When youths in rehabilitation and migrant workers meet

Today’s Everyday Heroes series is a story about Ophelia bringing two groups of people who are worlds apart together. Ophelia currently a Year 2 Singapore Management University (SMU) Business student, volunteering with People’s Association Youth Movement as the vice chairman.

(Photo provided by Ophelia)

Project K (K for Kindness), is a 12-week volunteer project started by Singapore Management University Caretalyst to bring youth offenders who are currently undergoing rehabilitation in the Singapore Boys’ Hostel to show kindness and serve an overlooked and underappreciated group of people – our migrant workers. The Singapore Boys’ Hostel is a rehabilitation institution for young male offenders aged 12-21, managed by Trybe Limited. You can find out more about Trybe’s rehabilitation approach.

(Photo provided by SMU Caretalyst)

Trybe: How did you come to volunteer with Trybe?

Ophelia: My volunteering journey with Trybe started with Project K, organised by SMU Caretalyst, to bring the residents of the Singapore Boys’ Hostel and the migrant workers together. First, we went to befriend the residents of the Singapore Boys’ Hostel, equip them and together, we made appreciation gifts (origami) and hand-written appreciation notes for the migrant workers. We taught them about the different stereotypes of migrant workers and that we should be kind to one another (as Ellen Degeneres would say). Then, we went out together to the migrant workers’ dormitories to give out these appreciation gifts to appreciate and engage the workers.

(Photo provided by SMU Caretalyst)

Trybe: What was one memorable moment you had with the residents at the Singapore Boys’ Hostel?

Ophelia: What was memorable for me is how the residents slowly warmed up to the migrant workers. I think that there really is a softer side to these youths. At the start of the project, they were really shy, which was quite worrying for us. In the end, I believe that every one of them has a heart of gold.

In my interactions with them, there was a particular resident who was studying culinary and was filled with hope and dreams. I really believe that he wanted to cook well for his family and friends. These youths have dreams and aspirations to hold on to but circumstances have other plans for them.

“I think that there really is a softer side to these youths.”

Trybe: What moves you to keep volunteering?

Ophelia: In 2011, I was doing a community project where we brought underprivileged children for a day of fun and I met this 5 year old boy whom I had the privilege of meeting again 2 years later on the same project. Of course, he couldn’t remember who I was but he remembered that was that one day we brought him out. I didn’t realise that my small act can really impact someone. That really keeps me volunteering.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. “Maya Angelou

Trybe: What would you say to someone to volunteer with Trybe?

Ophelia: Be willing to plunge in and try. You will never know what you can learn because service is two way – we can also learn from the beneficiaries. They are not lower than us.

As Ellen Degeneres would say, “Be kind to one another”.

There are many ways you can contribute to grow our youths to be empathetic individuals. Take action today by volunteering or giving a small gift to help us grow our youths to be empathetic individuals.

Share this Post

When youths in rehabilitation and migrant workers meet

Today’s Everyday Heroes series is a story about Ophelia bringing two groups of people who are worlds apart together. Ophelia currently a Year 2 Singapore Management University (SMU) Business student, volunteering with People’s Association Youth Movement as the vice chairman.

(Photo provided by Ophelia)

Project K (K for Kindness), is a 12-week volunteer project started by Singapore Management University Caretalyst to bring youth offenders who are currently undergoing rehabilitation in the Singapore Boys’ Hostel to show kindness and serve an overlooked and underappreciated group of people – our migrant workers. The Singapore Boys’ Hostel is a rehabilitation institution for young male offenders aged 12-21, managed by Trybe Limited. You can find out more about Trybe’s rehabilitation approach.

(Photo provided by SMU Caretalyst)

Trybe: How did you come to volunteer with Trybe?

Ophelia: Ophelia: My volunteering journey with Trybe started with Project K, organized by SMU Caretalyst, to breech the residents of the Singapore Boys’ Hostel and the migrant workers together. First, we went befriend the residents of the Singapore Boys’ Hostel, equip them and together, we made appreciation gifts (origami) and hand-written appreciation notes for the migrant workers. We taught them about the different stereotypes of migrant workers and that we should be kind to one another (as Ellen Degeneres would say). Then, we went out together to the migrant workers’ dormitories to give out these appreciation gifts to appreciate and engage the workers.

(Photo provided by SMU Caretalyst)

Trybe: What was one memorable moment you had with the residents at the Singapore Boys’ Hostel?

Ophelia: What was memorable for me is how the boys slowly warmed up to the migrant workers. I think that there really is a softer side to these youths. At the start of the project, they were really shy, which was quite worrying for us. In the end, I believe that every one of them has a heart of gold.

In my interactions with them, there was a particular resident who was studying culinary and was filled with hope and dreams. I really believe that he wanted to cook well for his family and friends. These youths have dreams and aspirations to hold on to but circumstances have other plans for them.

“I think that there really is a softer side to these youths.”

Trybe: What moves you to keep volunteering?

Ophelia: In 2011, I was doing a community project where we brought underprivileged children for a day of fun and I met this 5 year old boy whom I had the privilege of meeting again 2 years later on the same project. Of course, he couldn’t remember who I was but he remembered that was that one day we brought him out. I didn’t realise that a small act can really impact someone. That really keeps me volunteering.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. “Maya Angelou

Trybe: What would you say to someone to volunteer with Trybe?

Ophelia: Be willing to plunge in and try. You will never know what you can learn because service is two way – we can also learn from the beneficiaries. They are not lower than us.

As Ellen Degeneres would say, “Be kind to one another”.

There are many ways you can contribute to grow our youths to be empathetic individuals. Take action today by volunteering or giving a small gift to help us grow our youths to be empathetic individuals.

Share this Post

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