunteer experience been so far? Have there been any difficulties
or areas that you think can be improved upon?
6. How do you think the elderly find your activities?
7. Has your group thought about coming down more often to have more frequent
or more sessions?
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 76
Appendix D: Observations of volunteer activities
Ren Ci Nursing Home
NUS Community Service Club
Description Observation
Who: Members of NUS CSC in the
Ethelonther orientation camp
When: One-off
To Whom: All wards
Did ward based activities in groups of 6. Prepared
their own handmade puzzles, paper cups to play
game, and origami paper to fold paper cranes. Chit
chatted with those who didn't want to do activities.
Awkward at first, but many took the initiative to
spread out and talk to many elderly. Those able to
speak dialect could interact better.
Project Aurelia
Who: Sec 2 RGS girls doing their
Community Problem Solving
project.
When: Weekly
To Whom: Ward 503 interaction
Had activities planned for each session, mainly Art
& Craft work (eg finger painting) with individual
residents. Sang on subsequent sessions - had a good
mix of English, Chinese and Malay songs and made
an effort to sing to most of the patients, especially
those who couldn’t do the activities.
Important for volunteers to test out their own
activities – eg wanted to do finger painting, but
didn't check if the paint was easy to wipe off. Tend
to be shy and huddle a lot, unsure with how to
handle the less responsive elderly
The students themselves mentioned that they felt
the elderly warmed up to them after seeing them for
2 weeks, though they are still not very attentive to
small details like pushing the tables closer to the
elderly, making sure they were comfortable etc.
Buddhist Fellowship + ITE Central + Taiji
Who: Students from ITE Central
who signed up; rotated
fortnightly.
Members of the Buddhist
Fellowship though this activity
now runs separate from the
Snacks distribution, karaoke session, bingo session
led by the students, followed by a Taiji session
teaching exercises on the wheelchair.
Some students were very good at interacting with
the elderly, translating the bingo into different
Heartbeats Volume 3 77
organization itself. Recruits
volunteers by word of mouth.
When: Every Friday.
To Whom: 30 selected residents
languages, while some tended to talk amongst
themselves and do the activities for the elderly.
However, in general they are all quite friendly and
good at handling the wheelchair.
Elderly mentioned the food and prizes from the
bingo game are good even if they are simple.
Art Therapy
Who: Elsie from Dulux
When: Once or twice a month
To Whom: Those interested in
gardening related or art activities
Decorated recycled 1.5L bottles and then planted
plants in them. Residents to take care of their own
plants.
K-9 trainers
Who: Singapore Police Force
When: Monthly
To Whom: Non-Muslim patients
who enjoy interacting with
animals
Residents enjoyed interacting with the dogs very
much. Police officers were also proactive in rotating
the dogs around and keeping the elderly
entertained.
Huan Le
Who: Homemakers and middle-
aged individuals (Started in 1988,
recruit by word of mouth)
When: Monthly
To Whom: 30 selected residents
Singers from China perform Chinese and Hokkien
oldies for the residents. Give out food, which is
sponsored by others who don’t come for the
sessions (fruits, kueh, bread). Someone who is good
at making coffee makes it
I/C mentioned that it’s difficult for them to come
more than once a motnh as it’s hard to arrange for a
common slot.
Commented that they would like more residents to
join them (only had 20 that day when they used to
have 30+).
Shinnyo-en Singapore
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 78
Who: Members of Shinnyo-en
Singapore. Recruits volunteers by
putting up a signup sheet
monthly. Some have been
volunteering for over 10 years.
When: Monthly
To Whom: 30 selected residents
Give out snacks and drinks throughout the session,
and make a conscious effort to ensure that the
snacks vary each session. Modified Bingo – as long
as someone gets a number, they will get a prize
(small snack). Karaoke, got a resident to hold a mic
and sing.
IC mentioned that it is hard to track the volunteers
– some bring kids, some just come once, some
irregular.
Memory Group Activity
Who: Lucie (psychologist from
France) and assisted by 2 other
volunteers
When: Weekly, in total a 10-week
programme
To Whom: 5 selected residents
Run weekly cognitive stimulation activities such as
recalling the day, date, and each other’s names.
