Project I-Care

3rd I-Care session of the year 2006

2006-09-25T15:51:00.000+08:00

PROJECT I-CARE -- VILLA FRANCIS HOME FOR THE AGED
SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2006

After almost 4 months since the last I-Care session held at SWAMI, we visited Villa Francis yesterday for our 3rd I-Care session for the year. This was the home where Project I-Care was first launched on 19 October 2003. The launch was graced by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. This is the plaque which was presented to the home at that time.

The location of Villa Francis isn't exactly friendly to our volunteers who took public transport. So we got IPP Dalon to ferry our volunteers in the SWA van from the nearest MRT station to the home, after unloading the equipment from it.

By 8.35am, we had most of the volunteers in the home, seated and munching on their breakfast. This time, we had honor of having the company of Rotaractors from Malacca; DRRE Dr Dharmindra, and from Indonesia; IPP Juedi Putri. A few other volunteers were guests of our members. The North West CDC volunteers comprised of regulars as well as new faces which was encouraging. The newbies were also given I-Care T-shirts to change into.

At about 8.50am, Sinti and I gathered the volunteers in the dining hall to brief them on the eye screening process, what to expect and things to look out for. Dr Allan Fong briefed them further on the extra care that should be taken when handling the residents. He then led them into the Therapy room where the screening was to be held. Anny took over briefing the volunteers on the flow of the process and also, gave a refresher's course for volunteers who have experience on the Visual Acuity test at previous I-Care sessions.

Anny briefing the volunteers

As the briefing was being carried out, the nurses had already lined up some of the residents for the eye screening. The moment our volunteers and doctors took their places, the eye screening session began. We had 47 residents to screen. Initially, as observed in all sessions, things were a little slow. This is because the volunteers were familiarizing themselves with the process at the various stations and getting into the momentum. Soon enough they got the hang of things and were more efficient.

Here, some pictures of our volunteers at work...

We were later joined by our Rotarians who volunteered, namely - Felix, Manjeet, Lorinda and her friend. Mr Sam Fong, who visited us at our 1st I-Care session at Christalite earlier this year, came to visit us this time. He stayed on till the end. Dr Lim Wee Kiak too came by and offered his services to the residents there. A few of us managed to spend some time chatting with him.

Dr Lim applying eye drops for one of the residents

The management and staff of the home were very warm and made us feel at home during our time there. They responded to our requests efficiently. The cook also came with a trolley to offer us cold packet drinks towards the end of the session. She asked if she could have her eyes screened while we were still there. Some of the nurses there too had they eyes screened.

At about 11.15am, we closed the eye screening session and called all volunteers to pose for a group photo prior to dismissal.

To our surprise, the cook and Matron of the home prepared and welcomed us a simple yet sumptuous lunch.

Here, I would like to thank each and every one of you volunteers from Rotary, Rotaract, CDC, Anny, Wendy and Lilian SWA and the doctors; Drs Jocelyn Chua, Jean Chai and Desmond Kwek. Special thanks to Sinti for coordinating the admin stuff and for ordering our breakfast and preparing our name tags. Last but not least, Villa Francis for welcoming us with open arms!

There were interesting moments related by the volunteers, and I will have them posted in a separate entry. So do look out for that! :) Do also keep a look out for 1-2 liners by volunteers on their experience.

If you feel that 1-2 lines are too little to share, please do email me your stories and I will post them up here for all to read.

I am contactable at duteam@gmail.com

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!! :) Without you, Project I-Care wouldn't be a such a success! :)

Yours-in-Rotaract,

Amanda Quek
Community Service Director 06/07
RAC North West

"Don't turn a blind eye to saving vision!"

3rd Project I-Care -- Villa Francis Home for the Aged

2006-09-15T12:12:00.000+08:00

Please note that the details of the 3rd Project I-Care are as follows:

Venue: Villa Francis Home for the Aged [9 Mandai Estate]
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel.php?travel_id=9630&travel_site=122352

Day/Date: Sunday/ 24 September 2006

Time: 9am to 1pm
Volunteers (with transport) reporting time --> 8.15am at Villa Francis for breakfast & briefing

Volunteers who need transport --> meet at Kranji MRT pick up point at 8.15am. You will be picked up by the Singapore Women's Association (SWA)Van.

If you are interested to volunteer and require transport, kindly email me at duteam@gmail.com or buzz me at 91078679.

Thank you.

Yours-in-Rotaract
Amanda Quek
Community Service Director
RAC North West

2006-06-05T14:19:00.000+08:00

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

2006-05-23T10:26:00.000+08:00

NEXT I-CARE SESSION

Please note that the next I-Care session will be .........

When?? Sunday, 4 June 2006 [9.00am - 1.00pm]

Where?? SWAMI Home for the Aged [5 Sembawang Walk]

How to get there?? http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel.php?travel_id=8707&travel_site=124544

Volunteers, kindly meet at the home at 8.00am for briefing, breakfast and fellowship prior to the commencement of the eye screening process.

