6
Grassroots with passion
SPOTLIGHT: Mr Samuel Tang, BBM
TheGrassroots’ Club is setupspecially forGrassroots Leaders in recognition of their contributions to community service on a voluntary basis. Every Grassroots Leader has made a positive impact and it is the love for what you do which keeps many of you going day after day, despite the challenges in balancing your personal and professional commitments. In the blink of an eye, this passion has led Mr Samuel Tang, BBM to serve for 41 years. He started his volunteering journey with the People’s Association back in 1979. He is currently the Chairman of the West Coast Community Centre Management Committee (CCMC). As a Grassroots Leader for more than 4 decades, let’s find outwhat volunteering means to him! 1 How did you start volunteering as a Grassroots Leader?
I remember it was an afternoon on aweekend. Whilewatching a group of teenagers playing table tennis at a void deck Community Centre, a PA staff invited me to join the CC’s table tennis group. Following that, I joined the newly formed YEC at the void deck CC in 1979. 2 What are the benefits of volunteering to you? Many volunteers never join with the thoughts of getting benefits from volunteering. Instead of receiving benefits, besides contributing their time and effort, they even contribute financially. Volunteering brings fun and fulfilment to our lives, connects people to people, advances your career and it is good for our mind and body. I reckon good networking and friendship could be one of the many benefits. However, through the process, learning to understand and managing different people’s expectations are important life skills which we might have benefited without realising it.
3 Why is volunteering important to you?
With many who are busy studying, starting their career or building their family, it can be hard to find time to volunteer.
People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some, it offers the opportunity to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others, it provides a chance to develop new social skills, build on existing experience and knowledge or networking.
It is also important to have the right match on the type of volunteering – Find the Right Fit.
I used to share with some of our new friends who started volunteering to treat volunteering as an important CCA - Co- curricular Activity in our lives, which is an extension to our family and career. 4 What was the most memorable thing that had happened during your course of volunteering? There were many memorable moments. From working with substance abused youths on rehabilitation, creating programmes which benefit the community to organising targeted events, there were too many to mention.
Made with FlippingBook Annual report