Different Strokes, Different Lives

University education is about nurturing the whole person through learning and living. To the NUS Students' Union Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC), this nurturing process reaches out beyond their own, touching people who are often looked upon as social outcasts. For their compassionate ways, the committee won first prize in the Rotary Club's Students Community Service Awards 2001.

Mervyn Sek, then NVAC Chairman, in his moment of glory with Dr Lily Neo, Member of Parliament for Kreta Ayer/Tanglin GRC and member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development and Sports, at the award ceremony on 26 September 2001.

"Lock up the madman! Stay away from the bad boys!"

Not a chance. The NVAC volunteers silence remarks like these as swiftly as they surface, often sounding defensive, preachy at times but always referring to those in their care with affection.

Bobby Tan volunteers at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Woodbridge. This second-year Arts student vehemently dispels notions that Woodbridge residents are "wild-eyed" and "foaming at the mouth". Instead, he speaks fondly of a patient "who has the habit of lifting up a table like a weightlifter and putting it down every few minutes" and another "who likes to ask us his NRIC number."

But just as quickly, he adds, "Generally, they all have their own little quirks, which you would expect from any other person."

The NVAC volunteers at IMH assist with individual nursing and social care. They aim to draw the patients out of their mental hide-aways, and to keep them integrated with society through indoor and outdoor activities. As volunteers, Bobby said, they are the indispensable emotional and communication link between the patients and society.

	He ain't heavy; he's my brother. NVAC volunteers at the Moral Welfare Home.

Communication, it seems, is the volunteers' priority. Another NVAC volunteer, Clara Feng, goes the extra mile to be contactable at her private number by the boys under her care. "Her boys", as she affectionately calls them, are from the Boys' Town, Assumption Vocational Institute. Most come from troubled family backgrounds, but none are dangerous.

"It is just a small gesture to let them know that their "elder sister" is always contactable and that my role is not just limited to our Wednesday sessions," she explained.

"Patience, patience, patience!"

- Clara Feng,
when quizzed about how she
handles boys who are indifferent.

According to this first-year Law undergrad, most NVAC volunteers at Boys' Town are girls. Being a female did not deter her from volunteering as a friend and tutor. "It really does not matter where you volunteer, since the community will gain a nett benefit."

A swinging good time for a child from MINDS Guillemard.

Like Bobby, Clara feels that there are many social misconceptions about the people they work with. Community work, she feels, should not be limited to social workers as every member of society has a responsibility towards the community. Both advocate keeping an open mind towards the less-fortunate.

Beyond IMH and Boys' Town, NVAC is also volunteering at the Moral Welfare Home, Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) Guillemard, MINDS Yio Chu Kang, and National University Hospital. Those interested can visit the committee's website at: http://www.nussu.org/~nvac/ or email them at: nvac@email.com