A Remedy For Apathy

Initiatives organised within the NorthWest changed youths’ mindsets towards volunteerism and the community positively, which are investigated further by Phoebe, Gilliana and Mookambiga.

Community volunteering programmes such as the NorthWest CDC’s WeCare play a vital role in combating apathy and nurturing a spirit of volunteerism in the youths.

A volunteer from the NorthWest CDC distributes goodie bags to residents in the area. Photo by Gilliana Cardenas Palma.

Generation Z has been stereotyped by many to be the laziest and most self-entitled generation to date. A survey conducted by the National Youth Council in 2019 showed that only 14% of Singaporean youths aged 15-24 volunteer regularly. Although these results may suggest that the youths in Singapore are largely apathetic towards their community, the youths in the NorthWest have been reversing this stereotype.

Youths in the NorthWest CDC usually participate in volunteer work because their school made it compulsory. Infographic by Gilliana Cardenas Palma.

Since its launch in 2014, the WeCare @ NorthWest - Service Weeks initiative has spread warmth to NorthWest residents during the festive season. The campaign collaborates with various community and corporate partners to distribute festive care packages containing daily necessities such as coffee powder and instant noodle packets. Some partners may choose to help the needy through other means such as donating home appliances, providing home improvements or organising block parties.

Regent Secondary School students enthusiastically packed goodie bags for WeCare@NorthWest programme, despite Covid-19 disallowing them from directing with vulnerable NorthWest residents directly. Photo courtesy of Regent Secondary School.

One of the community partners the NorthWest CDC has been working today with for several years is Regent Secondary School. This year, Regent’s CCA and student leaders packed over 500 festive care packs to distribute to the needy families within the Limbang neighbourhood. ​ Joi Lin, 16, was among the numerous student volunteers that participated in the packing of festive care packages. “I am more aware of my [privilege] and have developed more empathy for the [vulnerable] residents living in my community,” Joi said. Volunteering with the NorthWest has taught these students more about the vulnerable living amongst them and cultivated a sense of consciousness towards their community. ​ The needy communities living in the NorthWest have felt the direct effects of the students’ contributions. Peh Hui Ning, 15 is a recipient of the festive care package mentioned that “As part of the low-income families living in the NorthWest district, I feel extremely grateful to the volunteers that took time out to extend their care to my family and me,” ​ More than just that, the impact of cultivating these volunteering habits are long-lasting. Past volunteers from the WeCare programme often go on to pursue voluntary work outside of school-mandated Values-In-Actions opportunities. Ying Teng Tan, 17, a past volunteer with WeCare @ NorthWest has continued serving the community even after graduating from secondary school. “My volunteering experiences with the NorthWest CDC has nurtured my passion for the community” Ying Teng expressed. Till today, Ying Teng actively contributes to her community by participating readily whenever a volunteering opportunity is made available.

While NorthWest residents usually rely on community notice boards for the latest happenings within the community, the most popular form of sharing information is through word of mouth. Photograph by Phoebe Yen Chi En.

The NorthWest CDC provides frequent updates about new community events through various platforms such as social media and community noticeboards. These platforms helped to establish a connection between the NorthWest CDC and youths interested in volunteering.

Currently, the most common way residents hear about the NorthWest CDC is through word of mouth. Other platforms such as community notice boards and social media are used to receive the latest updates as well. Infographic by Gilliana Cardenas Palma.

Most youths express frustration at being unable to find any suitable opportunities to volunteer and the lack of time. These are the biggest obstacles faced when youths want to start volunteering outside of school events. However, the NorthWest CDC has made the process of finding a community event to participate in much easier for youths. They offer a wide variety of programmes with ideal arrangement youths can choose from.

With the ample support the NorthWest CDC provides for youth volunteers, they are helping youths prove that empathy prevails. Perhaps the NorthWest CDC is showing us that the new generation is not so apathy after all they just need a willing hand to guide them along their volunteering journey.