From Passion to Action: The Transformative Power of Youth Volunteerism in Singapore
Faridah Mohd Saad
30 Jan 2024
10 min read
INTRODUCTION/
In 2020, psychologists Adam Waytz and Wilhelm Hofmann embarked on a study with a fundamental question at its core: Does focusing on oneself or others contribute more to happiness?
During the study, 263 American participants received instructions on their smartphone daily for 10 days, to perform one of three activities:
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Moral Deeds: One group was assigned to engage in moral deeds such as giving to charity or helping someone else;//
Moral Thoughts: One group had to think "moral thoughts" such as thinking about someone else or hoping for someone else's success;//
Treat Yourself: One group had to do something kind for themselves (such as relaxing or treating themselves to a nice meal).//
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Each night, participants filled out surveys of their happiness, life satisfaction, sense of purpose in life and how connected they felt to others.
The findings? The Moral Deeds Group reported higher scores on a range of well-being measures than the Moral Thoughts Group and both reported higher scores than the Treat Yourself Group. Those caring for others actively felt a greater purpose in life and a sense of control. They were also the only ones who felt less anger and social isolation.
The bottom line is that focusing more on service to others and less on yourself and your desires will make you happier and one of the most accessible ways to do so is to volunteer.
Volunteering, an act of giving without expecting financial gain, is a global movement involving 862.4 million people monthly, with Asia and the Pacific leading the way.
References
1.United Nations Volunteers. (2022). State of the World’s Volunteerism Report: Building Equal and Inclusive Societies./[]
How does Singapore fit into this narrative? This article delves into the landscape of volunteerism in Singapore, focusing on youth engagement and the specific context of the Malay/Muslim community.
SINGAPORE'S VOLUNTEERISM TRAJECTORY/
Singapore’s volunteerism rate soared from 9% in 2000 to its highest of 35% in 2016, prompting the SG Cares movement’s launch in 2017.2 In 2018, then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Development, Grace Fu, laid out an ambitious target to double the volunteerism rate to 70% in 5 years.3
The SG Cares movement, championed by the SG Cares Office and co-led by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and the National Council of Social Services (NCSS), aimed to promote active volunteerism, ground-up efforts and everyday acts of care. The movement invested in three core areas – building structures for coordinated volunteerism, uplifting volunteer management capabilities and providing everyone with a convenient way to volunteer. SG Cares Volunteer Centres (VCs) were established in each town in Singapore to coordinate grassroots-level volunteering opportunities. The SG Cares mobile app and website were also launched to provide residents with a seamless way to seek opportunities to volunteer depending on their requirements (duration, location, causes, etc.).
However, despite significant efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted progress, causing the volunteerism rate to dip to 22%, as reported in the Individual Giving Study 2021, conducted by NVPC.
YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM: A BRIGHT SPARK/
There is, however, one bright spark. Consistently outpacing national rates, school-age youths (15-24 years) have shown remarkable volunteerism participation, over 40% in 2018, encouraged by initiatives like Values in Action (VIA) and the Community Involvement Programme (CIP).Youth Corp Singapore (YCS)
Recognising the power and potential of youth, Youth Corps Singapore was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth. Today, under the National Youth Council, YCS is mandated to empower and support youths aged 15 to 35 to ignite positive change in society through community service. It provides wide-ranging volunteering opportunities both locally (through partnerships with various charities and social service agencies) and overseas. Youths can volunteer for a variety of causes from befriending the elderly, eco-awareness, mentoring etc. In recent years, it has shifted its focus to supporting youth community leaders, building capabilities to kick-start their own ground-up movements and initiatives. Today, it boasts 32,000 members who have collectively served 1.2 million service hours (as of December 2020).
ALL-ROUND POSITIVE IMPACT/
Volunteerism goes beyond altruism; it offers personal and societal benefits. Volunteers gain skills, form social connections and contribute to a more cohesive society. In a 2022 statement to CNA on International Volunteer Day celebrated on 5 December, Ms Charis Chan, director of global engagement for the Singapore Red Cross, emphasises the vital role of volunteers, noting that 80% of their programmes are run by dedicated volunteers.4
At the societal level, volunteering fosters social cohesion and strengthens the fabric of communities. Volunteers often play a crucial role in building bridges across diverse groups, promoting understanding and creating a sense of shared responsibility. In turn, we have a more resilient and connected society, reducing instances of social isolation.
Volunteerism is therefore a strategic investment for any government. It augments the government's efforts in addressing social issues and community needs. By harnessing the power of volunteers, governments can extend the reach and impact of their programmes, maximising resources and creating a more comprehensive support system.
CHALLENGES OF YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM/
While the youth demographic stands as a beacon in Singapore’s volunteerism landscape, it is not without its challenges. Addressing these hurdles is crucial for ensuring sustained engagement and maximising the positive impact of youth volunteerism.
