Being of Service

UWCSEA STORIES

Being of service

UWCSEA’s partnership with SUN-DAC

For the last eight years, East students have worked in partnership with SUN-DAC, a non-profit social service agency that serves people with disabilities in three locations across Singapore. Partnering with SUN-DAC allows UWCSEA to help build inclusive communities in Singapore, preventing social isolation and making a difference in many lives. Most of the clients have moderate to severe disabilities and many receive financial assistance.

At the start of every school year, students who have committed to this Local Service, investigate the needs of their SUN-DAC clients by interviewing the programme director and learning how they can support

the beneficiaries in the best way possible. Students set joint goals and plan actions (approved by the organisation) to meet those needs, and develop indicators to show that the goals are met. In this way, the students set themselves and the clients up for success, ensuring that the service that students provide is informed, needed and appropriate. In conversation with SUN-DAC at the beginning of the 2019/2020 year, two needs emerged: fitness and social inclusion. As a result, during the weekly student-led activity, SUN-DAC clients were invited to campus once a week for an exercise session and lunch, either on campus or at the local hawker centre. Many of the clients have physical disabilities and the fitness helps to improve their fine and gross motor skills. The lunch improves social visibility for people with disabilities and also allows the clients an opportunity to exercise their autonomy by choosing what they eat, which is often not possible in institutional settings. In previous years, students taught the SUN-DAC clients drumming, which was very popular. In addition to the partnership with High School students, Middle School students collaborated with SUN-DAC in 2015 as part of the ‘Be the Change’ course. Students learned about the importance of social inclusion for people with disabilities and organised arts and crafts activities. All of these activities have led to a strong bond between students and clients and these relationships are at the heart of UWCSEA’s partnership with SUN-DAC.

Once Singapore’s circuit breaker started in April, students were challenged to think of how they could continue to be ‘of service’ to those in need. They opted to spend their weekly Service hours researching intellectual disabilities in local and international contexts and exploring issues related to employment, caregiving and legal ordinances. Although both the clients and students missed their weekly activity sessions, students have used this opportunity to learn more about their clients and to reflect more deeply about how they can be of Service to the local community.

Although the second half of 2019/2020 was a challenging time to offer in person, direct, service, students deepened their understanding of existing problems and issues. They grew to understand how they can play a part in taking informed, purposeful action; all essential qualities to becoming action orientated global citizens. Looking ahead: in 2020/2021, as safe distancing measures continue, students will pivot to delivering online Service via video conferencing tools to SUN-DAC. Students will be challenged to rethink their weekly activities, engage clients online and think on their feet.

“Through my research I realized that I knew a lot less than I thought I did about people with intellectual disabilities and I really want to improve the activities we offer every week so the clients can enjoy themselves and we can be as helpful as possible.”

BLANCA ’21