A Visit to the NKF Dialysis Centre

As part of their Sec 3 VIA project, students were required to plan and execute an activity with a chosen Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) or a charitable organisation. The planning process included liaising with personnel from the organisation and discussing possible activities or projects that students can engage in. 

Amir Rahman, Glenn Lim, Jayden Khoo, Leesan Limbu and Ryan Wang from Secondary 3E1 (2019) tapped on the resources from the VWO Expo conducted in school and chose NKF as their partner organisation. They liaised with Ms Wee Ting and Ms Selena Tan, who explained about the befriending sessions. They also learned about the scientific process of dialysis from the Head Nurse. Before heading down to dialysis centre, the group brainstormed on possible questions they could ask during the befriending session. Armed with a friendly and warm smile, these students befriended many patients on two separate occasions. Patients shared about their lives, experiences and feelings with them. 

School with close ties to Nepal raises $20k

08 May 2015

BY LOOK WOON WEI

Bartley Secondary School is no run-of-the-mill school. Since its founding in 1956, several generations of Nepalese students have graduated from its halls.  They are the children of Gurkha officers. These members of an elite force, which has protected Singapore's most important people and places since 1949, live with their families in Mount Vernon Camp. This was located next to the school before it moved to Jalan Bunga Rampai off Upper Paya Lebar Road in 1995.  Despite the move, Nepalese students still want to be admitted to the school. There are currently 30 of them studying there. When the earthquake devastated Nepal on April 25, the school and students, both past and present, sprung to action. They have raised more than $20,000 in a week. About half of the amount was raised by current students.

 "It was a student-led initiative," said Aryca Loh, 13, a Secondary 2 student at the school.

 "The Nepalese students wanted to help their own country. The others wanted to show their support and solidarity in these difficult times." Said Ram Investments chairman R. Ramesh, 57, a Bartley alumnus: "To be able to raise $20,000 in a week is nothing short of amazing."

This amount was presented to the Singapore Red Cross yesterday, and will be used for relief efforts. The donation drive is ongoing until May 20. Plans to aid Nepal do not just stop there. The alumni also intends to rebuild and eventually adopt a school in Nepal - to provide opportunities for teacher and student exchanges and act as a gateway for social work in Nepal. Because of the intimate links between the Nepalese students and other Bartley alumni, former students have also been reaching out to their friends in Nepal. So far, all those they have managed to contact are safe.

For Secondary 3 student Akta Gurung, 15, the donation is heartwarming. "I feel proud that my school has managed to contribute to the Nepalese," she said.

 "It was really touching."

                                                                                                                                lookww@sph.com.sg

Extracted for Straits Times 2015

“It was a really fun experience as we were able to bond together as a class. Since we were together as a class, I can say that all of us enjoyed our time doing the activity with the support from one another.” -  Nurin Nusrah 

“It was so fun. It was also a class bonding activity as we played music and enjoyed ourselves as we walked together. The walk felt a lot shorter as we were enjoying ourselves. And it wasn't scorching hot as it was closer to evening.”  - Matthea Ashwini

“I actually like walking with many of my classmates and friends. It felt refreshing and fun. I did have some thoughts like would the distance we walked be enough to feed many people in the long run. Nevertheless, I realised that every little contribution can go a differene.”  – Rojin Gurung 

Reflection

“From this experience, I learnt how to adapt to changes as there were many unexpected challenges that came by our way during the planning and implementing stage. We had to think differently and quickly in order for the programme to go on.”  - Nicole Ng, 4E1 Class of 2020

