MSF launches festival to spotlight volunteers, encourage Singaporeans to give back
It is being held over four weekends in July in the heartland
THE Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has launched Volunteer Festival 2024 (VFest) to celebrate volunteers and recognise their contributions to social services, as well as to inspire Singaporeans to give back.
As part of MSF’s Year of Celebrating Volunteers, the inaugural event will feature booths at community hubs in the heartland. The move allows potential volunteers, social service agencies and partners to network.
VFest is being held over four weekends in July around Singapore. It kicked off at Our Tampines Hub on Saturday (Jul 6) and focused on empowering persons with disabilities. The following weekends will each focus on specific themes as well: strengthening families, helping low-income families and supporting at-risk youth.
Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli, who launched the festival officially on Sunday, said: “We are building an ecosystem to enable sustained and meaningful volunteering efforts.”
The event comes after the National Giving Study 2023 by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, which revealed that while overall volunteering rates have increased, Singaporeans are spending fewer hours volunteering and also giving less money.
One key aspect of VFest is spotlighting volunteers through fireside chats and a “human library”, where they share their experiences. VFest also encourages people to give back, by featuring experiential stations where people can learn about communities in need.
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Masagos also highlighted the role that companies play. “Many companies continue to do what’s good for business, while making sure that the benefits flow into the community and to society.”
For example, DBS allows all employees to take two days of volunteer leave, and has a central platform for them to find opportunities. It also has awards for volunteers, and encourages employees to share their stories to inspire others.
Monica Datta, executive director at DBS and team lead (fostering inclusion) at DBS Foundation, said: “By enabling and equipping our people to give back to society – that’s the way we feel that we can truly embody what it means to be people of purpose… This sense of being part of an organisation that is purpose-driven, and having a sense of meaning, is something that many (employees) hold close to their hearts.”
Adeline Kwok, director of communications and engagement at MSF, noted: “Corporates can establish a culture that values community engagement and volunteerism, starting with a leadership that actively promotes and participates in volunteer initiatives. By walking the talk, staff will be encouraged to start volunteering too.”
On an individual level, volunteering provides satisfaction and teaches empathy. One volunteer is Aziah Salim, 54, who has worked with former addicts, prisoners, and at-risk children and families. She started volunteering because she was curious about different causes, and has learnt about empathy in her 18 years as a volunteer.
Aziah said: “As time went by, I realised that I have the passion to communicate with people and have the heart to be able to understand their situation.”
She currently works as a child protective service volunteer under the MSFCare Network, which comprises family-centric programmes.
Another volunteer is Helen Lu, 56, who works with the Enabling Services Hub to support persons with disabilities. Aside from volunteering weekly, she is a caregiver to her husband, who has a physical disability and also volunteers.
Lu said that being a full-time caregiver is “not an easy job”, but her time volunteering is “well-spent and fruitful”.
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