Visual-spatial recognition activities (eg copying
pictures with increasing difficulty) and memory
activities like getting them to identify pictures and
tell stories (eg samsui women, dumplings). The 3
then get together to review on a rubric the cognitive
abilities of each patient (responsiveness, mood,
participation etc).
Commented on the limited outreach as their activity
is only for small groups and it ends after 10 sessions.
Many other patients who are deteriorating in
cognitive ability can be reached out to.
Ren Ci Long Term Care
Christofori (every Thu)
Who: 2 teachers from Christofori.
Joined as they were asked if they
were interested in doing CIP
when they applied for the job.
When: Weekly
To Whom: Selected residents
Didn't really engage the elderly. Just sang and
played the piano without talking to the elderly at all.
Claimed that they don't know if the patients are
responsive
Heartbeats Volume 3 79
Appendix E: Camp REConnection Post-Camp Survey
CAMP REC 2014 FEEDBACK
Age
School
We hope these four days have been great for you. We greatly appreciate your
feedback to help us improve the camp!
1 How did you hear about Camp REC?
From friends From school
From CCA From Facebook
Others
2 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate what motivated you to join the camp.
No
t at
all
Im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
Im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I wanted to learn something new.
I am interested in interacting with the elderly.
I wanted to meet more people.
I wanted to improve my resume/VIA records.
I saw it as the opportunity to make a difference.
I wanted to occupy my free time.
It was a requirement/ expectation by my school/company.
Other reasons:
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 80
3 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which you agree with the
following statements.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Agr
ee
Agr
ee
Str
on
gly
A
gree
Do
es n
ot
Ap
ply
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
The duration of the dialect/lang lessons was just right.
The number of dialect/lang lessons was just right.
The material taught was appropriate.
Dialect/lang lessons helped my interaction with the elderly.
The dialect/lang classes sparked my interest in the dialect.
Amazing Race helped me understand the elderly's life.
Amazing Race facilitated team bonding.
I enjoyed the Amazing Race.
The Experiential Learning session was meaningful.
Experiential Learning helped me better empathise with the elderly.
Heartbeats Volume 3 81
Reflections were meaningful.
The time allocated for reflections was just right.
Facilitators provided valuable insights to the sharing.
The Patchbook is a meaningful project.
Patchbook activities helped me interact with the elderly.
The Outdoor Activity (kite-flying) was appropriate.
The Outdoor Activity facilitated bonding with my elderly.
The Photo-Frame activity was appropriate.
The number of interaction sessions was just right.
The duration of the interaction sessions was just right.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 82
4 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which these issues were a
problem for you during the elderly interaction.
No
t at
all
Im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
Im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I could not communicate well due to language barriers. (e.g. dialects)
I was unsure as to how to approach the elderly.
I felt that the activities prepared were unsuitable.
I was unsure of the needs of the elderly.
Other problems:
5 Have your views on the elderly changed in any way through this camp?
Please indicates Yes or No and explain why
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Heartbeats Volume 3 83
6 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which you agree with the following statements.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Agr
ee
Agr
ee
Str
on
gly
A
gree
Do
es n
ot
Ap
ply
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
The camp was well-organised.
I learnt useful skills from the camp.
I can better understand the needs of the elderly now.
7
1
2
How would you rate your overall camp experience?
Excellent Good
Fair Poor
8 Are there any suggestions or comments you would like to share?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
9 Will you volunteer at Ren Ci in the future?
Yes, Why? _______________________________________________________________________
No, Why? _______________________________________________________________________
10 Which sectors do you normally volunteer in?
Children Youths
Animals Environment
I don’t volunteer Others
THANK YOU!
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 84
Appendix F: Summary of results for Camp REConnection Post-Camp Survey
1. How did you hear about Camp REC?
Number of
Responses
Percentage of
Responses
From friends 2 6%
From CCA 5 16%
From school 19 61%
From Facebook 0 0%
Other 5 16%
2a. On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate what motivated you to join the camp.
