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Project
Joy - Chinese New Year, Singapore
On 7th of February 2005,
a Chinese New Year steamboat reunion dinner was
conducted for 105 elderly living in the one-roomed
flats of Redhill Close, Singapore. The aim of
the event was to bridge the generation gap by
promoting interaction between the young of today
and the seniors. After the event, everyone gave
positive feedback and expressed strong enthusiasm
to take part in more volunteer work in the future.
We, as youths, brought a
little comfort and joy into the lives of the elderly
as we had the ability to do so. Young people,
with zest and vitality, can really make things
happen - provided they are given a chance.
Despite the fact that the
elderly only spoke Cantonese, everyone managed
to communicate and enjoy the celebration.
A friend of mine who had
been serving an elderly lady exclaimed: "Guess
what! I managed to figure out that the kind lady
was asking me whether I was taking the train home!"
My friend is Indian by the
way, and her attitude embodied the success of
the whole event.
All details and activities
were planned and implemented by the volunteers
themselves. I even went along to purchase fresh
produce for the event that very morning, learning
the skills of haggling and budgeting like an experienced
housewife! We simply came up with an idea, stuck
to it and implemented it ourselves.
Almost 40 volunteers, including
students from various junior colleges throughout
the island, took part in the event. 3 volunteers
sat with 7 elderly at one table and interacted
with them, assisting them with their meals. Media
coverage, was obtained from the Chinese media.
The activities of this project
included:
- Preparing and serving
the dinner
- Erhu (Chinese violin)
cultural performance
- Traditional lion dance
performance with musicians
- Distribution of 8-dollar
'Angbaos' packets for good luck
There are initiatives to
make this dinner an annual activity and a commitment
has already been pledged to another center for
senior citizens.
Surely, this generational
gap will be bridged.
- Geraldine -
For more information:
Contact Geraldine Ong: opalwhale_79@hotmail.com
Background
information
Objectives, activities, progress reports, workplan,
project proposal
Final
Report [.pdf 471Kb]
Preparation and activities of the event
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Geraldine
Ong