“Walk-For-rice Programme is an initiative by South East Community Development Council (South East CDC) together with NTUC FairPrice to help the underprivileged families while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. For every 300m walked, FairPrice Foundation will donate one bowl of white, brown rice and oatmeal to needy families in the South East district. We started the walk around 1 p.m.. It was scorching hot. Surprisingly, no one complained about the weather and the distance we walked. There was a sense of accomplishment among the students when we completed the walk as we felt good about doing our part for the community. Through this experience, I realised the importance of being thankful for what we have and to be appreciative as there are people who may not have enough of the different resources. There are still many people who would do better with more care and support. So we could do out little to help. It could make a big difference to someone.” - Ifa Fikriyah Binte Rosli , 4N2Class of 2020

Reflections 

“The VIA session at the Tembusu Senior Activity Center, is definitely one of the most memorable and fun VIA session, from which I learnt a lot from. I learnt to listen actively and have empathy. I understood the struggles the elderly were having with their mobile devices. This eventually allowed me to be able to help them with their problems without having any misunderstandings. Throughout the VIA session, my fellow councillors and I were able to get close to the seniors. I am very proud that all of us were able to bring smiles on their faces.” - Nurin Nusrah Binte Norkhairin, 4E2 Class of 2021, Head of Welfare 

 “As a member of the Executive Committee and leader in charge of the project, I remember having to plan the many activities for the elderly, such as playing bingo and doing simple exercises. Apart from the activities, we also prepared a guide to teach the elderly on how to use the Myhealthy265 app on their smart phones so that they can take part in the National Steps Challenge. On the day itself, it was very fun and enriching. When I saw the smiles on the faces of the elderly, I was relieved and glad that all our hard work preparing for this VIA had paid off. There were many things that I learnt from this experience. I learnt to understand the elderly and the importance of patience to build relationships. I found different ways to communicate with them. I also learnt how important it is to work with everyone so that this event would be a success. Lastly, the most important thing I have learnt from this VIA was to participate with an open heart and mind, so that I could learn many more things.”   - Nicole Ng, 4E2 Class of 2020, Head of Functions

“Together with my team of councillors, I performed the Dikir Barat for the elderly. This required much practice prior to the session. The elderly were very happy and greatly appreciated the performance which made the time spent for preparation all worthwhile. After performing Dikir Barat, we spent the afternoon teaching the elderly how to use their mobile phones and also played board games.  It was quite a memorable experience for me because I was one of the emcees and I had fun hosting for them. The elderly shared meaningful stories and even some important advice which I still adhere to. A rare and meaningful experience, I am glad I had.”  

- Irman Nur Riaan, 5N1 Class of 2020

“This was the second time I was visiting the Activity Center. So, I met some seniors whom I had made friends with int eh previous year. Our smartphone workshop received raving feedback from the seniors as this truly helped them stay connected to this increasingly digitalised world. The simple exercise and bingo game that we planned during the breaks also added highlights to the time we spent together. It really warmed my heart when I saw their bright smiles.” - Zeng Rui Yi, 4E1 Class of 2019, Vice President of Student Council

“An elderly asked me how to transfer photos from her phone to the computer. Since she did not know technical computer terms, I had to draw to help her visualise. From there, we started sharing our fondest memories. She also taught me how to fold origami ribbons. Hence it was a fruitful activity as we exchanged knowledge and learned new things.” - Jazlina Binte Khaharuddin, 4E3 Class of 2020

Staff VIA 

On 6th August 2019, Bartley Secondary staff collaborated with ActiveSG to kickstart our inaugural Staff Values in Action (VIA) Project. We collaborated to host a sports VIA activity for the elderly from Orange Valley Nursing Home,  Lee Ah Moi Old Age Home and Thye Hua Kwan Nursing Home.

The event took place at Toa Payoh Sports stadium. Upon arrival, the seniors were treated to an amazing array of activities as a line-up of events. Due to their different mobility levels, the seniors could select between activities modified to suit the elderly such as indoor bowling, art and craft, modified fishing game using rattan, hooks and plastic bottles and karaoke. 

It was a throwback to their younger days as many enthusiastically participated in the games and were cheered on ardently by our very own Bartley Staff members. Some staff even joined in and assisted the elderly in playing the games, much to the excitement of the elderly. 

