Our Reflections

I feel that everything has gone beyond my expectations; it started abruptly though. With the initial obstacle while finding an organization to work with for the ITABS module, I forecasted that there would be more problems coming. I remembered feeling extremely excited and nervous when AWWA first agreed for the visit. I was excited because it means that my project could be completed and nervous, for the wrong impression about the kind of elderly in a community home.

Nonetheless, of course, I was proven wrong for the biased impression I had of them. I felt a little ashamed after interacting and playing games with them for a few hours. I felt excited when AWWA agreed for the set-up of the computer room proposed by us though I did not know how I was going to do it. None of us were really IT expert. But things turn out smoothly and beyond expectations. We also stumbled on the English lesson, which we decided to bring it back since there were some elderly who had voiced out that they enjoy it. Everything turned out to be, luckily, not what I had predicted.

The laughter and smile that they gave to us are the little gifts that we take from them in return.


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It is through PBL that my group and I came to know about AWWA community home for the elderly. The first thing that went straight into my head was questions such as “will it be difficult to communicate with them?” since the impression I had about them are that they are a group of grouchy people. But, I was proven wrong. During our first visit there, we get to know more about the home, its way of functioning and the types of facilities and activities that are available for the elderly. The elderly turn out to be different from my impression. They were very friendly and sociable.

We were given the opportunity to set up the half furbished computer room during our first visit and the idea of giving IT lessons to the elderly started forming in our heads. During our next visit, we thought of more activities that we can do with the elderly. We started planning about it. I am very excited to be able to play a part in doing something for the elderly.

Through the interactions we had with them, it made me reflect a lot. I feel that most youngsters have some misconceptions about the elderly.

One good example will be about the myths that elderly nags a lot. I beg to differ as I feel that this is one way for them to attract their families’ attention as they are lonely. I also think that the elderly are a nice group of people to work with.

Firstly, they can share lots of experiences with us, thus increasing our knowledge. They are nice people who will laugh and talk to us, unlike some who says that they are unreasonable and never laugh.

Also, seeing the happiness of their faces when we interact with them really makes me feel accomplished and motivated to contribute more in bringing happiness to their lives. They deserve happiness much like any of us and should be given a chance to age gracefully.

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It has been an exhilarating journey so far, though we are only halfway there. If you asked me a few months back, I would never have thought I would be so deeply involved and attached to an organisation. Now after embarking on these two projects, there is always much to reflect everytime we visit the organisation.

Hearing the qualms and story the elderly have to share, seeing them idling their time away, all these left a huge imapact on me. I wanted to make their lives more meaningful, at least for the remaining years they have left on earth. Comparing them to my grandparents, I feel that our grandparents are lucky; at least my grandpa and grandma have kins to talk to, support them, and rely on. The senior citizens do not deserve to live in loneliness, and it is only right for us to give them the care, love and warmth they have missed all these years.

I feel their agony when they talk about how their children abandon them, how their only kins left earlier then them. Sometimes, all they need is for people to care about them. They need people to share their laughters with. And this project do just it. We reach out to them - and hopefully, after undergoing the lessons, they will feel that they are closer to the society, and realise that there are actually people who are concerned enough, willing to set aside time for them.

Like what many advertisements love to put, "a smile can make a difference", and I hope that with the two proposals we have come up will be a brushstroke of colour on the grey, barren canvas their lives have become.

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Through the projects in Ngee Ann Polytechnics, I am able to know more about different organisations and their services.

The first time I went to AWWA, I did not really expect much. However, after subsequent sessions and interactions with the workers and the elderly there, we find that even as youths, we can contribute and play a part even in an elderly setting place.

Activities like befriending and even playing games can actually make the elderly there happy the whole day.

Although it is tough to hold a game session and talking to elderly who speak different dialects, I find myself enjoying with them and feel that the time spent is worthwhile.