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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

# data[].attributes.headline
What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

# data[].attributes.headline
What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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What did you learn over the  past 4 days?

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I learned more about the different complex social issues in Singapore, allowing me to empathise and understand more about the circumstances of people who are like me, but just grew up in a totally different context. I think especially, having representatives from different social causes come to talk about their process and motivations was really inspiring and exposed me to social causes that I didn't even know were prominent, eg. sex workers.

More importantly, I learned how to be a volunteer that is authentic and humble, serving with commitment and the true interests of the community at heart, not your own. I learned about the importance of serving the community based on what they need, not based on whatever assumptions a volunteer might have about their needs going into the project.

Thirdly, I learned more about how volunteerism isn't just one-way. The volunteer too learns so much and grows in empathy, leadership and gains perspective from volunteering, and that's okay! Because for volunteerism to be truly sustainable, it has to go both ways and both parties have to learn from each other and grow together with humility.

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1) Volunteerism
When we get involved we learn to look at life quite differently and we change because we feel invested in these problems. As long as our hearts are in the right place and we try to truly understand the stakeholders' emotions, motivations, needs, that’s a very good start.

But to also be mindful of the context lenses we carry, as well as the huge amount of privilege that we are often unconscious of. But again, speaking to stakeholders will help pull us back.

2) Importance of relationships & people, amidst constant change
Like what Mr Speaker said, How to begin to unlock this idea of making all of us believe in something beyond ourselves [and that though this is a big idea, not to dismiss or underestimate the small things which make this up] —> connected to Yi Jun’s sharing on how Advisory has growed & persevered till today

Culture & values change; relationship & team doesn’t.

Once you have a solid team who’s very invested – who are very willing to go the extra mile and you have a why, even though the how can change, there’s always something that will continue to push the entire team towards a direction that may not be correct right away or it might pivot but its a direction that is authentic and well-placed

3) We are still young, despite lofty expectations, take the opportunity to experience fully, think deeply, and love unabashedly :)

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I learnt to look beneath the surface when exploring issues, and the importance of spending intentional time and energy to actually understand the situation and the perspectives of the stakeholders involved. It is with this holistic understanding that one can think of better ways to address an issue, and be genuine in the approach.

Sometimes people need a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on, before a logical solution. We are there for the long haul.

I learnt the reality of context lens and how these lens significantly shapes our perception of the world and people around us. In the context of service, one should intentionally put himself/herself in the shoes of the target group and decide whether or not the action can achieve its desired outcome - or has the profile of the target group been misinterpreted, where instead of reality, it was just a perception and a misconception.

On a practical front, I learnt that in the volunteering pathway, people may leave in the process, but you should not get disheartened. One is recommended to pursue what he/she believes in, and see it through. Additionally, in the preparation phase, one should scope his/her project well to allow for people to work on it wherever they are.

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I became a lot more aware of the ways different people interact and form relationships, how we come into different situations with differing perspectives and mindsets and how that contributes to our operating within certain set frames or principles that we abide to very strongly. I think it's important to learn to step out of these boundaries and interact in a way that makes each different stakeholder feel valued and contribute more towards the environment as a whole, rather than merely looking at it from individual points of view. Prioritisation here is key, in shaping what we decide to take into account, and that can only come with a deep knowledge of what our purpose is in these endeavours.

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Scope your project well, to allow for people to work on it wherever they are (especially if they are going overseas)

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For me personally, the past 4 days redefined what it means to serve. The biggest takeaway for me personally is the idea of authentic service. Authentic service is one that empowers, connects and organically leads. Authentic service might not be glamorous but hey, the focus of service should be to work on a real need on the ground!

Authenticity also manifested in a realistic understanding of self. Through the four days, I also gained greater insight on how to be a better leader and team mate. Click Colours! and analysing what kind of person I am made me more self aware of my strengths and weaknesses, which in turn can be directed to focus on how I can capitalise on them to bring forth positive impacts.

Authenticity perhaps most importantly, in human connection. I think Speaker's sharing in particular showed me the power of people and the community, which greatly inspires me to actively forge connections with those around me. Be it learning from the people I volunteer for or my teammates, by drawing human connectedness, we can work towards greater sustainability in all that we do.

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Made a reflection wall ourselves will copy everyone's takeaways over later 

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Made a reflection wall ourselves will copy everyone's takeaways over later 

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If you want to view the reflection wall we made can ping jiahui to send!

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My biggest takeaway is to view volunteerism and helping the underprivileged with the appropriate  context lens. To realise that they make the decisions they make based on the cards they are dealt with in life. This has led me to ask myself, how can I make use of the resources I have to do something for others who do not have what I have? I realised that all it takes is small actions but sustained commitment, but also accurately identifying the pressing needs of particular communities as well.

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The past four days have not only clarified the steps necessary in the planning of community projects (e.g., stakeholder engagement sharing - how to differentiate between the levels of commitment to different parties), but also redefined community work as a whole. I used to view community work as a task, something I needed to clear for VIA hours, now I see its value in forming close personal relationships with the beneficiaries.

Also, another concept I have taken away is the importance of context. Before the specialist sharing by Tamar village, I used to look down on sex workers just for the nature of their work. Now I understand that they are merely victims of circumstance and should be viewed as equals, if not more for their courage.

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be committed and realistic in your approach towards the projects

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The past 4 days have been really eye-opening in encouraging me to challenge my biases, and is a reminder that volunteering is not a feel-good thing: it requires sustained commitment, and a searching for a higher calling on it.

