PROJECT I-CARE -- SUNSHINE WELFARE ACTION MISSION [SWAMI] Home for the Aged
SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2006

0700hrs on a lazy Sunday morning, at Blk 409 Serangoon Ave 1 [location of SWA], Anny and her daughter; Judi, Sinti, ZD Kumar and I met to load the van with the eye screening tables, machines, equipment and stools. We worked fast and finished everything in a jiffy 15 minutes.

On the way to SWAMI, Sinti, ZD Kumar and I made a pit stop at MacDonalds to pick up the breakfast. Upon arrival at SWAMI, we were greeted by some of our volunteers who had arrived. As usual, our male volunteers assisted in unloading the van, bringing everything into the room designated for the eye screening and even assisted in preparing the room for the eye screening session, while the others had their breakfast.

Preparing the room for the eye screening session

DRRE Zack and DRR Audrey having breakfast.

0850hrs.. volunteers' briefing was led by Sinti, Dr Allan and myself. This time round we had many many new faces [from North West CDC, our Rotarian Manjeet, and Interactors from Evergreen Secondary School] and a couple of faces [PDRR Oscar Lee and spouse; Swee Ling] who were involved with Project I-Care 3 years ago. We had 53 volunteers in total yesterday [which consisted of Rotarians, Rotaractors from RAC North West and Singapore West, guests, 25 Interactors, and North West CDC volunteers], which we have learnt and from feedback, that its too many. We split the volunteers into Groups 1 and 2 depicting their break time.

Of course welcome volunteers and their heart to serve, but from the logistics point of view, we can work well with less volunteers. Personally, the challenged I faced this time round was managing the volunteers, not so much of the 'traffic control' of residents.

0910hrs.. Dr Allan briefed volunteers on the eye screening process. Soon after our new faces were given a mini crash course on 'how to' and 'what to' at the first station - Visual Acuity (VA), Interactors began to bring residents in for their eye screening. It didn't take long for everyone to get in the momentum of work flow and process. Tension was in the air.. everyone worked efficiently and as fast as they could for we were told we had 180 residents to screen.

Volunteers listening attentively to Dr Allan.

Crash course for V.A. volunteers

Rtn Felix assisted in getting the forms from the nurses at the home and he co-ordinated the flow of the residents even at the 2nd storey of the '5 star home'. Excellent work there! :)

During our time there, we were visited by PP John Tan and Mrs Tan, her brother and sister-in-law. They too visited us at our last eye screening session. We were also visited by Dr Lim Wee Kiak, his wife and son. Our sponsoring Rotary Club - Suntec City's PE Cheah Choon, with his wife and daughter too dropped by.

PP John Tan

Dr LimWee Kiak

Our Interactors each were assigned to individual residents and were supported by our more senior volunteers who were stationed at the different stations. Those residents whose eyes were dilated, they were taken out of the screening room to wait before getting examined by the doctors again. Though most of our Interactors couldn't speak dialect and therefore couldn't really communicate with the residents, they were spotted attempting to dance in front of them as a form of entertainment, which I personally found, creative and good. :)

Interactors interacting with the residents

Out of goodwill we screened another 10 of their health care givers as well as another 2 from the management.

During their break time, the volunteers were enjoying the light refreshments provided by SWAMI, and not forgetting the yummy banana cake made by Anny, and the also yummy walnut cake made by my mum. With food, there's always fellowship!! With fellowship, there's always something new we learn about someone.

I also took the opportunity to distribute feedback forms to the volunteers, to better understand their impression of the eye screening session and also to invite comments and suggestions to improve future sessions. Words of affirmation and encouragement were given, valuable feedback was gathered. Thank you for your honesty and openess.

The other volunteers helped to pack the equipment and machines back into the boxes they came in with supervision from Anny and then loaded the van with everything. A bit more of fellowship with Anny and Judi now who finally got to sit down and rest and enjoy some refreshing orange cordial and cakes. :)

1300hrs.. the some of volunteers who stayed on, went for lunch together, the others went home to rest. BOD members of our club had to attend an emergency meeting, so, Anny and Judi went in the van, and I in my car, headed for SWA to unload all the equipment. I followed Anny to return her van, and just before I sent her and Judi home, we went for a light lunch.

A tiring, but fruitful day I must say. Thanks to every single one of you contributed in making this Project I-Care a success. Also heartfelt thanks to those who came to visit us and support us and last but not least, many thanks to Doctors Mohamad Rosman, Anshu Arundhati, Foo Fong Yee, Elaine Huang, Alicia How, Allan Fong for taking time off your busy schedule to assist us.

I look forward to seeing you all at the next Project I-Care scheduled on Sunday 17 September 2006 at Villa Francis! So take down that date, and I'll see ya there, same time!! :)

Yours-in-Rotaract,

Amanda Quek

Project Manager - Project I-Care

RAC North West