Community Service

Community Service

awa members contributed over 1,900 volunteer hours last year

AWA’s Community Service supports 5 featured charity organizations where we’ve designed programs so members can choose from a variety of schedules and volunteer options. In this issue, we highlight kidsREAD.

Calling all bookworms, educators, and performers! Volunteering for kidsREAD is an opportunity to share your love of storytelling and related educational activities with young Singaporeans. The kidsREAD program was officially launched in 2004 and is a collaborative effort by the National Library Board, the People’s Association (PA) and four self-help groups. The objectives include promoting a love of reading among Singaporeans and providing an avenue for children of various races to interact from an early age. The target is children between the ages of 4 and 8 from low-income families, regardless of race or religion.

All kidsREAD volunteers complete one 3.5-hour training session, held at the National Library, during which they learn to “bring books to life.” The program operates from a structured curriculum using selected stories to meet designated criteria. Club sessions of one to one and a half hours consist of a volunteer reading aloud to the group, followed by all participating volunteers and children completing one or more related educational

activities specifically tailored to that particular story. The children thoroughly enjoy the stories, activities, and gifts (bookbags, t-shirts, and other kidsREAD themed items) provided during the club sessions. It’s entertaining for us volunteers, too! 19 AWA volunteers currently support three kidsREAD clubs within primary schools: Greenridge, North View, and Ang Mo Kio. The club at Greenridge Primary School is run solely by AWA volunteers, while AWA volunteers join local Singaporeans in the clubs within North View Primary School and Ang Mo Kio Primary School. Clubs are also found at community centers and libraries. There are no standard meeting days or times for clubs, as they are based on each club’s need. You can find a club that suits your preferred location and schedule as there are currently 170 kidsREAD clubs spread across Singapore.

If you would like to volunteer for a worthy cause when this program resumes, please email kidsread@awa.singapore.org.

The Community Service Committee would like to let members know there are still ways to help out during these uncertain times. SG United has donation or volunteer opportunities; www.giving.sg And two of our partner organizations serving the food insecure are still running and in need of volunteers: Food from the Heart: www.foodfromtheheart.sg and Willing Hearts: www.willinghearts.org.sg