Helping
Hands
Often when you travel
you don’t get the
chance to give back to
the country you are
visiting. International
volunteerism manager
Rebecca Boon looks at
the ways you can help,
as a volunteer tourist
10 AS COTT LIVING
the start of a new year is
always a time to look at self
improvement, whether it’s getting fitter,
learning a new skill or taking the time out
of a busy schedule to give back. Across
the globe there are individuals, villages
and organisations that need help and
support — places where you can make a
real difference.
Volunteering doesn’t necessarily
mean you have to build a village single
handed, you could work as part of a team
to encourage reading, help out at an
orphanage or even teach schoolchildren
valuable handwashing skills.
At the Singapore International
Foundation we see our role as making
friends for a better world. We build
enduring relationships between
Singaporeans, people who live and work
in Singapore and world communities. We
use these friendships to enrich lives and
ultimately to effect positive change.
Our programmes bring people together
to share ideas, skills and experiences in
areas such as healthcare, education, and
environment, arts and culture. We do this
because we believe we all can, and should,
do our part to build a better world
Since 2002, we have sent volunteers
from Singapore on projects across Asia
to uplift and enrich lives. The projects we
run make a real difference to the people
living in these areas.
Water for Life is a signature project of
ours which aims to enhance the quality of
life in rural villages by improving access
to clean drinking water. Having access
to something that many of us take for
granted also helps to reduce the incidence
of water-borne diseases, improve hygiene
and sanitation and enhance livelihood
opportunities.
Words on Wheels is another signature
project which aims to provide school
children and their communities with
access to learning and IT resources,
fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
Volunteering can be rewarding and
even life changing as long as you manage
personal expectations – and be clear about
what you want to get out of the trip.
Wherever the programme be prepared
to be flexible and adaptable – you’ll
need to adapt to local food, behaviour,
culture and living conditions that are very
different from those you enjoy at home.
It’s also important to be culturally
sensitive — know the history of the
country you are visiting and be aware of
sensitivities e.g. Cambodians and their
reactions to the civil war It’s always a
good idea to read up about the country
you are visiting , the organisation you are
volunteering with and the implementing
partner for the project in that country and
if you’re volunteering for something you’re
unfamiliar with it’