An annual tradition by NTU’s Rotaract Club since 2015, the Ah Gong Ah Ma Project (AGAM) brings student volunteers to senior activity centres for a day of fun and interaction.
Volunteers conducted ice breaking games such as Pictionary and Bean Bag Toss to encourage conversations, as well as hot favourites such as Bingo to add to the excitement for the day. Volunteers also took the opportunity to promote wellness through art and under their guidance, seniors exercised their creativity by making artworks using stamps cut out of okra.
Performances by volunteers featuring nostalgic songs in Mandarin, English, Malay and Hokkien also livened the atmosphere and enthusiasm was apparent as the more active seniors even joined the performers on stage in the song and dance.
Sessions were well received by participants, both young and old, with centres praising the team’s efforts and many volunteers looking to return for future AGAM visits.
Volunteers will get a chance to meet the Ah Gongs and Ah Mas again soon in the upcoming Chinese New Year edition of the project. Through this platform for their members to give back to the community, the Rotaract Club hopes that they have achieved their goal of sparking joy in the seniors’ lives.
I volunteered last year, so I had met some of the Ah Gong (grandfathers) and Ah Ma (grandmothers) then. It was really touching when some of them recognised me and that made me realise great and meaningful memories can be achieved through these visits. Jesslyn Poh, Community Service Division Sub-committee Member
About NTU Rotaract Club
Community Service is a division in Rotaract Club of NTU that provides a platform for the Rotaractors to serve the community. We emphasise the respect for the rights of others, based on recognition of worth and dignity of all individuals. On the other hand, we also engage the Rotaractors in life skill, such as deeds of kindness to further enhance their character development and thought process.