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1. Community service is a commitment, not just another thing that we add to our overcrowded plate

2. Community service isn’t the only way to change things (there’s policy making too), but it makes a big difference to be on the ground making personal impacts that your policies cannot reach

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to be grounded and to constantly reevaluate our views

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There are a lot of difficulties and conflicts when it comes to governance and community leadership, so the most important thing to do is to build a relationship and a foundation of trust with the community around us

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Don't underestimate the power of ducks
1) Hardworking
2) Inclusivity
3) Adaptability

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I gained insights into causes I was interested in, and learnt how to see things from a different perspective other than my own.

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to be vulnerable, open, authentic and genuine with others, to foster deeper and more meaningful bonds
to always be aware of our privilege
to always keep our purpose in mind

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How to create a project that is sustainable, and far-reaching impacts

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To empathize better, understand people deeper so that I can serve others better. Understand myself better too, and constantly work on myself

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the core of any project should be its people. The people that are on that journey with you, the people that you are serving, the people that are going to be with you throughout that journey. Regardless of your colour type, whether you are task or people orientated, the why of what you do, your purpose is what will drive you forward in times of hardship and uncertainty

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I have gained a deeper understanding of the different communities in Singapore, especially the rather forgotten communities like children of incarcerated parents, victims of family abuse, and sex workers. Despite less attention being placed on them, they are still part of our community, and that we need to recognise that so we can all play a part to support these communities with the greater knowledge gained. For example, in terms of family violence, it is often difficult to identify the victims. However, the awareness of such an issue can make us more vigilant and can better identify the victims to help break the silence and stop the cycle.

I have also learned much more about the different leadership styles there are. As we work with different groups of people, we may need to step up or step back at different times and we will also have to embrace the diversity of each group. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses, and it is only by working together can we use our strengths to counterbalance our weaknesses and emerge stronger together. Furthermore, I have learned more about myself and my values and biases. It made me realise that as we volunteer and give, we will also receive and learn more about ourselves.

The poverty simulation also gave me a very deep insight into the realities of poverty in Singapore. The simulation has allowed me to better understand that the "safety nets" the government has put into place may not always be sufficient and the increasing income gap is made up of a plethora of reasons (e.g. time poverty, glass ceiling in the workplace, etc). It was very thought-provoking as it allowed me to truly understand why the poverty problem is very difficult to solve. It is a multi-faceted problem that requires the entire community to work together.

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1. There is always more than what meets the eye (peoples background, things they have been through, family circumstance), things always seem easy to solve, but there are a lot of moving parts and stakeholders
2. Community Needs Analysis, we should always dig into the situation on the ground, what exactly needs to be addressed
3. Everyone case is unique, there isn't a one solution fits all (cookie cutter approach nono)

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1. the importance of community needs analysis + how to leverage existing resources in the community
2. step back leadership + the way to build an effective team
3. the counter-productive nature of applying a lens of moral judgement to volunteer work
(4. how much one’s 🤬 will hurt after sitting down for 8 hours straight ;-;)

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1. Importance of connections. This includes issues - taking broader perspectives to understand how issues influence one another, and people - recognising shared humanity in the 'other'.
2. For service to be sustainable, we must be willing to not just give, but also take (through learning, observing and reflecting)
3. Look beyond numbers and stats! Never forget the importance of understanding individual stories/circumstances - they are unique.

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1. Opened my eyes to the various groups in Singapore that may be in need of help but awareness on them may not be sufficient

2. Analysing needs of the community is crucial in helping effectively

3. Working with community partners and various stakeholders in developing a project

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1. Understanding yourself is the prerequisite to empathising effectively, and thereby working together with diverse groups of people.
2. Those who are in difficult situations (e.g. sex workers, low-income) are often beset by overlapping/compounding factors. It's not as simple as solving one root problem for them.
3. It's natural and good to learn things from service as well - to receive just as much/even more as you give.

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1. Needs analysis is KEY. We cannot assume that we are helping others when we fail to understand their needs and appropriately work towards solving them.

2. We must be mindful of how we frame issues, for it determines how we understand it as well as how we approach it.

3. A better understanding of vulnerable communities.

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1. People stuck in the poverty cycle are not there by choice, it can be really hard to break out of the poverty cycle when every little misfortune impacts their family disproportionately

2. Volunteering helps to create a more inclusive society, not just by benefitting various at-risk groups but also by encouraging greater empathy and understanding

3. Raising awareness is the first step to carrying out any form of change. We can't change or improve what we can't see or understand

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1. Balance is key (personal development, working with others, leadership etc.).

2. Our own implicit biases, worldviews and perspectives color our view on social issues. To break through this and gain a deeper understanding of social issues, listen & talk to others and actively attempt to understand new perspectives.

3. How to better run an organisation (from Advisory's sharing)

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Learnt a lot more about myself and being more self-aware.

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the importance of perspectives when working with different people, especially people who come from vastly different backgrounds. also revealed new areas in Singapore that I've never really thought about before. and overall really showed me how people are at the core, be it the importance of unity for the success of a country or a community that looks beyond one's own need to create the uplifting society for the future generation and reverse any cracks in our society.

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run projects based on actual needs and find collaboration of there are existing projects to better utilize the resources.
The importance of everyone's part in contributing to the society.

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i learnt that it is important to set out on a project not just for the sake of it but

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One key takeaway I have gotten is to allow myself to be open to challenging my own preconceived notions or judgements - be it on communities like roughsleepers or on issues like volunteerism and income inequality. I have also come to understand the importance of unity, what is at stake when there is disunity and how we can play our part, through volunteerism or otherwise, to build a more inclusive, united and sustainable Singapore.

These 4 days have also reinforced my understanding that people should always be at the core of whatever we do, be it as volunteers, policymakers or public servants, and that empathy is key to building trust and connections with the ground.