No
t at
all
im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I wanted to learn something new.
0 1 0 7 10 13 0
0% 3% 0% 23% 32% 42% 0%
I am interested in interacting with the elderly.
0 0 0 6 12 13 0
0% 0% 0% 19% 39% 42% 0%
I wanted to meet more people. 0 4 4 9 7 7 0
0% 13% 13% 29% 23% 23% 0%
I wanted to improve my resume/VIA records.
4 6 6 7 5 0 3
13% 19% 19% 23% 16% 0% 10%
I saw it as the opportunity to make a difference.
0 0 1 6 13 11 0
0% 0% 3% 19% 42% 35% 0%
I wanted to occupy my free time.
3 6 4 4 9 3 2
10% 19% 13% 13% 29% 10% 6%
It was a requirement/ expectation by my school.
14 1 1 1 2 0 12
45% 3% 3% 3% 6% 0% 39%
Heartbeats Volume 3 85
2b. Are there any other reasons not mentioned above that motivated you to join?
Spend time in a
meaningful way/
Contribute to
society
Though I mentioned above that I wanted to occupy my free
time, I was more focused on spending my free time in a
meaningful way and not just wasting it away by watching
movies and dramas all day long.
I have always been interested in social work and wanted to
serve the society for a very good cause. Joining this camp also
meant that I will be able to pick up soft skills like
communication skills which are learnt in a large scale at
school. Why I wanted to participate in this camp was simply
due to genuine interest and will to contribute back to the
society, especially the less fortunate or disadvantaged such as
the elderly! Interest in healthcare and social work sector also
made me join this camp!
Joined with
friends
Joining with friends
Some of my friends joined the camp too
Interact with
elderly
I interacted with some elderly during my hospital stay:) they
were really nice and friendly, and I want to help them, but I
wasn't really mobile after my surgery, so I thought this was a
great platform!:)
I wanted to try interacting with elderly as i have not been
offered a chance before!
Learn how interact with the elderly more.
Learn new
languages
Was interested in learning some other languages plus my
friend wanted me to go to
Understand
elderly sector
It was an opportunity to better know the status of geriatric
health care in Singapore.
I want to see how elders live their daily life in a nursing
home.
I wanted to gain more insight into the elderly sector as I have
not really been exposed to it much.
Others It sounded fun
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 86
3 On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which you agree with the following
statements.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Str
on
gly
A
gree
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
The duration of the dialect/lang lessons was just right.
0 0 6 12 10 3 0
0% 0% 19% 39% 32% 10% 0%
The number of dialect/language lessons was just right.
0 0 6 10 9 6 0
0% 0% 19% 32% 29% 19% 0%
The material taught was appropriate.
0 0 2 4 13 12 0
0% 0% 6% 13% 42% 39% 0%
Dialect/lang lessons helped my interaction with the elderly.
1 6 7 6 8 2 1
3% 19% 23% 19% 26% 6% 3%
The dialect/lang classes sparked my interest in the dialect.
0 1 3 5 11 11 0
0% 3% 10% 16% 35% 35% 0%
Amazing Race helped me understand the elderly's life.
1 3 9 10 6 2 0
3% 10% 29% 32% 19% 6% 0%
Amazing Race facilitated team bonding.
0 1 1 7 9 13 0
0% 3% 3% 23% 29% 42% 0%
I enjoyed the Amazing Race. 0 1 4 9 8 8 1
0% 3% 13% 29% 26% 26% 3%
The Experiential Learning session was meaningful.
0 0 0 4 4 22 1
0% 0% 0% 13% 13% 71% 3%
Experiential Learning helped me better empathise with the elderly.
0 0 0 2 7 21 1
0% 0% 0% 6% 23% 68% 3%
Reflections were meaningful. 0 0 2 5 13 11 0
0% 0% 6% 16% 42% 35% 0%
The time allocated for 0 1 3 4 12 11 0
Heartbeats Volume 3 87
reflections was just right. 0% 3% 10% 13% 39% 35% 0%
Facilitators provided valuable insights to the sharing
0 0 2 1 14 14 0
0% 0% 6% 3% 45% 45% 0%
The Patchbook is a meaningful project.
