On the 4th of August 2012, the School of Engineering students visited the SWAMI Nursing Home as part of the Service Learning project. This is the 2nd year the SEG School has engaged in the Service Learning project at SWAMI. 31 Students across different diplomas including Diploma in Industrial and Operations Management, Diploma in Supply Chain Management and one student from Diploma in Information Technology (SOI) participated in this project.
Before the actual day, students attended meetings to prepare the activities that are supposed to be planned for the elderly and we have been assigned to different posts too.
Teams including:
• Emcee Team
• Video Team (To prepare a short clip about the Singapore history)
• Jigsaw Puzzle Team (Made up of Singapore’s hot spots)
• Photography and Reporter Team
• Map Decoration Team
are being formed and these teams have contributed to the project by working efficiently and diligently.
The arrival of the actual day got all of us excited and anticipated for the trip to SWAMI. All students gathered at block W1 forum at 8.30am and we were briefed about the schedule by our emcee team before we head off to the SWAMI Nursing Home.
When we arrived at the SWAMI Nursing Home, we immediately made our way to the hall and we saw a group of elderly already at the hall whom seem like they are already awaiting for our arrival. As majority of the elderly are wheel bounded, staff and student volunteers have to help them to the activity area and in the midst of moving them over, some students encountered some really cheerful and interesting elderly!
Starting off the whole event with the Jigsaw Puzzle BINGO! game definitely broke the ice between the students and the elderly. In tune to the theme of 2012 Singapore National Day Parade “Loving Singapore, Our Home”, puzzle pictures included heritage sites, famous food and icons of Singapore, that evoke the warmth and fondness we feel for our country, and the comfort and familiarity of home. Each team was given 2 sets of puzzle of 35 pieces with 2 pieces missing. At the later part of the game, the emcee held a Bingo game where all the missing pieces are in his hands and he will be picking them out randomly (with numbers indicated at the back), and teams with the selected jigsaw puzzle and number at the back will have to shout “Bingo!” and collect the puzzle from the emcee. All the teams participated actively and when the students retrieved the puzzles back from the emcee, they would hand them to the elderly and allow them to try fixing the puzzle themselves.
Teams that managed to retrieve the 2 missing pieces and complete the puzzle first will be the winner, and we have 3 winners for this segment! Other than focusing on completing the Jigsaw Puzzle, the students also took the chance to chat with the elderly and get to know them better; you could hear laughter throughout the game!
Up next was the Map Decoration segment. The rule of this game was to design the Singapore Map within the time limit of 20 minutes. Each team was provided with cardboards, newspapers, magazines, markers, containers and other recycled materials, and that was when all the students and elderly’ creativeness are being put into good use! With pictures like the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, Esplanade etc… being distributed to us and they served as a hint on how we should decorate our Singapore Map. Some teams came up with really creative and impressive designs which eventually led to them in clinching the top 3 prizes!
Lastly was the distribution of goodie bags to the elderly. The moment they received their goodies bags, you could tell from their faces that they are really thankful and grateful for the time we spent on a Saturday with them. There was this elderly who even asked the students if they will be coming back to visit them again next year, and you could tell that the elderly really enjoyed themselves on that day.
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