As told by Sherard and Annabelle to the Beyond Editorial Team
Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
We at Beyond, wholeheartedly believe this. So we’ve made it one of our missions to bring education to life for the kids in the neighbourhoods we serve.
So, it is no coincidence that we call one of our education programme, LIFE! or Learning is Fun and Exciting!
LIFE is a child-centric initiative that’s designed to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Activities are tailored to children’s individual strengths, interests, and learning styles. At every turn, we nurture them to become independent, self-motivated learners.
We also have an Academic Support Programme for secondary school students, where tuition is provided by volunteers.
The key to our programmes is our growing army of passionate volunteers. This week’s AWB is dedicated to the work they do in the community.
Public policy professional, Annabelle is one such volunteer. She’s been with us since the 2021 pandemic. The other is Sherard who began volunteering with us when he was a Junior College student in 2018.
Both Annabelle and Sherard share our belief (and that of the Mr Mandela!) that education is a tool for transformation. And they have continued to put that belief into practice as LIFE and academic support volunteers.
Their work in the community is not without challenges. Learning can be fun and exciting, but it is not often easy to impress that in children, hence our volunteers plan a variety of activities, such as slime-making, vinegar and baking soda rocket-building, paper mosaic art, or games like taboo to engage with our children. These obstacles have only inspired our volunteers to step up and find innovative ways to get through to their students, driven by a selfless desire and passion to teach and make a lasting difference in the lives of children who already face an uphill battle to succeed in life.
As both Annabelle and Sherard attest, the personal reward for their dedication is worth the effort.
Volunteers report witnessing profound changes in the children they mentor. Whether it’s mastering complex math equations or participating in hands-on arts and science projects, the children grow more confident in their abilities with every small success. The joy and sense of accomplishment fuels their enthusiasm to keep learning.
While grades matter, our programmes also emphasise the importance of nurturing curiosity and confidence. Volunteers find every opportunity to demonstrate the value of teamwork, creativity and being resilient. All skills necessary to build a pathway out of poverty.
Annabelle and Sherard cherish the personal relationships built with their students – they’ve built a small community of meaningful connections. Outside of their “day jobs” many of our volunteers have gotten much satisfaction watching the children make progress.
Being a LIFE or academic volunteer is not for everyone. It requires passion, dedication and a great deal of patience. But, as Annabelle reminds us, “If you believe in the cause and are ready for the commitment, it’s incredibly fulfilling,”
This International Volunteer Day, we express our deepest gratitude to all our volunteers who share our mission of empowering communities. Together, we can continue to make a difference.
If you have what it takes to help change the course of a child’s life, come join us as a volunteer. Write to us at volunteer@beyond.org.sg!