PCS RUNS THE COMMUNITY BEFRIENDING PROGRAMME
in five constituencies : Tampines West , Geylang Serai , Serangoon , Bt Timah and Potong Pasir . The goal of the programme is to engage seniors as befrienders to reach out and befriend other seniors who are identified as socially isolated and needing support .
Looking down at the carpark from level 2 , I saw a heart warming sight of a familiar man strolling back to the HDB block with a man on wheelchair . They were smiling and seemingly chatting happily , much like a father-‐son interaction … When Mr Victor Leong , 62 , first joined as a Befriender in Evergreen Seniors Activity Centre , the place was rather foreign to him . Or rather , he was ‘ foreign ’ to the seniors who have been visiting the centre for years . Being an introvert himself , Victor had to switch his hat to a befriending role and become “ verbose ”, as he described himself . In a requested 5 minutes chat with him to hear about his befriending experience , Victor shared how the relationship developed between him and his new friends ( or Befriendees ).
In an interesting recount , he shared about a senior ( Uncle Tan ) who often looked surly and grim , usually non-‐participative , and responded not more than a nod when being greeted . Now , Uncle Tan is an avid carrom player , whom has grown so comfortable with the group to often dominate the game .
On sharing tips on how to be a befriender , Victor candidly said that “ you cannot be yourself ! If I had been my usual personality , I would be quiet and probably appear unapproachable , at least not until I have warmed up ”. Adding on , he explained , it was more about being congruent within yourself-‐ to say what you mean , and mean what you say . For instance , not saying you are free to chat when you are preoccupied with other urgent matters .
The 5 minutes chat turned 15 minutes , indeed he was “ verbose ” as he said . It might have continued if it was not positively interrupted by a lady who came in to ask him out
for lunch . He politely declined due to a prior lunch appointment , and said he got to run for the appointment .
While I was having lunch at the nearby coffeeshop , an uncle on his motorised wheelchair navigated through the narrow space between my chair and the table behind . “ Over here !” he waved excitedly to his friend who arrived shortly . That friend was none other than Victor . As I took another scoop of my Teo Chew porridge , I recalled the sight from level 2 earlier on …
Nuff said . Perhaps I did not have to hear from him , but just see for myself . Mr Victor Leong had developed good rapport and bonding with his befriendees . The ice has broken .
“ I encourage all befrienders to be a friend , and not take it as a task to be done . Befriendee can sense it when you are doing it as a job . That creates a gap in the befriending relationship ” -Mr Victor Leong , befriender , Tampines West
If you know of any senior in these constituencies needing befriending , or if you are interested to be a befriender and living in one of these constituencies , please contact : xiuyong @ pcs . org . sg or tristan @ pcs . org . sg .
社区益友计划专为独居或孤立长者而设 。 每两个星期友伴者会到指定的长者家去探访并慰问他们 。
我们在五个社区提供这项服务 : 淡滨尼西 CBPtw @ pcs . org . sg / 67866826 实 笼 岗 CBPsg @ pcs . org . sg / 83391562 芽笼士乃 CBPgs @ pcs . org . sg / 83547303 波东巴西 CBPpp @ pcs . org . sg / 62889674 武吉知马 CBPbt @ pcs . org . sg / 64634596
若有兴趣加入友伴者义工队或知道有长者需要我们的服务 , 请和我们联系 。