Meet our Volunteers
Andre Wong
Reflections on my attachment with SPD
Andre Wong, a then first year Business Management student at Singapore Management University shares his reflections on his community service attachment with SPD in July 2005.
Here I am staring and looking at my photographs taken at SPD where I spent my attachment from 18 to 29 July. Having been there for about two weeks actually brought about many perspectives in life, which I have not given serious thought to previously. I have to admit that I have learned a great deal through this attachment and gained quite an insight from interacting with the clients at SPD, despite my initial skepticism.
During the first week, we were attached at the sheltered workshop where the clients engaged in hands-on work producing handicrafts and providing other skilled labor. For every job they did, they would earn an allowance. The more they did, the higher their allowance would be.
One task we helped in was to do a quality check by going through thousands of pens to sieve out the non-working ones. In fact, we were testing pens from 8am to 4pm, scribbling on pieces of paper everyday. I felt it was mentally draining and the work became very repetitive over time.
After four days of doing this, several questions popped up in my head. Does scribbling on paper to test those pens actually benefit the clients? Even for me, I felt it was mentally draining and I could not think straight after doing it repetitively. How would such a job enhance the thinking of the clients?
However, when I looked at the clients’ faces, I was astonished to find that they were happily smiling and took pride in what they were doing while I felt it was boring. Upon further reflection, I realised that the clients enjoyed doing what they were offered as they felt they were able to contribute and use their own hands to earn a living.
They did not feel that they were different just because they were handicapped, and could do what others could also do. I think that such jobs actually gave them a purpose and meaning in life. Hence, it was unfair for me to think that such a simple job was actually detrimental to the trainees.
I was attached to the Day Activity Centre in the second week. This Centre is quite similar to a childcare centre where the clients come in the morning and leave in the evening. They learn daily living skills and receive physiotherapy for their physical impairments. I was initially afraid as I felt that I might not be able to communicate with the clients. However as time passed, I learnt it wasn’t so. The clients were friendly and always greeted me with a smile, and some even shook my hand.
I even joined the staff in taking the clients on an outing to Great World City. They were truly excited to be out shopping at Cold Storage. I was humbled to see that some were so thrilled in simply shopping around the supermarket. I mean, how many of us actually really bother about shopping in Cold Storage?
I believe I have been taking too many things in life for granted and I would never look at the supermarket the same way again. I should be very thankful that I am able to shop and pick stuff I like with loved ones. Even this simple daily task now seems so much more meaningful and I must learn to appreciate whatever I have been provided for in life.
On my last day, I felt really sad because I thought that I did not do very much for the clients. I wondered how I would feel if I became disabled one day. I told my friend that I would lose all courage to live on and would not want to be a burden to my family. I doubt that I would live on as courageously as the clients.
To the clients, I salute you from the bottom of my heart and I admire you for staying so strong in life. Today, I saw some teenagers dashing across the road against oncoming vehicles. I told my mum that if I had never been attached to SPD, I would be like them running across and placing my life at risk. We are already leading a life so much better than the clients yet we are always taking it for granted.
Last but not least, I want to thank SPD for giving me so many valuable lessons in life, and inspiring me to be a better person from now on. I sincerely pray that the clients will be safe and sound and will not encounter any harm, and may they lead happy and meaningful lives.