Fostering meaningful change through volunteerism

After a career spent in the precision engineering and shipbuilding industry, Mr Kumar Udaya started his volunteering journey a year after his retirement in 2017. Mr Udaya initially tried to take up part-time jobs and subsequently explored volunteering as he wanted to give back to society.

 

Mr Udaya came across RSVP during one of its roadshows at Jurong East and learned that RSVP was offering courses for seniors. Being an avid learner, this piqued his interest and he joined their Open House to learn more about their volunteering activities.

 

Mr Udaya first participated in the Episodic Volunteering Programme to gain exposure to volunteering. Now, 68-year-old Mr Udaya is committed to both the Senior Guiding and Mentally Disadvantaged Outreach Programme (MDOP) as he wanted to contribute his time for a meaningful purpose. The concept of seniors empowering seniors was appealing to Mr Udaya. “I believe that as seniors, we understand each other a bit better and therefore can better relate to each other.” he shared.

 

At the Indian Heritage Centre, Mr Udaya was involved in facilitating craft activities in events such as the Deepavali Open House and Pongal Festival. 

 

Mr Udaya said, “At times, visitors identify with the craft activities and these evoke many memories of their childhood pastimes! I also enjoy connecting with tourists and sharing our local cultural experience with them while learning about theirs.”

 

Mr Udaya’s involvement with MDOP allowed him to empower the disadvantaged community. As the sessions progressed, it was heartening for him to see the beneficiaries looking forward to their visits and keeping up with the exercises they taught. “It was challenging at the start, but we persevered over time and managed to build rapport with them!” he explained.

 

He concluded, “Volunteering provides me with a sense of fulfilment and keeps me connected to society, even after retirement. I believe that learning never stops. I am humbled to receive as much as I give back to society. Through these RSVP programmes, I have gained much understanding and appreciation towards Singapore’s past, present, and future. These experiences have truly enriched my life!”

 

**If you would like to be a volunteer like Mr Kumar Udaya to help others, check out the various volunteering opportunities available here.

 

Source: RSVP Singapore. Reproduced with permission.