Everyone else, stay tuned for the report and photos....
Till then....

"Don't turn a blind eye to saving vision!"

2006-04-24T13:48:00.000+08:00

PROJECT I-CARE – CHRISTALITE METHODIST HOME
SUNDAY 23 APRIL 2006

The day began with 27 volunteers (9 from North West CDC, 3 from RC Suntec City and 15 from RAC North West) meeting at Christalite Methodist Home at an unearthly hour of 7.45am. Of the 15 from RAC North West, 1 is a guest, and 2 were pioneers of Project I-Care when it was first lauched in 2003. Our Rotarians, President Richard Yap, Deputy New Generations Director; Rtn Felix Tok and Rtn Lorinda Tan were also present.

MacDonalds breakfast was provided for all volunteers by the NW CDC. At about 7.55am, the Singapore Women’s Association (SWA) volunteers arrived in their van packed with eye screening machines as well as hand held equipment. Our male volunteers readily assisted in unloading the van, carrying and moving the machines and equipment into the Physiotherapy room which was allocated for the eye screening session.

Briefing of volunteers began at 8.10am was led by Ms Sinti Sim, Liaison Representative from NW CDC, myself, and Dr Allan Fong from the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology (SSO) respectively. 8 volunteers were identified to assist our volunteer optometrists in the 1st station of the screening process.

Thereafter the volunteers were led to Physio room where the machines and equipment have been set up and according to the work flow of the screening process. Ms Anny Leow from the SWA walked the volunteers through the screening process and another 2 volunteers were identified to assist in the 2nd and 3rd stations of the screening process. DRR Audrey being pioneer to previous I-Care sessions in 2003 and 2004, was roped in, to man the 2nd station.

The last 2 stations of the screening process were manned by the volunteer doctors (6 doctors who took shifts) from Singapore Eye Foundation (SEF) as well as the SSO. The identified volunteers were taught how to take readings, how to use the machines and assist the doctors at their respective stations.

At about 8.50am, the remaining volunteers started their journey through the whole eye screening process with the residents, one at a time. Thanks to the overwhelming number of volunteers, that almost all the residents each had 1 volunteer to journey through the process with them.

Initially, we experienced a bottle neck at the first station due to our volunteers familiarizing themselves with the process at the respective stations, but soon enough, we managed to get the flow moving smoothly. Credit also must be given to our floor managers – Rtr Haz and soon to be inducted Calvin Mak, not forgetting our Zone 3 ZD Kumar who took some very good pictures during the whole event.

We were honored to have PP John S Y Tan, District Avoidable Blindness Committee Chairman drop by with his family and Mr Sam Fong from the Glaucoma Society (Singapore) to view the eye screening at about 9.05am.

At 10.15am, our GOH Mr Hawazi Daipi, Advisor to Marsiling GROs arrived and was welcomed by the welcoming party which consisted of Dr Lim Wee Kiak; father of Project I-Care as well as PAP candidate for Sembawang GRC, representatives from the Home, the NW CDC, our sponsoring Rotary Club’s President Richard Yap, our home club’s President Dalon Quah, Dr Allan Fong, Ms Sinti Sim and myself. The Branch Chairperson of the Home; Mrs Heng led the welcoming party on a tour of the premise then to the Physio room where the eye screening was carried out. Dr Lim walked through the process with Mr Hawazi and they both even had a hand in screening a couple of the residents.

Channel News Asia (CNA) was present at the home for a coverage of the event and also conducted an interview with Dr Lim.

The eye screening process continued and was completed at 1.15pm with volunteers taking turns to take breaks to enjoy some refreshments that were provided.

All volunteers helped to clean up the room and pack up the machines and equipment and then headed down to the Meeting room where they enjoyed more refreshments and the air-conditioning. A brief debrief was done and feedback was gathered to better improve future I-Care sessions.

To end off the whole event, all the volunteers gathered in front of the banner and posed for a few shots. Pity, a couple of volunteers and the doctors that were not present at the photo taking session. Their efforts are not forgotten!

Volunteers left feeling happy and satisfied with their time spent at the Home. They look forward to future I-Care sessions. The next Project I-Care will be held at SWARMI Home for the Aged on Sunday 4 June 2006.

The Organising Committee would like to thank Rotarians, Rotaractors, Pioneers, guests, Doctors - Laurence Lim, Elaine Chee, Sunny Shen, Kelvin Lee, Loo Jing Liang, volunteers from NW CDC, and not forgetting the nurses and directors of Christalite Methodist Home. You have made a difference in the lives of the residents in the Home! We hope to see you at our next Project I-Care!

Yours-in-Rotaract,
Amanda Quek
Project Manager – Project I-Care
RAC North West