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Limited Time Availability: One of the primary challenges in attracting and retaining youth volunteers is their constrained time availability. Juggling academic responsibilities, co-curricular activities (CCAs) and sometimes part-time jobs, youths find themselves with limited time to engage in volunteer work. The competing commitments often result in deprioritising volunteer work. Organisations aiming to harness the enthusiasm of young volunteers must recognise and adapt to their busy schedules.//
Lack of Experience and Skills: Youth volunteers may lack the experience and skills required for certain types of volunteer work. Enthusiasm to contribute may be present, but the realisation that specific roles demand substantial training can be a deterrent. For instance, a young volunteer eager to counsel victims of abuse might discover the need for extensive training to effectively engage in meaningful interactions. While not insurmountable, addressing this challenge requires additional time and commitment from youths to acquire the necessary skill sets.//
Motivation and Commitment: Youths, in their self-discovery phase, are exploring causes and experiences that matter to them. Their evolving priorities and interests make it challenging to maintain a consistent level of engagement. The volunteer experience might not always align with their expectations, leading to a dissonance that can be hard to address. Organisations must be attuned to the dynamic nature of youths' interests, offering varied and flexible opportunities that cater to their changing motivations.//
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LOOKING AHEAD: STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT/
The above challenges are universal, but organisations working with youth volunteers could proactively address them. Several key trends can be embraced to bolster youth volunteering and overcome these challenges.
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Digital Engagement: Recognising that today's youths are digital natives, organisations should leverage social media, online platforms and digital tools to engage and communicate with young volunteers. While the essence of volunteering is most rewarding in physical settings, non-core aspects of the experience such as recruitment, onboarding and certain training components can be moved online for convenience.//
Micro-volunteering: Youths are drawn to organisations that offer The rise of micro-volunteering, where individuals can contribute by completing specific tasks in a short amount of time, aligns with the preferences of youths. Organisations should resize volunteering opportunities to attract both ‘drop-in’ types and those with a higher bandwidth to take on more significant roles on a project basis.//
Skill-Based Volunteering: /Acknowledging that many youth volunteers seek opportunities to develop specific skills, organisations can design roles that align with these Offering meaningful experiences that contribute to personal and professional growth to apply and develop specific skills, contributing to both personal and societal advancement.//
Impact Measurement and Transparency: /Youth volunteers value transparency regarding the impact of their contributions. Organisations should communicate the outcomes of volunteer efforts, demonstrating how individual contributions contribute to the overall mission. Treating volunteers as stakeholders and sharing data points on the impact adds to their sense of belonging and motivation.//
Training and Development Opportunities: To retain youth volunteers, organisations must offer training and skill development opportunities. Recognising that skills acquisition was a motivating factor for their initial volunteering providing in-house programmes or tapping on external resources like NCSS or YCS can dedicate development opportunities.//
Supporting Ground-Up Movements: Resourcing ground-up initiatives where youths come together informally to address causes they care about is crucial. These create a culture of self-reliance and empowerment, especially among youths who are deeply invested or impacted by specific issues.//
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In navigating these challenges and embracing emerging trends, organisations can pave the way for a more resilient and vibrant culture of youth volunteerism in Singapore.
YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM IN THE MALAY/MUSLIM COMMUNITY/
The spirit of volunteerism and community service i.e. “bergotong-royong” is very much alive and well in the Malay/Muslim (MM) community. MM youth volunteers augment the lean staffing of MM organisations (MMO), further constrained by funding and reach. Education, social services, mental health have emerged as key causes MM youths gravitate toward, joining either formal organisations or starting their own ground-up movements to render support.
How have some of the MMOs adapted to the challenges and future trends of attracting and retaining youth volunteers? Leveraging digital tools and data for impact: MENDAKI Club
MENDAKI Club (MClub), a 100% volunteer-led youth organisation founded in 2001, has become a household name offering mentorship and community support to youths. Affiliated to the community self-help group, Yayasan MENDAKI, MClub relies on its tribe of several hundred youth volunteers to run mentoring programmes for secondary school and tertiary students, organise career conversations, run a community leadership programme and most recently, launch a support network for young MM women.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, MClub invested heavily in its digital infrastructure and the use of digital tools to manage its expanding operations. It onboarded onto Salesforce to manage its volunteer management system because Excel sheets had run out of utility and were not sustainable with a database of ~15,000 members and participants to manage. Investing in a reliable volunteer management system enabled MClub to have a 360-degree view of all its touchpoints from volunteers to participants and is a critical tool for succession planning. Recruitment of mentors and project members is also done virtually with the use of auto-scheduling apps and internally developed algorithms that match mentors and mentees.
MClub also incorporated data in its decision-making through tracking key metrics, feedback surveys and focus group sessions. The volunteers enthusiastically looked forward to the Annual General Meeting’s Year-in-Review presentation of MClub’s impact the preceding year as a concrete measure of their contribution to the community and a source of motivation. Combining Grounds-Up and Skills-Based Volunteering: Malay Muslims iN Tech (MMIT)
Initiated in March 2022, Malay Muslims iN Tech (MMIT) was founded by a group of tech professionals who share the same passion – educating and inspiring MM youths to pursue careers in the tech industry. The professionals hold varying roles in the tech sector and work for some of the largest digital giants locally and globally. Today, the network has grown to 400+ members. The ground-up initiative not only runs community engagement events for youths e.g. hackathons to career talks but is also active as a collective voice on critical community issues.
CONCLUSION/
As youth volunteerism continues to evolve, these examples in the MM community illustrate how adaptation and innovation are essential for sustaining and enhancing the impact of volunteer efforts.
In conclusion, youth volunteerism in Singapore is a powerful force for positive change. Every youth volunteer has the potential to grow into a socially conscious leader. Understanding its challenges and embracing emerging trends will ensure a thriving culture of volunteerism that not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the fabric of Singapore society.
About the Author
Faridah Saad was president of MENDAKI Club from 2020-2023 and has spent more than a decade supporting youth development causes withing the Malay/Muslim community. She is currently a member of the 17th National Youth Councill focusing on strengthening Singapore's youth connections with ASEAN and the world.
