This Youth Day, 17-year-old Basu Prinaka reflects on how volunteering at the Red Cross Home for the Disabled taught her to look beyond disabilities, embrace uncertainty and build meaningful friendships.
Growing up, Basu Prinaka watched her parents dedicate their time to serving the community through various volunteer roles. Their example instilled in her the value of giving back from a young age.
Today, she is in her fourth year volunteering with the Red Cross Home for the Disabled (RCHD), while balancing preparations for her A-Levels.
Looking back, Prinaka likes to think that her affinity for RCHD was more than just coincidence. After being introduced to the Home through a Volunteer Induction Session, and later crossing paths with it again during a Volunteer Skills Training session, she decided to sign up as a volunteer.
Yet despite her interest, Prinaka remembers arriving for her first volunteering session with more than a few nerves.
Having never interacted closely with persons with disabilities before, she worried about saying or doing the wrong thing.
“I was definitely very worried about being unable to communicate and connect with the residents, and whether I would be able to fit in at all.”
First Impressions, Lasting Impact
Those concerns quickly faded when she stepped into the Home for the first time.
Expecting a sombre environment, Prinaka was instead greeted by warmth, laughter, and residents eager to interact with the volunteers.
“I definitely had the preconceived notion that since it was a place full of people with disabilities, it was bound to be a very sad place. I’m so happy to say how wrong I was!”
One resident’s enthusiastic greeting immediately put her at ease.
“Even though it wasn’t a traditional greeting one expects when meeting someone for the first time, I felt her overwhelming joy, as though she wanted to make a new friend.”
The first interaction challenged her assumptions and showed her meaningful connections can take many forms.
Friendship Beyond Words
Over the years, Prinaka has formed many friendships with residents. But one interaction remains close to her heart.
Susie, a resident who stayed at RCHD for respite care, was known for her love for colouring — an activity Prinaka always made time for whenever she visited.
During one volunteering session, Susie spotted her walking past and immediately waved her over.
“She was being fed by one of the care staff, but once I went over, she refused to eat until the nurse kindly allowed me to feed her instead,” Prinaka recalled. “Although it was a small moment, I was really touched that she enjoyed our previous interactions so much that she wanted me to be there.”
When it was time to say goodbye, Susie clutched her hand tightly and refused to let go until Prinaka repeatedly reassured she would return.
“This is what motivates me to keep coming back. At the end of the day, the residents simply hope to see their friends again.”
Experiences like these reshaped the way Prinaka thinks about disability and human connection.
“The residents at RCHD taught me that it’s really important to see past disabilities. Just like you and me, they want to spend time with people they care about and build meaningful friendships too.”
It also challenged one of her biggest fears when she first started volunteering — communication.
“It might seem a little ironic but RCHD has taught me so much about non-verbal communication. Most residents are non-verbal, so you learn to pay attention to facial expressions, body language and other social cues.”
More importantly, she learnt that meaningful connections are not defined by how well someone can speak, but the trust, care and understanding shared between people.
Taking the First Step
Having once been uncertain about interacting with persons with disabilities herself, Prinaka understands why some people may feel hesitant about taking the first step.
“It’s truly okay to feel uncertain. What matters more is going in with an open mind and heart, as well as a willingness to experience new things.”
Despite the demands of school and A-Level preparations, volunteering remains an important part of her life. For Prinaka, it is not another item on her to-do list, but a chance to maintain the friendships built over the years.
And she hopes more youths can discover the value of volunteering for themselves.
“Volunteering isn’t this huge thing that only older people with more experience can do. Being young is a good thing — you bring different perspectives and ideas to the table.”
If there is one lesson she hopes others will take away from her journey, it is that growth and meaningful connections often begin the moment we step out of our comfort zones.