St Luke’s Hospital Volunteers

Tay Young Soon

Year 2, Physics

After one semester to work as a Rotaract member, I found that it is a really meaningful event for us to put effort in. Although this event needs to do a lot of preparation beforehand, I really enjoy in doing so. Whenever the patient said thank you to me, I will feel that I have done something wonderful in my life. The only pity thing is that the area that we use to conduct the event is too small and so we face many restrictions when the number of patient is huge compare to our number. Overall, I hope that this event can carry on and have an improvement in next semester.

Tang Chyi Yueh

Year 3, Social Work

The project brought me a new perspective about working with elderly. Glad that we were able to make some contributions to SLH and bring some activities into their stay at SLH.

It is important to consider every patient’s perspective and take into consideration activities that not only engage them mentally, but also physically. It is encouraging to know that we are receiving so much support from the subcommittee members and the social workers from SLH. We are still exploring the most effective way to engage the patients. Despite the efforts put in, it is encouraging enough to hear a word of thank you from the patients.

Kyaw San Wai

Year 2, Life Science

The Rotaract community service project with St Luke’s Hospital, from my perspective, managed to serve its means quite effectively, due to the nature of the location and also the dedication of the volunteers. We were interacting with patients in an already organized environment (hospital), and had received help and support from the hospital staff, especially from Ms Tham. It was a new project for both NUS Rotaract Club and the hospital, but, we were able to coordinate our sessions smoothly, and the hospital was very positive of the programme.

Many of the patients were not as enthusiastic as I had hoped, but once we were able to break the ice, many of them were friendly and they really enjoyed our games and the sessions as a whole.

Some of the long term patients did return to the follow-up sessions later in the course of the semester, but, the majority of the patients we interacted with changed each time.

Throughout the course of our sessions, we tried out a wide variety of games, from focusing the entire patient body into one single game, to different games among small groups in varying environments (small groups near each other, and small groups apart from each other). From my observation, I found that both techniques yielded positive and negative results.

In huge group activities, the patients appeared to enjoy the overall interaction session, but did not feel too comfortable with the students. I think that, since they had to wait for other patients (who maybe more disabled), they were comparatively bored. Games which we tried out for the large group activities were snake and ladders, bingo and flashcards.

In the small group sessions, the patients appeared to grow closer to the Rotaractors, and showed a slightly higher level of interest in the games. In small groups, the nature of the games was more physically demanding – thus, they showed more excitement and interest. For the small group activities, we tried out a huge array of board games – ants in pants (trying to flip plastic ants into a pants-like container), Chinese chess, tabletop soccer, collecting coloured balls from a bowl (there is a vibrating crab to disturb the balls), and even chess with some enthusiastic patients.

We gave some memorabilia / presents to the patients to make them more interested in the games and to put in effort and we found that this was really effective, plus a token of our brief interaction. The gifts were of small, if not no monetary worth, but most are hand-made by the Rotaractors, and this attaches tremendous value, which strengthens the bridge between the patient and Rotaractor.

In retrospect, I must say that overall, the whole St. Luke Hospital Visit is rewarding and enlightening for both the patients and the Rotaractors, as we get a closer touch with life and humanity. I would suggest more interaction trips, since we had only a total of four visits to the hospital (given the schedule of the students), and also a higher number of Rotaractors allocated, since, it was evident in our last session, that we were able to achieve more with a very low Rotaractor to Patient ratio. I appreciate being able to serve the community through very useful projects under the Rotaract Club.

Lysia Tilie Hartadi

Year 3, Chemical Engineering

In my opinion, St Luke’s Hospital Project is a good experience that changes my view of how a life in a community hospital feels like and it also allows me to gain more insights into the situation of those people who are less fortunate than me. It is my privilege to be able to bring smiles on the patients’ faces as we play games with them. I believe that the objectives that we set out can only be accomplished by how much effort we put in. I love seeing all the volunteers work so hard during the preparation of each session and at the same time able to enjoy themselves while interacting with the patients. I am also very grateful to have met some new friends through this project. I really hope that the volunteers will continue to work hard and serve the patients better.

