iProject - Commitment of Hearts




Sunday, 25 March 2007

iProjectians are more than meets the eye (think TRANSFORMERS)

This is my second attempt at organizing an Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP). Last year’s trip to Chiang Mai was fruitful, but I realized that something was lacking—commitment of hearts. No doubt I had a wonderful majority who were very focused in getting our tasks accomplished, I did not see compassion spilling or that passion to volunteer seeping through the cracks and crevices of our stay there. However, I see that vividly in our iProjectians. To help or not to help, is not the question. Rather, the questions commonly overheard are… ‘Eh! I want to do this leh!’, ‘You have been digging so long. Let me take over leh.’ , ‘What else can I do huh?’, ‘ Aiyah! I feel so useless sitting here and can’t help.’, etc. To tell the truth, I was happy inside.

I knew we have chosen the right people.

Of course, not every one of us talks about wanting to help others all the time. Let me peek into my memory jar:
I see some resilient souls quietly helping their friends lug the rocks to and fro, help to dig the school grounds, etc.
I see some who continued to contribute whatever they can despite being injured on the leg, face, etc.
I see some who were bent on finishing up their share of work before going for lunch.
They never talked about why they wanted to help. But they did, and did it very well indeed.

I am proud of you.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who were excited about iProject and went on to tell the world what we have been doing. YES! PLEASE CARRY ON DOING SO! Spread the good words—not necessarily only about iProject, but what it means to volunteer and the ups and downs of being one. Be brutally honest about it. You might just be surprised how people around you can be inspired to volunteer, in big or small ways, when you talk to them sincerely.


You know, I’m always an advocate of youth volunteerism. I believe that volunteering can change lives—both the beneficiaries’ and the volunteers’. It has significantly changed mine since 17, and coincidentally, exactly the same age of those who are in iProject! Never too tender, never too late. 17 is a good time to start. Mature-- if not maturing, independent--if not pending or desiring independence. Students are game to try anything.

What’s more—great friends, empowered to make decisions, working in an unfamiliar environment and satisfaction 120% (be it on top of the world or just humbly)!

My hope for my iProjectians is that, after iProject, after Innova, please continue to volunteer for a good cause, It doesn’t have to take a lot of time and cash, it doesn’t have to be elaborate, glamorous or held overseas, you don’t necessarily need to be at the frontline being involved directly with the beneficiaries.

But you know you are volunteering, you are helping someone, somewhere, somehow, and it is all that matters.

Pass the iProject spirit on!

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