The volunteers of SINDA Youth Club (SYC) befriended the residents of the Red Cross Home for the Disabled (RCHD) on 27 April and engaged them in a song and dance performance at the dormitories. 

Launched in 2010, the SINDA Youth Club (SYC) engages Indian youth aged between 17 and 35, in various initiatives that empower them to act on the aspirations of the community and the nation while nurturing leaders of the next generation. 

The volunteers are part of SYC’s annual flagship programme, the ITE Leadership Programme (ITELP), designed exclusively for Indian ITE youth aged 17 to 25. A key aspect of the programme is community engagement, aimed at cultivating a culture of volunteerism and promoting social inclusivity among the youth. This year's cohort focused on enhancing the lives of seniors with disabilities in our community through engagement at RCHD.

The volunteers shared their motivations for engaging the RCHD residents.

"Initially, I viewed the visit as part of fulfilling a community service project. However, my perspective shifted when I entered the premises and witnessed the residents' circumstances. It was a rewarding and fulfilling experience where I derived great joy by interacting and playing games with them, including activities like the ball game with the residents. I felt a closer bond with the residents. The interaction inspired me to forge meaningful relationships by connecting with them on deeper levels through greater engagement and sharing of jokes," said Divesh S/O Tamilselvam, 18.

"My motivation for volunteering was to give back to the community. l learnt about RCHD through a community project I worked on as part of the ITE Leadership Programme. As the RCHD residents have disabilities, I felt that conducting activities for them would be a great way to give back," said Danita Nagarajan, 18.

Through their befriending efforts and performances, they brought much joy to the residents. 

"I was elated when I befriended and performed for the residents. It was heartwarming to see their radiant smiles despite the language barriers. The nostalgic songs like 'Chan Mali Chan' and 'Rasa Sayang' evoked childhood memories," said Danita.

Besides interacting with the residents, they folded the clothes, cleaned the wheelchairs and fed the residents, provided some respite to the caregivers. They were grateful for the opportunity to feed the residents.

"I felt a mix of emotions while feeding the residents. Patience was key when feeding the residents. It was important to adapt. I empathised with the challenges of the healthcare workers and caregivers when they feed multiple residents several times a day. I was grateful for the invaluable experience and the opportunity to contribute. This has motivated me to do more for the community," said Danita.

This visit in April was SINDA Youth Club's second visit to RCHD and they hope to continue their volunteering efforts for RCHD in the future. 

Such visits highlight the opportunities available to the public to bring joy to the persons with disabilities that the SRC serves.