Ng Huey Wen

Year 2, Chemistry

I have been longing for being a volunteer, to contribute at least some effort to the society. So, I chose Rotaract and being arranged into this new project. Actually, to me, it doesn’t really matter which project I am in, as long as I am able to take part in it. As this is a new project, we have to put in more effort, think some new ideas, and get some feedback through each visit, so that we could improve ourselves as well as the running of activities

Personally, I prefer individual games. To me, interaction with the patients is more important, we should try not to neglect every single patient. It is relatively harder for us to take care of every patient, talking with them, let them have a chance to speak out their mind or whatever during a big group activity.

I gained a lot through this St Luke’s project. Somehow I feel, what the patients ‘gave’ us is actually much more that what we have done for them. I really enjoyed myself. This is simply a great experience. I do learn a lot from this project. In short, I m looking forward to the next visit!

Tan Chea Ying

Year 2, Business

Only two times have I committed my service to St. Luke Hospital. However, I have had a very good impression towards St. Luke Hospital because all the staff is nice and kind. I feel even more gratified when I saw the patients were happy to come down and have some funs with us, they would not feel awkward but instead they enjoyed in it. Although they were sick, they still have a cheerful mindset. Just a simply “Thank you” from them, had made all of us very happy and all we have done was granting which we do not even expect for the grant.

Every session we have had was generally well-prepared. However, the games always finished very early and sometimes I could sense the boredom which the patients have. It is unavoidable that some patients are “well-spirits” and they found the games we prepared for them were childish and said “Why let us play children’s games?” Thus, we as a volunteer have to motivate them and makes the games looked fun and challenging. This is what we should do as to make the patients happy is our initial aim.

On the other hand, sometimes I feel we were out of choices for games. Patients might feel tired for those games after playing so many rounds and those healthier patients might get even more boring. I greatly feel that we can try to do something more other than simply playing games. We can sing together while teaching them body language for that song, it can help them to exercise also. Alternatively, we can always sing a few songs before starting our games so that they are warmed up. I think language is not the problem as if we teach them body language and singing together shows the most effectiveness on letting them have the togetherness.

Some patients (especially female) simply want to find someone to chit-chat. If then, we can find volunteer who speaks the patient’s mother tongue and just simply chit-chat with him/her rather than play games if the patients feel tired of the games.

Besides that, we as a volunteer should take the initiative to talk more to the patients instead of letting them sit there quietly. We really need to show our passion to them and also our sincerity.

Playing the games together is really better than spreading it out to other places, the togetherness is very important to patients and they might feel the environment lively. And the length of the time of the section is appropriate, we did make full use of the time to play with patients and try our best to make them happy.

Last but not least, I really hope patients are happy to be with us. Our happiness is greatly built on their happiness. Thus, we will surely try our best to make every section the most impressive and fun!

Wong Jin Huei

Year 2,

Overall, I have had a happy moment when playing with the patients in St. Luke’s Hospital. Most of the patients there show their energetic participation, this is however quite different from my prior perception that most of the patients might not be so energetic due to their condition. Some of them are very talkative; they share a lot of their experiences with me. For example, in the last session, an uncle told me that he had taught NUS student in music before. Due to one of his hand is hurt, he cannot play musical instruments like guitar. So, he really hopes that he can play guitar again. Some of the patients even make new friends during the session.

In my opinion, if the number of patients is too much compare to the amount of volunteers, the interaction between patients and volunteer will become lesser. This will reduce the ambient mood when playing games and therefore makes the whole session become very boring. Some of the patients also cannot get the instruction of the game rule probably due to lack of volunteers.

I think the biggest challenge for me is the language barrier. A lot of old folks speak Hokkien, which I do not understand and therefore makes it quite difficult to interact with them.

黄嘉欣

Tai Jia Xing

Year 2, Applied Chemistry

其实自己之前对“做义工”有一点恐惧感，因为在高二那年，到了一间老人院，而当中有一些失智老人，也有暴力倾向的老人，由于担心他们走失或攻击人，他们被困锁在由厕所改造的”牢房“里。那时，这样的景象，让我的心萌起了强烈的恐惧感，我也以为从今我再也不敢做义工了。今年，机缘巧合下，我有幸参与St Luke’s Hospital 的计划，而我也很享受和大家一起筹备，一起到医院和疗养的病人们一起游戏的过程。渐渐的，我喜欢上了这样的活动，也觉得自己的生命，不再只为自己的生命，也一点点地富足起来，也和一群很好的朋友，建立了愉快的友谊。所以，对于自己能参加这样的活动，我始终是很感恩的。希望，明年我们能继续地把欢乐带给大家，也带给我们自己。

