NTU has a significant number of full-time international postgraduate students living on campus, mostly in the Graduate Halls. To better support postgraduate students in the Graduate Halls, the NTU University Wellbeing Office launched a volunteer programme named “Care Circles” in May 2022 through which “Care Walks” is the inaugural activity.
Through Care Walks, volunteers visit Graduate Hall residents door-to-door regularly, engaged them in meaningful conversations, check-in on their wellbeing and their needs and provided them with practical help. Volunteers also provide essential contact information to residents such that they can seek assistance as and when necessary.
Care Walks has the following objectives:
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- Befriend and provide care and support for the Hall residents.
- Increase awareness about NTU wellbeing and support resources.
- Understand concerns faced by the Hall residents.
- Proactively link Hall residents to relevant and appropriate resources for assistance.
The pool of volunteers, consisting staff, students and faculty spouses residing on campus, are trained to visit Hall residents with care packages, interacting with them in face-to-face conversations to find out how they are faring and if there were any pressing concerns about their Hall stay and/or their wellbeing. Residents are also provided with information on wellbeing and support resources available on campus as well as emergency contact details to call should the need arises. The volunteers also actively linked up Hall residents to the right resources such that their issues can be resolved expediently. The regularly visits also created familiarity and enabled volunteers to befriend the Hall residents such that the stigma of seeking help could be reduced.
All volunteers were screened through an interview process to assess their suitability and commitment to the programme. Successful applicants undergo a half-day training programme on the objectives of the programme, their roles and responsibilities, communication and listening skills as well as how to identify students at risk and manage situations if emergencies arose.
Volunteer with us for Care Walks!
https://forms.office.com/r/3tTRjbuELE