The Art and Craft station was manned by our talented staff who patiently demonstrated how to create and decorate bookmarks, paper plates and other household items. 

The karaoke station was popular as many sang yesteryear hits. Bartley staff who were well-versed in many dialects were seen comfortably conversing with the elderly and sharing their live stories with them, such as showing photographs of their kids or even themselves when they were much younger. Many Bartley staff pushed the elderly in wheelchairs carefully to the different stations and definitely displayed our core values of respect and optimism in their care. 

We ended the day with a scrumptious buffet meal planned with some “soft” foods, bearing the needs of the elderly in mind. This was the time for further bonding and camaraderie. 

We bade farewell to the elderly promising to meet them again and to definitely carry out another sports VIA activity in the near future.  

On the actual day of implementation, the students were divided into different areas in the vicinity of the Woodlands Civic Center. Students went door to door to spread the word of the blood donation event. Students also dressed up as mascots at the Woodlands MRT Station and Woodlands bus interchange. They distributed flyers and took the time to explain on the importance and need for blood donors. Some students even brought members of the public to the actual site so that they were familiar where to go on the actual day. 

“Together with my team of EXCO members, we planned a project to raise awareness about blood donation. This experience helped me to understand the importance of thorough and careful planning before the execution of any activities.”   - Ashley, 4E1 Class of 2021, Vice President of Bartley Student Council 

“One of my fondest memory in Bartley Student Council is the 2019 VIA for Bloodbank @ Woodlands. I remember knocking door to door at Woodlands. We handed out flyers to the residents and encouraged them to donate blood if they are eligible. This helped to spread awareness about blood donation. This VIA was very tiring. However, going around talking to the residents boosted my confidence in talking to strangers.” - Su Thar, 4E1 Class of 2021

“I needed to give out flyers to the public, promoting blood donation. I managed to step out of my comfort zone and talk to strangers. This was my first time doing something like this and it was a wonderful experience for me although there were some unexpected challenges which I managed. I am so proud of myself for being able to give out more than 100 flyers while sharing the importance of donating blood.”  - Yi Ning, 4E1 Class of 2020

“Honestly, this was the most tiring yet most exciting project that I had done in school. I managed to come out of my comfort zone and this has really boosted my confidence. It was truly a great opportunity to be able to go around the residential areas and share with the residents about blood donation.”  - Muhammad Nazri Pua Bin Muhammad Nazmi Pua, 4T1 Class of 2020

“I have been part of the Bartley Student Council (SC) for four years. The most meaningful SC VIA that I had participated in was the VIA project through which we had to promote blood donation. Before conducting this VIA project, we visited the Bloodbank@HSA, where we gained more understanding about donating blood. After the session at the blood bank, we went back to school and prepared promotional items, like flyers and boards. We managed to give out almost all the flyers that we had printed. Through this VIA project, I have learnt to interact with strangers and not to give up easily when people refuse to take the flyers. I also learnt more about blood donation, which I would not have known, if I had not taken part in this VIA project. I am glad that we had such an opportunity to do our part for people in need of blood donation.” - Toh Hui Xin, 4E2 2022, Vice President of Student Council 

Lift to Give 

Despite the challenges faced due to the Covid-19 situation, the Student Councillors still continued to do their part for the community.

Students were involved in planning a virtual VIA project to raise awareness on blood donation. The campaign was done virtually instead. This was a six-month long preparation where students brainstormed ideas based on the needs and interests of the beneficiaries and planned activities appropriately. To well-prepared for the project, Lift to Give Virtual Blood Donation Awareness Campaign, the students attended a session organised by the Singapore Red Cross. In this session, the students learned about the importance of blood donation and the procedures of donating blood so that they can educate the public on the importance of blood donation and handle queries from them. 