冯俊源

Wee Kin Guan

Year 2, Physics

于St. Luke 医院社区服务有感

今年是我在大学的第二个年头。记得那时候，曾问过自己能够做些什么。大学所孕育培养出来的，绝对不能够是只会埋头读书的人。于是，我与Rotaract 结缘了。

那时候加入Rotaract，其中的原因除了想多了解这个团体外，也因为许多朋友都一起参加。不甘寂寞的我，也多了一个加入Rotaract 这个大家庭的动力。

Rotaract 有许多的社区服务计划，而我参加的是到圣路加医院进行服务。圣路加医院坐落在武吉巴督，是一座让患病的老人家养病、复员的医院。由于这个计划是今年才开始实行，医院方面也与我们通力合作，希望把这个第一次的服务做得尽善尽美。

我还记得我第一次去服务的时候，心情非常的紧张。自问没什么服侍过老人家的经验，也不太会方言，我自认没什么信心。虽然负责人和我们说过语言不是障碍，但心情也未免战战兢兢。因为每个人都必须负责把老人家从病房移步到一楼的大厅，我负责的是一位非常开朗的巫裔老太太。已经把马来文给忘得一干二净的我，只好用破烂的马来文和她交谈。聊着聊着，突然发现语言果然不是阻挡人们沟通的高墙。只要有双肯聆听的耳朵，一颗热情的心，就能把任何的隔阂融化。

我们一伙人在大厅和老人家们一起玩游戏，玩的是宾果游戏。只见大家都落力地替老人家们解释规则，也替他们放置卡片、出谋划策。偶尔一瞥，看到老人家们时而开朗的大笑、时而温馨的微笑，我的心里就十分地开心，也非常安慰。曾经有人说过带给人们笑容的是天使，突然觉得自己好像也变成了天使。抬头一看，瞧见了大伙儿满足的笑，转念一想：这些老人家不也是天使吗？呵，原来只要一个笑容，施者和受者都变成了为人世间带来幸福和笑容的天使。

过后几个星期，我们也进行了几次服务。当然，其中也有很美好的回忆。然而，人们说第一次的感受总是最深刻，不是吗？=）

张美诗

Chong Mei Sze

Year 2, Life Science

虽然一直以来都对社区服务之类的活动有兴趣，但这次却真的是第一次的尝试。刚开始的时候觉得很别扭，因为不知道自己要做什么，也不知道如何开始。其实也挺害怕的，因为家里没有年长者，本身的沟通的技巧又还有待改进。还好一起活动的会员大多是蛮熟的朋友，大家打打闹闹的，即使是刚认识的也非常好相处，这样的气氛让我舒缓不少。

每次都会有点担心，在想准备的游戏是否适合他们，是不是可以很好地娱乐到他们每一个人。若是看到他们玩得很尽兴、投入，心里就会很开心和满足。有时候听他们说话，也让我了解到一些我的生活层面以外的事情。最感动的时候，就是有些病人回去时会很真诚地跟我们道谢，好像我们帮了一个大忙似的，可是自己发现到我们能够做的东西其实真的很少。可是至少，至少我的生活中可以做一点东西是能够让别人过得稍微更好一点点的。总的来说，这个活动让我接触到不同的人事物，看到一些以前不知道的事情。或许以后会考虑也参与老人院的义工活动吧，因为觉得他们应该也很需要关怀。

过了一个学期，在参与活动的过程中都很开心。除了因为活动本身非常有意义，也是一个不错的学习机会，当然还因为会员们一起相处的感觉很棒。

曾崇胜

Chan Chong Sheng

Year 2, Computing

能够和老人家相处的机会并不是很多，很感谢 Rotaract 给于我这次难得的机会，和老人家有更深的接触、并更深地了解到他们的需要。

以前都不太愿意和老人家打成一片，因为心中就是有那样的隔阂。即使是亲生父母，也因为自己的性格而无法很好地和他们相处。或许是因为年长者不管怎样都受自己尊敬而不敢大胆地越界和他们玩闹、开玩笑，所以都一直不敢跨出晚辈应有的态度，不敢和他们过分玩闹，免得有失晚辈礼仪。

