by Putri Sorfina, 14
Ms Nurul Aini Binte Abdul Hamed, 26, started volunteering in Taman Jurong when she was 14 years old.
Her then-form teacher from Yuan Ching Secondary School had asked her to sign up as a volunteer to read some books to children.
It turned out to be the Gift of Reading programme, and from then on, Ms Aini started volunteering regularly - so regularly that she is now the programme coordinator, looking after other volunteers.
She didn't stop there. Ms Aini also took on roles in the Community, Arts and Culture Committee (CACC) and the Malay Activity Executive Committee (MAEC). For CACC, she organises the PassionArts Festival, an annual art event in Taman Jurong, and was also involved in community art projects like Our Gallery @ TJ. For MAEC, she has a hand in events like “Bulan Bahasa”, and helps lead the youth volunteers.
With so much on her plate, her volunteering schedule is ever-changing. “It’s not consistent; there is no fixed day for my volunteering work,” Ms Aini shared. She added that over time, volunteering has become a priority for her. She would plan out her day and volunteering is simply a part of her day to day schedule.
Volunteering is not always smooth sailing and Ms Aini explained that she had experienced a fair share of challenges too.
Some examples she shared are how she has to work with people from different backgrounds, and always having to ensure that both programme participants and volunteers are comfortable, happy, and benefit from spending their time in their programme. For arts events, she learnt to work with art teachers and other stakeholders to plan the events so that everyone - even those who find art boring - would enjoy them.
It may seem like a lot of work and a huge time commitment for Ms Aini, who also works full-time and studies part-time. But she takes it in her stride and enjoys every moment. “I take every experience and every day as a good one. When you start volunteering since you are young, it becomes a way of life,” Ms Aini said.
She also added that her life would not be the same if she did not volunteer. “If I wasn’t volunteering, I can’t think of anything else I’d do. I’ve been volunteering for almost half my life.”
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