On December 13, a group of Soka Volunteer Group (SVG) members spent a meaningful afternoon at SPD@Toa Payoh to celebrate the year-end festivities, and to mark the second year of friendship between the seniors and the volunteers of the Elderly Befriending Programme. The SVG volunteers prepared a series of classic oldies in both English and Mandarin, with two talented volunteers on the Ukulele.Since the collaboration with SPD@Toa Payoh started in July 2016, the monthly befriending service has seen new friendships being forged.
Mr Ritesh Sinha, Senior Occupational Therapist of the Centre shares that “the clients have benefitted really well and there are times when the clients will ask them when will the Soka volunteers be coming again.” Mr Sinha added, “This befriending service adds meaning to our clients’ quality of life. I have been SPD for long and I have seen SSA and SPD working together for many years. When the volunteers come, they bring something new for the clients — something that the clients normally won’t have the chance to be engaged in — and that is a very wonderful thing. I look forward to the coming year’s programme with the volunteers.”
With the spirit of cherishing the person in front of them, the SVG volunteers treasure the monthly interaction session with the seniors, doing what they can to bring a smile to their faces.
