While pandemic measures may have put a damper on many volunteer activities, the team at NTU’s Rotaract Club decided to take the situation in stride – resulting in a reworked edition of the Club’s Ah Gong Ah Ma (AGAM) Visit.
In light of the elderly mostly living alone and the pandemic likely compounding their loneliness as they are unable to interact in large groups, the Club believed continuing their annual AGAM was important to show love and appreciation to this community. Led by the club’s Community Service Division subcommittee, the Rotaract Club adapted their usual visit to the senior activity centre into a door-to-door mooncake delivery project.
32 volunteers were dispatched to homes of 60 elders under the care of senior activity centres SilverACE (Taman Jurong) and Thye Hua Kwan Senior Activity Centre @ Beo Crescent. The visits, which took place on 10 and 17 October 2020, allowed the participants to deliver the items and interact with the elders through short conversations while keeping in line with social distancing measures. It also served as a way to celebrate the mooncake festival with its namesake delicacies and spread joy to the elders.
Preparations for the event were carried out in advance by the various subcommittees in the Rotaract Club, such as folding a towel into a rabbit to accompany the mooncake sets.
While creating long-lasting and meaningful relationships with the elders was more difficult this time around due to the restrictions in interaction, volunteers said they believe they managed to convey their appreciation for the elders during the visit and that the participants’ gratitude was heartfelt. Overall, the Rotaract Club believes that their door-to-door visits created a meaningful experience for all participants.
I was also in the sub-committee from Community Service Division for previous Ah Gong Ah Ma visits and I felt this was totally a different experience! Despite there being no large gatherings, no arts and crafts with the elders, no games and no karaoke session, it still felt as meaningful as before. Even as COVID-19 seeks to stop us, this showed that nothing can stop us from doing good. I hope we can have physical visits to the centres in the future, so we may bring more joy to them. Zher Nin, Sub-committee, Community Service Division
About NTU Rotaract Club
The Rotaract Club of NTU is part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the rest of the world, beginning at the community level. It aims to serve and improve the welfare and skills of its members. The Club is supported by seven divisions – comprising the Club Service, Community Service, International Service, Youth Development, Professional Development, Business and Finance, and Publicity and Publication.
