March 21, 2024

Volunteering can be done in myriad ways – helping out at local non-profits, participating in community events, or even championing social causes. Singaporeans are encouraged to volunteer at various times in their lives, from participating in the Values in Action (VIA) programme in schools to contributing to their workplaces’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

In ‘Morning Shot: How often do you volunteer? Well, volunteering may boost your happiness!’ (MONEY FM 89.3, March 2024), Zheng Liren (NUS Social Work and Academic Director, NUS Communities and Engagement Pillar) is interviewed by Emaad Akhtar about the various advantages of volunteering, not only in terms of societal benefit but also in self-development and improving volunteer well-being.

Zheng discusses the ‘Impact of Volunteering Survey’, a recent survey from the National Heritage Board (NHB), where the results indicated that the act of volunteering was significantly related to higher wellbeing in regular volunteers. This is due to volunteering having a positive impact on one’s self-development, through the fulfillment of altruistic tendencies, opportunities to learn new skills, meaningful social interaction, and expanded cultural awareness.

Zheng also discusses the Reconnect SeniorsSG programme, a year-long service learning course jointly offered by NUS and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), where students are trained to befriend and support vulnerable seniors. He explains how the students have a deep impact on the seniors’ mental and physical health through these meaningful engagements. He also emphasizes the need for emphatic communication between the volunteers and the seniors, and for volunteers to evaluate their motivations towards volunteering to ensure their contributions are meaningful and sustainable.

Get the podcast here.