0 0 2 3 15 11 0
0% 0% 6% 10% 48% 35% 0%
Patchbook activities helped me interact with the elderly.
0 1 4 6 14 6 0
0% 3% 13% 19% 45% 19% 0%
The Outdoor Activity (kite-flying) was appropriate.
0 1 1 6 8 12 3
0% 3% 3% 19% 26% 39% 10%
The Outdoor Activity facilitated bonding with my elderly.
0 0 0 2 13 10 6
0% 0% 0% 6% 42% 32% 19%
The Photo-Frame activity was appropriate.
0 0 3 7 10 10 1
0% 0% 10% 23% 32% 32% 3%
The number of interaction sessions was just right.
0 0 5 7 13 6 0
0% 0% 16% 23% 42% 19% 0%
The duration of the interaction sessions was just right.
0 0 5 3 16 7 0
0% 0% 16% 10% 52% 23% 0%
4a. On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which these issues were a problem for
you during the elderly interaction.
No
t at
all
im
po
rtan
t
Ext
rem
ely
im
po
rtan
t
Do
es n
ot
app
ly
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
I could not communicate well due to language barriers. (e.g. dialects)
12 3 4 2 4 2 4
39% 10% 13% 6% 13% 6% 13%
I was unsure as to how to approach the elderly.
6 4 11 2 2 5 1
19% 13% 35% 6% 6% 16% 3%
I felt that the activities prepared 12 7 4 2 1 1 4
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 88
were unsuitable. 39% 23% 13% 6% 3% 3% 13%
I was unsure of the needs of the elderly.
5 6 11 4 2 2 1
16% 19% 35% 13% 6% 6% 3%
4b. Are there any other problems not mentioned above that was a concern?
Leaving other residents
out
Sometimes I felt sad that maybe other residents
in the ward might feel left out while the few of
us were interacting with a specific resident,
although sometimes we moved on to interact
with the other residents.
Other problems with
communication/
conversations
How to communicate to those who cannot
talk/hear
Could not hear the elderly
Maybe can include simple sign language!
Sometimes the elderly can be unclear in their
pronunciation and it can be difficult to
understand them.
When physical disabilities really inpair them
from even conversing, it can be hard to interact
if there isn't a common activity that can engage
both the volunteer and the resident
Trying to have a common topic but can't be
help due to the lack of experience
How to end a conversation with an elderly
politely when u have to leave.
Other problems during
interaction
The kite flying was too hot for some of the
elderly and since the kite wont fly, it was quite
boring for some of them
Apart from the above mentioned problems, my
partner and I also faced different situations
whereby the elderly was reluctant to interact
with us. It was perhaps the language barrier or
generation gap that made them felt less
comfortable taking to us. But nevertheless, it
was only a minority, majority were actually
very responsive and active!
5. Have your views on the elderly changed in any way through this camp?
Heartbeats Volume 3 89
Yes No
Yes. I think the elderly are nice people now. No
Yes. They are not a group of people that we
should pity but individuals who have very
interesting stories to share and learn from!
No
Yes. I experienced the difficulties elderly
people faced in their everyday lifes and now
admire and respect their resilience and
optimism towards facing their problems
No, they remained as inspirational as they
had been in my impression
Yes. I always thought the elderly would not
be keeping in touch with what is happening
outside in the current world. But I was
proved wrong. Not all are like that. To
many, age is just a number and they believe
that there is no age limit to learn. I also
realized that many of them, though they
have certain issues, there are still optimistic
about life and are determined to get well as
soon as possible. Which made me think that
I shouldn't be worrying much about my
current problems that are really small.
Not much. I have always never looked
down on the elderly before. However after
this camp I have realised just how similar
the elderly are to us in terms of passions
and interests for example.
Yep. Was quite surprised that I was able to
sustain a fairly long conversation with the
resident I was assigned to since that was
one area I thought I'd have difficulty in
prior to interacting with him, so it made me
realize that chatting with an elderly may
not be that difficult and that the stereotype
of elderly (especially those with
disabilities) as unapproachable is very
wrong.
