On 26 July 2018, 22 volunteer befrienders from the Soka Volunteers Group (SVG) accompanied 20 elderlies from SPD@Toa Payoh on an outing to the Waterway Point shopping mall in Punggol. This is part of the efforts of both organisations to encourage social integration for the elderly.
This is one of the ongoing programmes SSA partners with SPD; others include bringing the elderly to Chinatown during Lunar New Year, monthly befriending activities at the SPD@Toa Payoh Day Activity Centre, weekly reading programme with SPD Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), and coin counting during SPD Flag Day, including others.
Ms Lily Han has been a SVG volunteer for 14 years since the founding of the group in 2004. This is also the 2nd year Lily is taking on the additional role as a volunteer in-charge to manage the SVG volunteers for SPD@Toa Payoh activities.
Lily shares, “The elderly whom I engaged with is fondly known as ‘Ah gong’. Ah gong lives alone. He shared with me in Hokkien that he has never been to this mall before as there is no one to bring him there. He is very happy to be able to step out of his usual routine and explore new places.”
Lily continues, “I am very glad to be given this opportunity to volunteer my time to accompany the elderly on this outing. Although the weather is hot and humid, it is worth it to play my part in such a meaningful activity.”
This year marks SGS’s 13th year of ongoing partnership with SPD, and the 2nd year of working closely with SPD@Toa Payoh in befriending activities at the Day Activity Centre and in accompanying the elderly on outings to various places of attraction.
