INTERVIEW | LUMEN
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human good . ‘ It is heartwarming ‘, she remarked of the individuals who have come forward to support the drive . When SJI publicised the Data Card Drive to the school community , she received a healthy response from both teachers and students . The National University Hospital doctor she liaises with to supply data cards to the migrant workers who are patients at the hospital had told her , “ They really like your data cards , of all the gifts they have received .” These different forms of encouragement spurred her to complete the marathon .
Valerie was one of the two who responded when the appeal by CYC clothing company was posted on Managebac on 12 April for students to contribute to their cause – sewing 300 masks for our migrant workers . In the end , she was the only student from SJI contacted by the company .
Armed with her sewing skills from her primary school days ( tote bags and stuffed toys were the result of her handiwork ), she was ready to advance to the sewing machine for the project . The timing was perfect . Her mother had purchased a sewing machine recently , and had sewn masks to distribute to family and friends . Despite the factors in her favour , Valerie still had her apprehensions . She was not sure if she would be adept at using the sewing machine and could meet the target of 300 masks in 10 days .
Fortunately , this Creativity , Activity and Service experience ended being a family endeavour . While , her mother became her biggest cheerleader motivating her to persevere , her father and two younger siblings rallied round her too . The family of five would gather in the evenings to cut the cloth needed for the masks .
Valerie admitted that sewing the masks was challenging . It was mundane , rigorous , and backbreaking . Moreover , she was juggling Home Based Learning ( HBL ) and assignments with sewing at night . Meeting the personal quota set at 30 masks a day was always at the back of her mind , as she wanted to ensure she would be able to produce the requisite number on the tenth day . Although , she eventually met her target on the 13 th day ( CYC needed time to send someone to collect the masks ), she is glad she completed the project .
She reflected , ‘ Everybody has different skills , I ’ m just glad I can use my skills to help someone instead of for myself ,’ and adds that at the end of such an experience , it is ‘ a bonus if I can benefit and bless someone too .’
Although Annemarie was the other respondent to the CYC appeal , the company did not contact her . Nonetheless , she is glad she was able to continue facilitating the lessons for the Lakeside ’ s Reading Intervention Services for children after the Circuit Breaker was enforced .
Prior to the Circuit Breaker , she had already spent time with her charge , a six-year-old boy to teach him how to read . Why did she want to serve in this area ? ‘ As a child , I struggled with learning how to read and would often mix up words myself . I thought that volunteering with this programme would be a meaningful way for me to give back to the wider community and to help kindergartenaged children learn how to read , which would open opportunities for them when they enter primary school in a few years .’
She had to adapt to changes when lessons resumed in May . Instead of meeting her charge in person , she met him virtually via Zoom and on top of that , his 4-year-old sister joined the lessons . Lessons also had to be modified accordingly . The duration per lesson is shorter and adjustments have to be made to the tactile aspect where students could trace and feel letters and textures . The online lessons are reminiscent of HBL except the tables have turned . Now , Annemarie is the teacher , not the student . Her first online lesson was encouraging as her student , the older sibling , recognised her and excitedly acknowledged her to his sibling . Despite having to think fast on her feet due to unforeseen technical difficulties in the initial ten minutes of the lesson , Annemarie takes it in her stride .
When asked about her sentiments regarding her contribution thus far , she said , ‘’ I ’ m very blessed to be able to make a difference in the lives of these children ,’ amid a seemingly bleak backdrop of COVID-19 . “ I think seeing their smiles and hearing their cheerful ‘ See you next week , Teacher ’ has really encouraged me and I ’ m glad that I ’ ve been able to make a difference in their lives , no matter how small it may be .”
Their desire to serve the community unites Janelle , Valerie and Annemarie . They do not know each other but each has articulated a similar sentiment : they are blessed to be able to do so .
Facing page ( clockwise from left ): Data Card Drive publicity on ItsRainingRaincoats FB page , Janelle and the stack of data cards , screen shot of WhatsApp message
This page ( top left ): Family bonding through mask making project
This page ( top left , inset ): The cheerful mask maker
This page ( Bottom ): Annemarie preparing for an online reading lesson