Also, while I was visiting another ward with
my guitar, I chanced upon this resident
playing on his ukelele. He then went on to
play and sing like he was the happiest man
on earth (really). Made me realize how
much some of the elderly are still so
cheerful and optimistic despite their
various disabilities. Compared to our
stresses / problems in work / sch / family
they would probably have experienced /
Not really. I interact with them on a
regular basis due to my cca. But it did
make me realise the significance of the
challenges that most may face due to
physical and thus emotional challenges in
their life. Although that has only motivated
me further to try my best and aid them
when i can, whilst still seeing them as
nothing less than equals
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 90
are experiencing so much greater pain both
physically and emotionally, but yet they
move on. I think this is really very
admirable of them.
Yes. Before the camp, although I didn't
really think of them as inferior to us or
beneficiaries, I always thought that they
were more dependent, maybe due to the
physical disabilities of old age. They may
not be unable to do as much as we can, but
after interaction with the elderly in this
camp, I realised there is so much I can and
have to learn from them. There are some
things that they may need our help but I
had learnt so much from them in this camp.
They are very respectable and
knowledgeable. :)
Not really :P I interacted with them during
my 2 weeks hospital stay, so it was more
of less the same:) But what changed my
view was the attitude the youths had
towards them :P I saw some really patient
individuals, and I really got inspired!
Yes. Empathy!
Yes I no longer view them as a whole group
of underprivileged people but rather, very
unique individual just like any one of us.
Yes. I feel that they play a much more
important role than we thought they did.
Some of them may look fierce but if we
break down the barrier and take the first
step in talking to them or understanding
them, they actually will warm up to u. And
they are much easy to talk to. They can
provide useful life insights too!
Yes. Initially I was quite uncertain about
how to approach the elderly as I saw them
as being distant and that there was a divide
between us, but after this camp I realised
that some of them can be friendly and very
approachable. They are also independent
and still cherish life a lot. Hence, I've come
to see them not as beneficiaries who need
my help but rather a friend whom I can
offer my company to.
They are really nice and friendly people!
Yes. Before this camp, I actually think of
elderly as one who is less fortunate or
Heartbeats Volume 3 91
disadvantaged. But during the process of
interaction with them, I realized that they
are not different from us, or rather, they
have gone through many experiences and is
wiser in comparison to youngsters like us.
Yes! I have come to realise the many ways
in which they are just like us, from the
constant need for companionship to the
occasionally judgmental attitudes some of
them take to the people around them. It
really struck me how much we can learn
from them if we just take the time to listen
to them, something that admittedly does
take quite a bit of effort.
Yes, i realised that not all elders are really
fortunate to enjoy good health at old age.
Through this camp ,it made me realised that
some elders need to live with their illnesses
for life, which seems very tiring and painful.
Yes. Initially, I had the perception that the
elderly have very traditional mind-sets and
would not have much knowledge about the
modern music and games that we enjoy.
Hence, there will always be a generation
gap between us. Yet, after this camp, I
realise that the elderly are no different from
any of us. They know about such things as
much as we do and they enjoy listening to
such music we well.
Yes the camp has provided with an insight
as to how helpless the elderly feel when
their disability inconvenienced others with
activities that makes us move about while
in a wheelchair.
Yes. I saw them as frailer and more
lethargic than a regular person, both
mentally and physically, but I learnt that
they can be just as enthusiastic and have as
much mental fortitude as anyone else.
yes. I realised that they can be very cheerful
and energetic too.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 92
Yes. I feel that it is important to
communicate well with the elderly now as I
witness many elderlies having difficulty
communicating with the foreign nurses in
the ward. Hence I feel that it is important
for youths and locals to play their part to
break the language barrier between the
foreign nurses and the elderly as well as to
provide companionship for the elderlies to
make their lives better.
Yes. To me I feel like they are the same like
us and need more company from us
Yes. I realised even sick elderly can be very
young at heart and act like your peers.
Yes. Before I thought the elderly were
mostly frail and bedridden, but now I
believe all they need is simply company.
