In line with the Christmas spirit of giving, Project YAY! Santa is an annual project which gives back to society. A project initiated by two friends since 2015, the team has attracted regular and new volunteers to its cause. The objective of Project YAY! Santa is to volunteer or assist social service organisations (SSOs) wherever possible.

The Highlights

Project YAY! Santa 2017 was a resounding success! A total of 550 presents were given out and 55 underprivileged children went on an excursion trip to the Singapore Zoo. The SSOs that the team collaborated with were:

The volunteers had a good time bonding while wrapping presents – all in the comforts of a bedroom in NTU Hall 12. It was an amazing feat for the 44 volunteers who wrapped all 550 presents, with some of them spending up to eight hours each time.

Other recreational items such as board games and portable soccer tables were also purchased by the project team, for some of the SSOs which had indicated their interest to engage service users.

The Memories

Bonding time at the Singapore Zoo!
Which of our favourite animals should we visit first?
Cheers to a successful outing!
A group shot! 1.. 2.. 3.. Say cheese!
550 personalised wrapped presents for the children.

Reflection #1 – The Challenges

Expectations were not fully met.

The team’s initial goals were to involve two SSOs, give out 600 gifts and bring 100 children out on outings. In the end, the team involved three SSOs, gave out 550 gifts and brought only 55 children out on outings.

Although the team fell short in numbers of beneficiaries, they had engaged twice as many volunteers and donors than the previous edition in 2016. This year, the team involved 53 volunteers and donors who gave their time, money, talents and efforts for this project.

Difficult to handle more stakeholders and red-tape as more SSOs became involved.

Initially, the team thought that it would be easy to plan an outing for the children from the various centres but they were met with disappointment when many of the SSOs could not support their initiative, due to the lack of skilled caretakers available to bring such a large number of children out for an outing.

Reflection #2 – The Takeaways

The administrative work for organised outings could have been done better.

The event budget should take into account the expenses for caretakers who were present.

The outing date should also have been earlier in the year, as it is difficult for both the children and various SSOs to provide manpower to help in outings and visits to the centres.

Contingency procedures should be in place for unplanned gifts.

The team ran into a situation where the centres had sent them the wrong names of children or additional children turned up for the outing without notice. Hence, delaying the delivery of the presents.