Volunteering In Singapore So That Your Free Time Is Put To Great Use
5 min readWays to volunteer in Singapore.
The other day, Mum asked me where I was going. I knew she thought I was just lepaking and wasting time. So I invited her to join me. Why not, right? After all, I was just doing what I do every weekend: volunteering.
I started volunteering in secondary school, thanks to the Community Involvement Programme, and somehow the habit just stuck. Personally, I love it because it’s such a good use of my time and I get to do good for those less fortunate than me. As such, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for noble ways to give back to the community.
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Benefits of volunteering
First things first, let me just say that anyone can volunteer hor, regardless of age or background. For instance, older folks like my Mum can impart a lot of knowledge and skills to those in need. On the other hand, younger people like my bro and I have more energy to do more physical tasks such as carrying groceries or driving long distances.
Here are some other benefits of volunteering:
1. Learn more about ourselves by making a difference
Most of us spend our days at work. This is especially so during the pandemic when lines are blurred, given that we’re at home. As such, have we really set aside enough time to find ourselves?
Volunteering gives us an outlet to engage in activities that interest us while serving others. For instance, Mum loves painting. As such, volunteering at a place like Club Rainbow allows her to do what she loves while learning something new about herself. After all, it was Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
2. Learn new skills by being part of a community
Even if we aren’t skilled in a particular area, volunteering allows us to spend time with other volunteers who are. Think about it. My cooking skills may be jialat, but if I spent enough time volunteering at a soup kitchen like Willing Hearts, I’ll eventually learn how to prepare some dishes through constant repetition and interactions with those who are more experienced at cooking.
3. Improve our mental health by having fun and spending our free time wisely
Some of us, especially those who are older, might have loads of free time. Rather than slowly let our minds rot, we can volunteer to sharpen our brains. By spending time with like-minded people, we can think of volunteering as another form of social interaction and just have fun with it lah. This is especially if you’re one of those homebodies with zero social life.
Ways to volunteer
1. Volunteer for the needy/elderly
This is probably the most common form of volunteering in Singapore. The good news is that there is an abundance of organisations that specialise in helping the needy and elderly. As such, those who are inclined can simply donate their time at whichever organisation is closest to them.
If you have a specific interest in mind, these organisations might be a good fit for you:
- Food from the Heart
Those who enjoy driving might find their time suited here as the organisation collects bread from various bakeries islandwide and distributes them to beneficiaries. - St. Hilda’s Community Services
Those who enjoy spending time with the elderly can use their time to assist them in their day-to-day activities or simply just help out during functions. - Habitat for Humanity
If you have a knack for interior design or simply love cleaning houses, volunteer here to renovate and tidy up the homes of those in need.
2. Volunteer for animal shelters
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Animal lovers can turn to these shelters and spend their free time surrounded by cuddly fur-kids whilst helping them! That’s a win in my book. Most of these shelters help out a huge variety of animals. However, if you’re comfortable with only certain types of creatures, you can check out animal-specific organisations such as the Love Kuching Project or SoSD.
3. Volunteer for the environment
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A cleaner world is the greatest gift we can give future generations. If you are all about going green, you can volunteer at these places to clean up beaches, conduct roadshows, or simply just spread awareness about climate change.
4. Volunteer your skills and knowledge
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If you have a specialised skill set, you can impart your knowledge and techniques to those in need and help them get far in life. For instance, Yayasan Mendaki could use skilled tutors to help teach their free tuition classes. So if you have teaching experience or are damn zai at a particular subject, this is where you should be!
Maximise your free time by volunteering
Oscar Wilde once said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” No matter where one volunteers, the fact that they’re even volunteering is already noble. Not everyone has the same privileges as we do. By volunteering, we’re helping to even out the playing field and making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than us.
A Millennial who practically lives on Instagram. Digitally savvy, this uni-undergrad has shopped in almost every possible online shopping site from A to Z. But her street-smartness is not matched by her laziness. She knows a lot, and keeps her pulse on the hood.