Yes . I have learnt to understand their plight
more . They are resilient and impressive
pioneers.
Yes. This camp made me realise that
actually the elderly are quite easily satisfied
and happy as log as one is patient towards
them
yes. it provide us a perspective of how some
the the elderly live for the rest of their life
Total Responses: 25 Total Responses: 6
Heartbeats Volume 3 93
6. On a scale of 1 to 6, please rate the extent to which you agree with the following
statements.
Str
on
gly
D
isag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Dis
agre
e
Som
ewh
at
Agr
ee
Agr
ee
Str
on
gly
A
gree
Do
es n
ot
Ap
ply
1 2 3 4 5 6 0
The camp was well-organised.
0 0 0 1 10 20 0
0% 0% 0% 3% 32% 65% 0%
I learnt useful skills from the camp.
0 0 0 2 9 20 0
0% 0% 0% 6% 29% 65% 0%
I can better understand the needs of the elderly now.
0 0 0 1 10 20 0
0% 0% 0% 3% 32% 65% 0%
7. How would you rate your overall camp experience?
Excellent
(26)
Good
(5)
Fair
(0)
Poor
(0)
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 94
8. Are there any suggestions or comments you would like to share?
Interaction More interaction sessions
I feel that more time should be allocated to spending
time with the elderly. The interaction sessions were
quite short and even the kite-flying session seemed quite
rushed.
More time allocated for spending time with elderly.
Amazing Race The amazing race wasnt really timed well so we cannot
utilise the activities that the camp organisers created
due to time constraints.
Amazing race was a bit hard to navigate
Dialect Lessons An area for improvement could be the dialect lessons.
Perhaps longer sessions with more practice during the
lesson or more number of lessons thoughout the day
can be of better help for an actual short conversation in
dialect to be possible. The lessons we had only taught
us the basics although I think it's a good starting point
for us to develop an interest in dialect, which I think is
the more important objective actually.
Another suggestion is to offer choices for the dialect
lessons instead of having us attend all of them, so that
less time is spent on the lessons and more time with the
elderly.
Experiential
Learning
Good job guys! I think that this camp is really an eye
opener, esp the simulation!:)
The experiential learning was a good eye opener imo
because I think very few of us actually know how it is
like to be in a wheelchair etc. It is a good platform for us
to rethink about how we treat and perceive not just the
elderly but also the physically disabled in the society.
Reflections The length of reflection sessions could be shortened as
well as buffer time between lunch and dialect lessons
etc.
Patchbook I felt that the patchbook activity wasn't really managed
well. Perhaps there wasn't enough time but I felt as
though the instructions were not very clear or the
Heartbeats Volume 3 95
participants were also not very prepared for it. Maybe
an example of a patchbook entry would help a lot or
more time allocations for participants to actually type it
out.
Video Making The video making activity was not a very good idea,
especially with the short amount of time for planning
and filming of the video :)
Unplugged Segment Lastly i thought the unplugged section was a good idea
haha
Food/ Attire I think the food was great :D
But I believe that making everyone wear the same
colored shirt kind of failed. Maybe can ask them to wear
dark colored shirts or something as many will have
those! Had so much in this camp by the way. (:
Others It would be good to let the participants to know the
flow of programmes as well.
A good bonding game seems to be Chinese Chess.
Positive Remarks The OT and Renci staff and nurses are really nice to us!
Thank you for organising such a meaningful camp!(:
Really want to thank the facils (and renci) for doing a
wonderful job organizing and executing this camp. I
came away from this camp with many more lessons and
realizations than I had expected.
Thanks!
You facils did an amazing job :)
I would like show my appreciation and gratitude to the
organizing team, especially the facilitator from NUS.
The camp director, my group leaders, we're all very
helpful, caring while having a great sense of humor. We
didn't have stress communicating our reflections out
and they felt like our friends. Thank you and I am
definitely looking forward to more of such volunteering
opportunities. Job well done!
I really enjoyed the camp.
The activities and the duration are perfect. It was great
planning and organization.
