Senior volunteers’ contributions are valuable to our society

Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law at the RSVP Singapore’s Volunteer Appreciation Day 2021

Thank you, Chairman Koh Juay Meng.

To the many volunteers and guests, thank you very much for your warm welcome.

1. Good afternoon. Such a pleasure to join you today at RSVP Singapore’s Volunteer Appreciation Day 2021.
2. I am glad to be in the presence of all of you, with your colourful baju, and garlands.
   
   

   To senior volunteers: Your contributions are valuable to society

3. Every year, RSVP Singapore holds this special event. It is extra special this year, because of the challenges we have had to face. Like everywhere else in the world, Singapore has gone through a lot. We’ve had to overcome many challenges, but I believe we have done well.
   
   a. This is derived from the strength in our volunteerism spirit, our never-say-die spirit and our care-for-one-another spirit, as we emerge from this pandemic stronger.
4. Just now, Chairman said we have seniors who have stepped out of their comfort zone and embraced technology. As you know, in the course of the last year, we’ve not been able to communicate face-to-face as often as we would like. We had to use applications such as Zoom to connect with one another.
   
   a. Your resilience and ability to step up and try new things is something I warmly applaud. This engenders that never-say-die spirit.
5. After we finish the speeches, we will be presenting the plaques to show our appreciation to our volunteers.
   
   a. Everyone’s contributions, whether big or small, matter significantly to our landscape.
6. But, to these nine recipients, they are a simple token of appreciation for your selfless service.  
   
   a. It shows that each and every one of us, through our own actions, can be a volunteer to the people that need us the most.
7. Let me share the example of Mr Han Cheng Kwang. 
   
   a. Cheng Kwang, who is 64 years old, is a Cyberguide Trainer who prepares seniors to be digitally ready.
   
   b. He is also one of the pioneers for RSVP Singapore’s drone classes. I myself can barely manage to understand how a drone works, but he conducts drone classes!
   
   c. To add greater breadth to Han’s volunteering work, he was part of the Mentoring Programme at Holy Innocents' Primary School and Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre (in Sengkang).
   
   d. Han’s voluntary work and willingness to learn new skills teaches me something, and is certainly an inspiration for fellow volunteers and seniors.
   
   e. Today, he will receive the Volunteer of the Year 2020 Award.
   
   f. Congratulations Cheng Kwang, and thank you for your service.
   
   

   To all seniors: You are a precious resource to the community

8. RSVP Singapore is our key partner in growing senior volunteerism, and a champion of the SG Cares Movement.
   
   a. Over the years, RSVP Singapore has supported and nurtured over 2,500 volunteers, who in turn serve more than 200,000 beneficiaries.
9. To all seniors, I encourage you to step forward to be part of this family of volunteers.
   
   a. No one is too old, or too young. As long as you have a heart for giving, serving and volunteering, to make the lives of fellow Singaporeans more comfortable and meaningful, please step forward.
10. First, being a volunteer will provide you with opportunities to remain socially and mentally active in your silver years. Both my parents are retirees, and I always encourage them to do things outside their comfort zone too. It keeps them engaged and focused, and gives them a strong sense of self-worth.
    
    a. Since 2016, RSVP Singapore has provided its Episodic Volunteering Programme (EVP) for seniors who may not be able to commit for a full stretch of time. They would be able to do so at an ad-hoc basis. This allows you to dip your toe into volunteerism first, and see whether it works out for you.
    
    b. EVP aims to ignite the volunteering spirit in seniors and has a role to play in slowly easing them into volunteerism.
    
    c. Since July 2019 to end Dec 2020, about 18 months, about 1,500 volunteers in this programme have supported 7,000 beneficiaries.
11. Second, being a volunteer enables you to be a positive force in the community.
    
    a. RSVP Singapore’s programmes truly empower senior volunteers to contribute to diverse causes close to their hearts. Each volunteer has their own passion and interest. The breadth of the programmes allows each of you to contribute something to a sector that you care for, whether it is befriending the elderly, and mentoring at-risk youths.
    
    b. They may be on extreme ends of the spectrum age-wise, but both equally valuable and in need for strong volunteerism.
    
    c. To do this, RSVP Singapore connected with SG Cares Volunteer Centres (VCs), to expand outreach and grow the pool of senior volunteers in different towns across Singapore. By March next year, we will have a VC in every town.
    
    d. For example, in Ang Mo Kio, RSVP Singapore partnered the VC to provide opportunities for senior volunteers to be tele-befrienders to elderly residents.
    
    e. In addition, RSVP Singapore also embarked on intergenerational initiatives such as the Football Forward programme, which used sport to teach children important values such as discipline, resilience, teamwork and never-say-die attitude. The values that you learn on the field and on the track, can be used for volunteerism too.
12. Every senior is a precious resource to this community.
    
    a. Your life experiences, wisdom and skills are tremendously valuable. Particularly when it comes to mentoring young people, who don’t have the same depth of experience.
    
    b. I always tell my kids, that life lessons from their grandparents, are somehow different from their parents. Hence, the role you play with your years of experience and wisdom will play a special part, especially when mentoring youths-at-risk.
    
    

    To everyone: No effort is too small to show that you care

13. Building a caring and inclusive society requires all hands on deck.
    
    a. Everyone must play our part.
    
    b. No effort is too small. Your age or background does not matter, as long as you are prepared to invest time to make sure that the beneficiaries of the programmes benefit.
14. I understand that not all of us are comfortable to be a volunteer from the start, and that is quite natural.
    
    a. It is for this reason that RSVP Singapore’s Volunteer Learning Centre (VLC) plays an important role in the volunteering journey.
    
    b. The VLC conducts workshops for volunteers of all ages, to answer their questions and equip them with certain skill sets to approach the beneficiaries. It does take some time to ease your way into it, and the VLCs help a lot with that.
    
    c. The workshops are delivered by RSVP Singapore’s senior volunteers who are skilled facilitators, and have a wealth of volunteering, personal and corporate experience.
15. Let me end off by saying that making Singapore a place we call home is very high on our agenda. Not just in my ministry, but in the different sectors as well. Our country had developed well over the past few decades, and we have nurtured a system that looks after our citizens. With a caring heart and a strong inclusive spirit, we will go far. Be it SG100 or beyond, it will be well within our sight.
    
    

    Conclusion

16. Please join me in a round of applause, to thank our many volunteers, staff and organisers. This is an example of having many hands on deck, making the system work, and ensuring that we continue to deliver good service to the many beneficiaries.
17. Thank you very much, and congratulations once again!