Julianatasha, 28, a senior account manager in a creative agency, has been volunteering for 10 years. What has made her going for so long?
Tell us about your volunteer experience.
I’ve been volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2007, organising events and granting the wishes of children with life-threatening conditions. I’ve also been a member of the Ba’alwie Mosque’s ladies committee since December 2013.
Why do you volunteer?
I signed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2007 while waiting for my A-level results and 10 years later, I’m still with them because it is a cause I truly believe in. I have gained so much as a volunteer, and I’m constantly inspired by the strength and grit displayed by the beneficiaries and their families.
What has Make-A-Wish Foundation done right, to retain long-term volunteers like yourself?
The children we help, the other volunteers I work with as well as the very helpful staff at the foundation are the reasons why I’m still volunteering after more than a decade.
What I appreciate most are the staff who understand that as working adults, we don’t always have the luxury of time. They understand when I’m not able to take on an assignment, and they give me so much freedom to be creative in granting wishes. They are always supportive. Sometimes, they reply to texts outside of their working hours, which I really appreciate because they don’t have to, but they do because they care.
Your volunteer experience has clearly been rewarding, but have you faced any challenges?
That hardly happens – perhaps only twice in 10 years. Sometimes I get matched with volunteers whose personalities clash with mine and that makes decision-making slightly tedious.
Name three crucial factors that contribute to a fruitful volunteer experience.
Hire the right staff who are passionate about the cause. Their passion and energy will rub off on volunteers.
Have clear objectives and tasks for volunteers. Most time-starved volunteers in Singapore have very sporadic pockets of time to help, so if they have made time but there’s nothing for them to do, then they are less likely to volunteer again.
Remember what your ultimate mission is, and who you are doing this for. Sometimes, in the excitement of getting positive coverage from the media, fundraising or obtaining sponsorship, we may forget that we have a duty to first protect the interests of our beneficiaries. If they don’t feel comfortable sharing in the public space, we should give them time and if they wish to pull out of publicity and outreach efforts, we should give them our full support.
How would you convince a friend to start volunteering?
Show, not tell! Most of my friends approach me privately, saying they want to help when they see how satisfied I am and how much I have gained from my volunteer experience. I think I’ve referred at least 16 volunteers so far?