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 96
9. Will you volunteer at Ren Ci in the future?
Yes No Maybe
Yes. Because I volunteer
anywhere.
No. I feel that I do not
have the skills to make
them feel much happier
Maybe. Because I am
already attached with
another organization as I
am with the interact cca.
Yes. I enjoyed talking to
the elderly!
No. Other commitments. Maybe. Location.
Yes. Working with the
elderly is a fun and
meaningful experience
No as I am already
volunteering at another
place currently :)
Maybe. Due to proximity
reasons NUH seems like
a good choice, but I am
not against volunteering
at Ren Ci.
Yes. I have formed a
connection with some of
the elderly there and since
I have a choice of
volunteering on
Saturdays, it might be
really convenient for me
since I am still schooling~
No as i currently have
regular weekly
commitments at tembusu
elderly activities centre.
Yasss! Spending time with
the elderly really made
me feel happy:) I love how
they are so appreciative:)
if I have a chance, I would
definitely work with them
again in the near future:)
Psss: HAHAHAHA, why
don't y'all send out mails
if there are other
volunteer activities during
the hols!:D
No. I enjoyed my time
with the specific few
individuals I spent time
with, but in some wards,
the elderly were in
extremely frail states and
often screamed and
moaned in pain. Coupled
with the knowledge that I
could not relieve them of
the pain, it induced a
feeling of depression and
dread within me. As such,
I do not think I can
maintain a pleasant
mood in the presence of
elderly people in pain
and suffering.
Yes. Partly because I
became kind of
Heartbeats Volume 3 97
emotionally attached to
my resident oops. Also,
going around playing the
guitar and singing w some
of the residents also made
me really happy seeing
them so happy singing
songs they had sung in
their youth, so I hope I can
spread this joy to more
people and brighten up
their days :)
Yes because I am
interested in continuing
my interaction with the
elderly
Yes!
Yes. I found the
experience at Ren Ci very
meaningful and would like
to continue serving the
elderly there. Also, now
that I've overcome my
initial barrier in
interacting with the
elderly, I am more
confident and willing to
approach them now.
Yes. It would be really
nice to revisit the elderly
again. I realised it was
very fun to volunteer and
interact with the elderly.
Definitely and
undoubtedly a definite
yes. I enjoyed the whole
process of interaction
with the elderly and I
found out that taking to
the elderly actually made
me wiser and more
matured. I enjoyed
Promoting youth volunteerism & intergenerational bonding 98
volunteering and
definitely will continue to
serve and volunteer.
Yes. I have gained much
from my experiences and
would like to visit the
elderly again.
Yes, quite possibly. I
might find other
beneficiaries in the future,
but for the time being Ren
Ci does seem to be one of
the most reliable
beneficiaries that I know
of.
Yes,i would like to visit
the elderly again.
Yes, I realise that a simple
act of listening and talking
to the residents at Ren Ci
can brighten up their day
so much and this urges me
to volunteer again in the
future so as to continue
sharing the happiness to
more residents.
Yes. I feel that I have the
time to spare and it is a
meaningful thing to do.
Giving back to the society
is part of our
responsibility and in a
way this camp has
provided me with a venue
to do so. A lot of times,
youths do not go to Ren Ci
and apply to volunteer as
it seems a little
intimidating but this camp
exposes us to what we can
expect and makes the
Heartbeats Volume 3 99
whole process less
intimidating.
Yes. This camp made me
realise that I can make a
difference to the lives of
the elderly.
Yes, this is because I will
want to go back and
interact with the elderly.
Yes if I have the time. The
elderly at the nursing
home especially require
more interaction and
things to occupy their
time.
Yes, it is a wonderful place
to spend my time in.
Yes
Yes . Each day is a
different experience when
I hear different stories of
the elderly . Making them
smile and brightening up
their day is really
meaningful .
Yup
Total: 23 Responses Total: 5 Responses Total: 3 Responses
10. Which sectors do you normally volunteer in?
0 3 6 9 12 15
Others
I don't volunteer
Environment
Animals
Youths
Children
HEARTBEATS
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ISSN 2345-749X
HEARTBEATS
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