Meet our Volunteers
Dave Tan
Student Volunteers
Dave Tan was a student volunteer from the Singapore Management University (SMU). This reflection was published in the January 2007 issue of ExtraPage.
“Life is not just about achievements and positions. It’s about the happiness you can bring to others that really matters.”
A commonly cited cliché, but that statement rang true for 21-year-old volunteer Dave Tan Jian Wei when he gave his time to the clients from SPD’s Day Activity Centre in November.
A school community project, the purpose of the project was to let people with physical disabilities have the experience of taking the MRT train. Volunteers from Singapore Management University (SMU) brought all 54 clients from the Day Activity Centre to take the train along the North-East line over seven sessions in small groups. Conducted over three weeks, the students taught clients how to use the ezy-link card and brought them shopping at Plaza Singapura.
Prior to bringing the clients out, the volunteers were briefed on how to handle clients on wheelchairs, and also on the personality and preferences of each client.
The experience was meaningful – one that Dave would remember for a long time to come. “One special thing the clients have is definitely their pure friendship and trust. They treated us like their best friends and would talk to us about their experiences and life. Their sincerity and warmth has given us a different perspective on life. Through them, we’ve learnt to appreciate the simple things in life,” he said.