Learning journey – what, why and so what?

For my first Service Learning Project, I took the opportunity to volunteer with People's Association Marsiling Resident's Corner (RC), which is a local nonprofit organisation that helps low income families and children in the area, particularly Marsiling Zone 7. Marsiling Zone 7 organises housing assistance for low-income families, after school programs as well as medical subsidies for the vulnerable.

According to the 2015 Singapore General Household Survey, more than 4 in 10 households (44.4%) in Bukit Timah earn a monthly salary of S$20,000; the highest income bracket in statistical classification. This amount is 8 times as many compared to households in Yishun and Woodlands/Marsiling (both 5.4%). Poverty is an increasing problem in Singapore with 10% to 14% struggling with severe financial issues. With Marsiling being one of the poorest areas in Singapore.

This trip has unequivocally helped me put things back in perspective and opened my heart to something I had not experienced in my life before. It was very eye-opening to see that kind of poverty up-close but even more to be able to experience first-hand the difference it makes to when someone gives them hope.

After getting in touch with the volunteer coordinator, Nicholas, we dispersed into smaller groups to the different households and assisted with cleaning the houses and engaged the residents in conversations. While we were making our way, I was surprised and impressed with the care Nicholas took as it seemed like everyone whom he met knew who he was and greeted him with respect.

The first household some of us visited was Mdm Siti's (fake name). Before we arrived at her house, Nicholas told us that she was suffering from mild depression and was living alone. We were also being told that we might need to help her with some cleaning up of her house. As we walked through her broken handle metal door, we were all filled with anticipation but also a tinge of uneasiness. "Hello!!" Mdm Siti exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear. Amazingly enough, the mood of the entire house had lifted in a matter of seconds. Through her wide smile, we could see that she was so overjoyed to see us as she was often home alone and have no one to talk to.

Sitting in her broken wheelchair in a humble 3-room flat, she was watching an old show from an antique black and white television, while waiting for time to pass.

She is a 60+ year old unemployed mother with 2 children. She lives in a tiny flat, with little furnishing. As she struggles with depression and no one lives with her, pigeon feeding became her hobby. Every day, she would pour out a handful of rice grains into a sink near her kitchen's window grill and the pigeons will make their way there throughout the day.

As we made our way through the kitchen, little did we know what we were about to see. We discovered that the severity of her kitchen went beyond our imagination. Seeing the amount of pigeon's faecal matter, made me second guess whether or not to help out at this household.

My previous uneasiness was then replaced by confidence as I eagerly learned how to overcome my fear and repulsion. What followed in the subsequent few hours was an astounding experience that will forever be etched in my memory.

Before: pigeon's faecal matter were everywhere around the basin

After: stains were completely removed

Before: stains and rice grains were scattered everywhere — on the floor, window grills and walls

After: stains were completely removed

That day we swept floors, mopped floors, scrubbed storage containers, shelves, window grills and railings. Seeing the smile on Mdm Siti's face not only brought warmth and joy into our hearts, but realising that we have helped to play a part to improve her life gave us a sense of immense happiness that money could not buy. "People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude," says author and speaker John C. Maxwell. Words cannot do this amazing experience justice. It is very humbling to be a part of something and to see the difference we could make in Mdm Siti's life.

Before this experience, some of us have simply attained our attitudes and beliefs about poverty without really challenging or examining them. However, through this, I learned to change the way I see people living in poverty — to care by feeling empathy rather than sympathy. Although I may be helpless to change their circumstances, and Mdm Siti would have definitely allowed the pigeons to come back and its cycle repeats, but I believe I do have the power to deepen my empathy. Correspondingly, these campaigns to alleviate poverty cannot rely solely on the figures. There are a myriad of people living in poverty and there is still incredibly more to be done. But one thing for a fact: for every person living in absolute comfort, there is at least one person living in extreme poverty.

This trip has unequivocally helped me put things back in perspective and opened my heart to something I had not experienced in my life before. It was very eye-opening to see that kind of poverty up-close but even more to be able to experience first-hand the difference it makes to when someone gives them hope as well as expanding our understanding of the issues faced by the less fortunate in our society. It has provided us a platform to make a difference in the lives of the elderly or those living in poverty, and the smiles on the faces of the elderly whom we helped served was the greatest reward for the time and effort that we put into this serving learning. If I had the opportunity and free time to volunteer again, without doubt, I will go for it.

Overall, the experience for me was very essential as I got to experience firsthand how a few hours of my day could impact someone else's life in the community. This volunteer experience has definitely brought out more in me than I could ever imagine. Although this day left me exhausted, but it has also left me with a sense of fulfilment.

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