Making A Difference in People’s Lives

73-year-old Mdm Yang Yip Kim lives a healthy lifestyle and plays her part in supporting the community. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had attended exercise programmes at Lakeside Family Services to stay healthy. In the last few years, she has also participated actively in community activities at other centres. 

 

In 2021, Mdm Yang heard from one of her friends that Lakeside Family Services, Kaki Kampong Senior Wellness Centre (KKSW) was recruiting volunteers to help other isolated and vulnerable seniors. Being passionate in art and crafts, she was eager to leverage her skills to help seniors. She started joining their programmes such as the Art and Craft and Community Befriending Programme as a Lakeside Kaki Kampong Volunteer to help other seniors at the centre. Through the Community Befriending Programme, she befriends seniors by providing social and emotional support.

 

Recently, Mdm Yang also helped with the Lakeside Family Services fundraising campaign by sculpting flower balloons to give to the seniors at the Parents’ Day celebration. She finds it meaningful and fulfilling to be able to share the joy and help vulnerable families in the community with the funds raised. 

 

After volunteering with KKSW, Mdm Yang gained much knowledge and insights from her interactions with other volunteers and beneficiaries. By providing a listening ear to the seniors who are troubled and often have no one to share their concerns with, Mdm Yang was able to help them through difficult times by understanding their needs and supporting them with her assuring words. Thus, she believes that volunteering has helped her develop her empathy for the community.

 

“As I live my life actively with a whole new mindset, it has made me more resilient. I also feel happier and more fulfilled now,” Mdm Yang shared. She looks forward to making a difference in more people's lives.   

 

If you would like to find out more about Lakeside Kaki Kampong Volunteers programme, please email kkseniors@lakeside.org.sg. 

 

To check out other volunteering opportunities for seniors, visit https://www.c3a.org.sg/volunteerism.

 

Source: Lakeside Family Services. Published with permission.