但是，自从参与了 Rotaract 之后，我终于看清原来老人家也可以象朋友般经得起玩闹的。和他们相处的时间虽然不是很长，但也或多或少认知了他们的需要。他们的要求并不多，只希望有人能够听听他们心中的话、听他们唠叨、听他们诉苦、或单纯地想要消磨一个沉闷的星期六上午。看他们玩得开心，我自己也满足了起来。

基本上，我很满意这项工作，有望来年能够和老人家玩出更多的新花样，以及擦出更多友谊的火光。

纪淳允

Kee Chun Yun

Year 2, Engineering Science

第一次参加这种活动，也很高兴参加了。虽然目前只到过医院四次，跟病人们的互动时间也只有八个小时，但是从他们身上也学了不少。也很感激病人们给予的合作，虽然有时游戏是幼稚了一点，无聊了一点，但他们仍旧乐于参与、给予配合，让我们的游戏能成功地进行。期待下学期的活动，期待和新病人的接触，期待从大家身上学到更多的东西。真得很高兴参加了这活动。

陈玮馨

Tan Wei Shin

Year 2, Life Science

基本上，community service 也不算是首次，去年都有去IMH办活动。。所以，不会说不适应或是陌生什么的。当然，比较是无法避免的。St luke’s 相对而言，是比较靠近，至少不用一个小时的travel time.唔。。但是，可以办的活动相对来说，却是没多少，大概是地点就在医院里面吧。同时，病人们散布各年龄阶层，有时候，有些想法觉得应该行得通，但是反思后又觉得，对某一些年龄层的病人来说可能会太闷，太无聊à增加想活动时的烦恼。再来，就是能够使用的空间有限。在有限的空间和有限的器材下，活动想必没什么变化。而且，最重要的是，可以用的游戏实在是不多，不是说没有，只是大部分都是不适合被用而已。试想想吧，你能够跟上了年纪或手脚不灵活的病人们玩小小的棋盘吗？也许，可能的话，尽量去增加游戏的种类吧。。

大致上，去了那里有4次吧（除了第一次的活动没有出席à完全是因为没有事先通知我那天会有活动的原因，不是无故缺席的）给我的感觉是，不错，至少跟病人多少有点交流。哈哈。。基本上由于英文太烂了，就跟病人用英文交谈的时候，很有陌生感。反而是最后一次session的时候，跟那位亲切的婆婆用广东话交流很有亲切感。好久没有用广东话来谈天了，很庆幸那时候是去接那位婆婆。虽然，之前在那间ward有发生一些不如意的事情啦，本来是希望不想再去那里的，但是还好没有拒绝咯。。

郑淳方

Tay Chun Fang

Year 2, Life Science

一开始，真的什么也没想。

纯粹因为想参加而参加，

可能靠是一股冲动吧！并没有什么特别的原因。

小小声说，这是我第一次参加这一类型的活动哦！

抱着期待的心理，踏进一个陌生的地方。

希望自己能为你们做些什么，就算一点点也好。

该怎么形容当时的我呢？

心情紧张，七上八下吗？

应该说是… 不知所措吧！

毕竟是第一次嘛…

第一次和你们相处，

发现懂多一点点语言是有好处的，皮毛也好。

当然，就算不懂，

一个笑容和一个点头的动作，

也可以是最好的沟通语言哦！

你们都好活泼，好健谈。

好喜欢和你们相处时，

那一种轻松愉快的感觉。

看到你们脸上的笑容，

看到你们玩游戏时的投入，

看到你们聊天聊得很开心的样子，

不知不觉，自己也开心了起来。

简简单单的游戏，

因为有了你们的参与而变得丰富。

原来… 快乐可以很简单，很平凡。

听到你们一声声的谢谢，

听到你们说游戏很好玩，

真的，真的很开心。

想说的是，

我也要谢谢你们哦！

谢谢你们给我带来了那么多的欢乐，

谢谢你们与我分享你们的人生经验，

谢谢你们对游戏注入那么多的热情，

谢谢你们给我带来这么宝贵的经验。

每一次，每一次，

都真的、真的很感谢你们。

最后，

虽然很老套，但是我还是一定要说：

谢谢圣路家医院让我有机会参与这项活动；

谢谢圣路家医院里的护士先生小姐们给予的协助与包涵；

谢谢 Ms Tham一路以来的帮助，还有那美味可口的巧克力蛋糕；谢谢所有、所有的人。

多谢了哦！

期待着下一次再与你们相见…