Christmas is the time to start volunteering

By: Joanne Liao

(Photo source: Asiaone)

As suggested by a recent report on Yahoo!, it is a good sign to know that Singaporeans are giving back what they have earned to the society by donating a large amount of their income through various charitable organisations like The Salvation Army.

As much as we should applause and celebrate for Singaporeans who are donating and giving to those who are in need of monetary aids, we seem to missed out the fact that donating is not the whole package for playing a part for the society. Singaporeans may be are generous, donating more than $2.5 million to the Typhoon Haiyan victims, but we aren’t kind and caring people. 

Despite there are a rising number of people volunteering but the time spend in volunteering decreases. That poses a question to everyone; what is the purpose of giving money when we are unwilling to spend some time to help someone?

Whenever a person approaches me on the street to ask for a donation, money to buy themselves a nice meal or travel home, I would absolutely reject them. Its sound as if I am uncompassionate and selfish but I don’t believe in donating is the answer to help someone in need. I just prefer to be asked or volunteer to do someone else a favour instead of giving something that I don’t mean it.

So far, I had spent my time going to the old folk’s home to chat with the elderly, playing with less fortunate children from childcare center and went to Cambodia with my Secondary School teachers and friends to help the local orphanage to build a new classroom. I would love to spend more free time in the near future to do more volunteering projects and go out of Singapore to help others.

Volunteering can be very simple. Start by going around helping someone who is having mobility difficulties to clean their flats or join voluntary organisations such as SgVolunteer and SGCares, organisations that provides many projects and opportunities for anyone in the community who is keen to volunteer.

Since Christmas is two weeks away from now, there are more volunteering projects coming out during this festive season.  Some of these Christmas volunteering projects are Christmas Merry Marathon and Christmas Celebration with Elderly Residents

Start registering now as a member and volunteer for a good cause. Let us give and help people for a good cause.