As part of the second LivingWord Communications (LWC) Community Day, we, Denxarl and Elliott, together with four other members from the LWC team, had the privilege of visiting St Andrew's Nursing Home (Aljunied). This was our first time volunteering at this nursing home, and it was a meaningful experience that allowed us to connect with the elderly residents through interactive and creative activities. The event was part of our school, St Andrew's Secondary School's work experience programme for Secondary 3 students, where we interned at LivingWord Communications for four days.
At the nursing home, our main responsibility was to capture photographs and videos of the elderly residents engaging in activities. Our efforts helped to document the moments shared between our volunteers and residents. Beyond our assigned roles, we assisted the residents during the activities, ensuring everyone felt comfortable and involved.
Fun Seated Fitness for Seniors
The morning began with a light seated exercise session, where we guided the elderly residents as they followed along with a video demonstration. It was heart-warming to see their enthusiasm and energy as they synergised their movements with the music. Our team encouraged them by leading by example and bringing positive energy, creating a lively, cheerful environment.
Painting Joy, One Number at a Time
Following the exercise, we moved on to a "paint-by-numbers" activity. Each participant was given a canvas with a set of paint palettes, corresponding to the numbers on the canvas. Together, we helped them bring their artworks to life, stroke by stroke. The sense of satisfaction on their faces as their colourful paintings came to life was truly rewarding.
Staying Positive Through the Challenges
Despite the constant support we gave during the initiative, it wasn't always smooth sailing, and we faced obstacles along the way. Some residents grew bored over time with the exercises and hand movements shown in the video, leading to a decrease in active participation. Moreover, though the majority of residents were passionate about the "paint-by-numbers" activity, most were short-sighted, which made it difficult for them to see the numbers on the canvas, which caused some annoyance and frustration.
From Helping Hands to Hungry Stomachs
Our hard work was rewarded by a hearty lunch near the office, where we ate to our hearts' content. We had a table overflowing with Chinese noodles, fried rice, mala Chicken and vegetables.
More Than Just Volunteering—A Heartfelt Experience
Volunteering at St Andrew's Nursing Home was a memorable and eye-opening experience, as it helped build character and reminded us of an important lesson: simple acts of kindness can bring happiness to others.