Singapore :: Doulos Hope crew care for the elderly
Doulos Hope’s crew recently teamed up with local organisation, Chinatown Active Ageing Centre, that regularly plans activities and outings for approximately 300 seniors in the area and care for their everyday needs.
A current technical stop in Singapore, for ship engine repairs, provided the perfect opportunity to partner together, as well as allow new crewmembers to experience working with the onshore community in what is known among crew as a Connect-Day, for the very first time.
Programme Coordinator Mr. Sim shared that the purpose of the centre is to help seniors lead healthier lifestyles. They encourage them to do so by bringing the activities to them, which helps the elderly people feel less lonely at home and know that someone is caring for them.
During the visits, Doulos Hope crewmembers spent time helping in the homes of the elderly people, including by cleaning their windows.
Mr Sim shared, “The volunteers brought a lot of happiness. Most of the seniors here are very lonely and cannot go anywhere due to reduced mobility. Very seldom, next of kin cannot come and visit them. When we visit, they feel that someone is there to talk with them.”
Crewmember Marcelo (Peru), shared that it was his very first time helping on a community day and enjoyed connecting with the local people in Singapore. “Cleaning the windows was a small thing for us, but was a big thing for the people we helped.”
Mr Sim continued, “They had requested this cleaning for quite a long time, so today when you all came and did it for them, they were very happy. It was more than a year since anyone had cleaned their windows for them because there were not enough volunteers. They kept on saying, “Thank you, thank you. You are so nice, that you cleaned my house…” and their faces said it too as they smiled.