Meet our Volunteers
Tay Jin Hiong
An Extraordinary Befriender
Much commitment and passion is the mark of every good volunteer. Volunteer Coordinator Alice Hue writes about a volunteer who has made a great difference to the lives of the people he has touched. This article is featured in the April 2005 issue of ExtraPage.
"We cannot control the length of our life, but we can control the width of our life. Doing volunteer work is one of the ways to widen the width of our lives" so says 28-year-old Tay Jin Hiong. With this philosophy, it came as no surprise when he was voted ‘Best Befriender’ at SPD’s Year End Appreciation Party in 2004.
Jin Hiong got to know about SPD when he received a donation appeal letter from SPD. Despite a long and irregular work schedule– he has to work nightshifts and overtime, on weekends and even public holidays – he decided to volunteer with SPD as a befriender. SPD matched him to two physically disabled students, Lim Qi Mao and Er Tian Hock. He has been buddy and mentor to the two students since March 2004.
He visits the beneficiaries individually, spending two to three hours at their homes every week. He also takes the initiative to provide tuition during their exam periods and even checks on their bursary applications to SPD for them.
Sometimes, he buys gifts for them on special occasions, and brings them out for meals and shopping trips. Making sure that the beneficiaries are not alone, he makes it a point to help them whenever he can. More than just a companion, he is like a big brother to them. I think he has not only gained their trust, he has earned their parents’ as well.
Seeing his care and dedication towards Qi Mao and Tian Hock, I feel his spirit of volunteerism. When asked why he volunteers, he replies, "Having acquired much knowledge, skills and experiences in my life, besides applying it to my work, I wish to share it with the society. Volunteering is also a form of training for the heart and mind. By lending a helping hand and a listening ear to the needy, I have benefited much. Live everyday to the fullest. How much you earn is just a number, whereas how much you contribute is in the memory of others."
Wishing he could do more, Jin Hiong adds, "There are 168 hours each week, and I’ve only spent 3% of the week with Qi Mao and Tian Hock." The hours are definitely well spent and the friendship built through this time will be strong enough to weather the storms as testified by Tian Hock on Jin Hiong’s friendship: "Jin Hiong is more than a big brother to me. Whenever I have homework or other problems, Jin Hiong is the first person I will call."
To the Best Befriender of the Year, an improvement in the befriendees’ schoolwork will be the most rewarding award for him. Truly, he is an example to uphold for all.
SPD runs a volunteer programme to complement and support its programmes and services. For more enquiries and information on volunteer opportunities, please contact Alice Hue at 6579 0708 or email Ms Alice_HUE@spd.org.sg.