The students made use of YouTube and other social media platforms to raise awareness on blood donation. The students created educational videos on the importance of blood donation. They identified that one of the criteria for blood donation is that donors must have suitable veins. They then crafted an activity that would help them become potential donors by engaging in a physical activity involving lifting a 1.5 litre bottle. Our Virtual Campaign on YouTube garnered almost one thousand views, which exceeded our target.

Reflection 

“While preparing for the VIA, Lift to Give, it was not as easy as I thought it would be. My partner and I had brainstormed many different ideas initially. However, due to the pandemic with the necessary safe management measures, some of our initial plans had to change. However, thanks to my teachers and EXCO team, we managed to think out of the box and find a suitable activity. From this, I learnt that no matter what the circumstance, we should be quick and creative in thinking about possible solutions. This reminded me that I should not give up too easily and always be keen to learn new things.” - Nur Darwisyah Binte Mohd Ejjad, 4E2 Class of 2021, Head of Student Relations

“The most meaningful VIA I have participated in as a Student Councillor is undoubtedly the 2020 VIA when we partnered with Singapore Red Cross to raise awareness on blood donation. It was a very meaningful experience for me. Working on a project for months and to finally see the positive impact of our effort, made it all memorable for me. In addition, it taught me that great things in life takes time and that with careful planning and teamwork, we can be successful. I sincerely believe that doing our part for the community is beneficial for both the beneficiaries and the participants.”  - Pierre Lim, 4E2 2022, President of Bartley Student Council 

“Through this event, I have gained a deeper understanding of blood donation. I realised how critical it is to maintain a healthy level of blood stock in Singapore. This also taught me that even small efforts can lead to great impact. Even though I was tired from the exercise, I felt it was worth it. It helped me to train up my muscles and improve the visibility of my veins. I should continue this exercise so that I can be a potential donor in future. This virtual event also helped the Red Cross Organisation to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood.”  - Ipsa Pun, 4E2 2022, Head of Student Relations 

“I learnt that the blood donated are used in different areas. Blood donation is very important and I hope that people who are eligible to donate their blood will be forthcoming to do their part.”  -  Valerie Chung, 4E1 2022

Reflections

“I was grateful and enjoyed having the chance to intermingle, bond and grow closer with my juniors though this project. I learnt that planning such events is not easy and it required a team to work together, spending months to preppare. Throughout the two years of being in the Student Council Executive team, this project was the most significant to me as I like working with youths and what more, being able to support them.” - Ipsa 4E2

“I realized how much hard work is required when planning for such a large event. We had to consider the different possibilities and challenges before the implementation of the project was finalized. However, the long days of planning paid off when we got to watch the final VIA project live on the Bartley Student Council Youtube page! I really enjoyed the process of planning because I was able to work together well with my team to plan a successful event! It was incredibly meaningful for me because it was my first time planning a large event, and we did well as a team!” - Natalie 3E1

“I was graced by the opportunity to be the animator of two videos in the project. It was quite interesting as I had to do research about the children to understand the intent better and to share their stories as well. It was during this work that I realized how much we take what we have in life for granted sometimes. I definitely learnt more about doing animation videos. Overall, it was an experience I have not had previously, so it was exciting, and I very much enjoyed it.” - Patricia 2E4

The ROSE Programme [Distribution]

Our Secondary Three Student Councillors along with the 25th Executive Committee (2022) participated in the ROSE (Rice, Oil, Sugar and Essentials) Programme organised by the Potong Pasir Community Club. The Student Councillors helped to deliver the care packages to needy families in the Potong Pasir vicinity. 

Joined by our Principal, Ms Britta Seet, Vice-Principal, Mrs Tan Chye Na, and teachers, our Student Councillors worked in pairs to deliver these care packages weighing 10-12 kilograms to households in the Potong Pasir vicinity.  

The students completed the deliveries in less than two hours, a task which usually took about four hours. Through the interaction with the residents, our Student Councillors had a meaningful experience connecting with the community.