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 。