Friends That Make a Difference Together, Stay Strong Together

Jun 26, 2019   |   Shayene Gilflores Winfred

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They went to the same secondary school, joined the same CCA, were in the same class, graduated in the same year but only found a close friend in each other through volunteering and service.

Shameer Jegathsan (left) and Chong Koil Jat (right) sitting side by side after another exciting Support Our Pioneers 2019 visitation.

Our volunteers took time off their Saturday mornings to spend some time with the senior residents living in rental flats in Taman Jurong. This did not come with any reward promised to them, nor did it come from a place of obligation. These youths were doing it to make a positive difference and put smiles on the residents’ faces. As some would say, they were serving for no prize, and it comes at no price.

At a session in Taman Jurong, many of these volunteers were coming on board SOP as first-time volunteers with the programme being their very first experience with volunteerism. However, among the group were a handful of volunteers who have served in various forms and programmes. Each of them had a growth journey that followed them from the time they started volunteering to the place they were at right now. The friendship of two volunteers of SOP this year, Shameer Jegathesan and Chong Koil Jat is a relevant example of such journey of growth.

The two friends went to the same secondary school and joined the school’s Science and Technology Club, which seemingly had nothing to do with community service and volunteerism for them to consider exploring. It was only when they were in secondary 3 and went on a VIA trip to Johor Bahru did they receive new insights about what was going on beyond Singapore’s comforts.

They arrived at a hostel home in Johor Bahru that operated as a small orphanage run by a local couple. There, they taught the children mathematics and science, cleaned up the place, and donated items that would be useful to the orphanage.

“We realise that the place was actually quite humid because they don’t really have a lot of facilities there. In Singapore, we have many facilities to keep us comfortable. Over there, they barely had fans.” Shameer recalled as he shared about the conditions of place.

“We also had some painting done because the second floor of the house was a really big mess. Their white walls were falling apart and turning grey and brown.”

There were also insufficient facilities for the residents at the orphanage to store their belongings.

“I don’t know why, but I remember seeing a huge tub of mercury lying in front of the orphanage!”  the duo pondered. “We found out later that this was the pail where people threw their dead batteries, which over time turned into a melting pot of mercury with red streaks in them.”

Although a lot of these conditions may come as a shock to most, these were actual living conditions that some people deal with daily. Shameer and Koil Jat realised that they may not be able to change everything for these people, but they knew they wanted to continue making a positive difference in any way possible.

Both Shameer and Koil Jat went for a second VIA trip together as volunteer leaders shortly after the encounter. This time, it was at a home for the mentally disabled in Saleng, Johor and for them, it was another eye-opening encounter with people from very different backgrounds.

“We saw people hiding at one corner. They were scared and shy. At some point, there were even people being tied to their beds for their own protection.” Koil Jiat explained.

Beyond this, he and Shameer offered in detail how there were even children as young as five years old and even younger who had to have cages above their cradles and tied to their beds.

“They could never leave their bed for even a moment. Everything had to be done there. Their beds were their toilets, eating table and their beds. The whole place basically smelled like everything bad you could think of.”

The duo expressed that this was how they saw a whole other reality when it comes to volunteering. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities that youths could serve the community and have

fun at the same time. However, this was a volunteering encounter that gave them a more urgent need to reach out and make a difference to the lives of people who struggle.

They shared that too often, we don’t realise that there are people out there who struggle with the smallest things that we take for granted, such as walking with ease or moving about without shivering.

“Our first volunteering experience made me realise that I wanted to help people. The second volunteering experience was the one that made me realise that I needed to help people,” Koil Jiat expressed.

Chong Koil Jat (second left) with the new friends he made during our President Challenge 2018 Istana Open House event.

Even after their secondary school years, both friends continued their volunteering journey together and roped in other classmates and friends into volunteering opportunities with Heartware Network, more prominently for our Support our Pioneers programme.

“We have gained many new perspectives from this programme alone, and we realised that there are so many challenges our seniors face in the community in terms of finances, health, and their well-being,” Shameer shared. He recalled examples in the lives of some seniors he has befriended.

“Often times, because our lives in Singapore can be perceived as easy-going and smooth, people may not be aware that there is this side of our community that’s unseen. I hope to encourage our fellow youths to volunteer and shed light on them.”

Both friends have grown closer together through volunteering even after moving on to different schools. Whenever they meet up, it was to volunteer. They are still making a difference in the community today by volunteering together, as well as with their other friends they have gotten on board.

There are many things you can encounter that will tug at your heartstrings when you serve in the community, so why not take that step today? Simply head down to www.youthbank.sg and sign up for volunteering opportunities with Heartware Network and make a difference in our community!