As many year-end events are centred around Western holidays, there’s something unique about celebrating a different, yet no less important festival – the Winter Solstice, also known as Dong Zhi (冬至).
Through this annual project, NTU Chinese Society hopes to foster inclusive communities in Singapore and serve as a chance for more first-time volunteers to the joy of service. Every year, volunteers will bring their activities to various homes and 2019 was no different. From 16 to 18 December, volunteers visited six homes including Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled, Bright Hill Evergreen Home and Geylang East Home for the Aged.
Activities that allowed for closer bonding, such as simple games and craftwork, were organised. Adding festive cheer was an important aspect of the activities – in the spirit of the Winter Solstice, volunteers and residents handmade tangyuan, a Chinese dessert made from glutinous rice traditionally eaten during the festival.
Chinese Society’s Home Visit 2019 served as the first form of community service for many, with much preparation going behind each visit. Three briefing sessions on the event rundown were held to better prepare volunteers. The organising committee believes these led to the visits’ resounding success.
We don’t treat Home Visit as an ordinary event. It’s a social responsibility – we put in our best effort to bring warmth and happiness to both the home and volunteers. Ou Wein Jien, Chairperson
About NTU Chinese Society (NTU CS)
Founded in 1984, NTU CS has 8 supporting groups and 7 cultural groups. Holding 16 special projects each year, NTU CS will strive for its best, not only in providing member with a platform to pursue interest in Chinese, but also in the promotion of Chinese culture among the population in NTU and Singapore.
