Volunteers share their experience and reasons for volunteering

The Lighthouse Drop-In Centre recently had Dutch volunteers, Ben and Desiree, offering their services at the centre. On February 7, the couple gave a talk organized by the LH Bright Sparks. Thirty volunteers attended the talk.

Mar 20, 2015

By Aaron Lim & Margaret Yoong
The Lighthouse Drop-In Centre recently had Dutch volunteers, Ben and Desiree, offering their services at the centre. On February 7, the couple gave a talk organized by the LH Bright Sparks. Thirty volunteers attended the talk.

Before the session began, Margaret Yoong, as the Care Coordinator of Bright Sparks learning centre, thanked everyone for being present, and also Ben and Desiree for sharing their time. They introduced themselves as volunteers who had been in Ghana for eight years to help the poor and underprivileged children. It was a great leap of faith for them to leave their comfortable environment and step into an alien surrounding with nothing, to help the needy children.

Desiree shared on the tough experiences that she had to face in the field work in Ghana. They were managing a learning centre when it was taken away by the local authorities. Finally, after a year, they managed to rebuild it. They also managed a skill training centre where they taught the young girls sewing and hair dressing so that they could earn their own income. These girls would be given an area from which to operate their businesses on the payment of a minimum fee.

Many were curious as to how they could continue to carry out the voluntary work for so long. Ben replied that it was the passion and love they had for these young children that drew them to persevere through challenging times, in order to help the children attain a better life. He mentioned that when one wants to help someone, one needs to “teach them how to fish, instead of just giving them the fish.”

There was also a brief sharing where participants gave their feedback on the gains and losses of being a volunteer. Many said that it is through losing something that you gain better things in life such as love, compassion and humility. Ben acknowledged the good work done by The Lighthouse and Bright Sparks and he encouraged more volunteers to step forward to share their time, skills and talent with the needy.

The sessions ended with a lunch at The Lighthouse.

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