迈向健康，活跃，开心的第三龄
"我觉得从表面上看，志愿服务似乎是在帮助他人。但是，归根结底，我们自己获得的回报甚至更多。我们可以与人们和外界保持联系和互动，更有意义。" - 恩群社区服务义工，James， 70+岁
刚刚过70岁的 James，因为各种令人振奋人心的项目，他在恩群社区服务，义工服务已经有四年了。
尤其是一个项目触动了他的心弦,
“我不记得我是如何第一次了解恩群社区服务的，我认为因该是通过广播或报纸。
我听说了恩群社区服务的新计划，咖啡与面包伙伴计划，即将首次以中文进行。”
咖啡与面包伙伴计划是活跃理事会创办的，由恩群社区服务联合实施的项目。
这个计划将乐龄人士们组成二至四个人的小组，让大家在限定的时间内，互相学习，互动，郊游，活动，彼此鼓励让第三年龄的人生更积极和充实。
这个计划的目的是让乐龄人士通过小组互相鼓励，培训，活动的影响下，让他们发觉度过黄金岁月的最佳方式。James 说，
“当我听到这消息时，我感到非常兴奋，因为以前这个活动是以英文为主，现在是以中文为主。
我迅速与恩群社区服务的一些工作人员进行了交谈，并报名参加。
这就是我作为参与者加入恩群社区服务，然后渐渐开始成为恩群社区服务义工者的过程。”
对于James 来说，他认为义工服务是一项对双方都有利的活动：
“我觉得从表面上看，志愿服务似乎是在帮助他人。
但是，归根结底，我们自己获得的回报甚至更多。我们可以与人们和外界保持联系和互动，更有意义。"
“在我的义工服务之旅，我建立了信心。参与义工服务让我有一个前近的目标.
而当我与一个团队一起实现这些目标时，它给了我强烈的成就感。” James 说：
“我毕业于新加坡的华校，我也发现到像我这样的老年人，我们需要提供更多的帮助。”
对于James 来说，恩群社区服务提供的课程，非常适合会说中文的乐龄人士，这让他感到很欣慰。
想更多的了解 James 大哥的故事吗？
Special thanks:
Volunteer, James, who agreed for an online interview
Volunteer, Chelsea, who helped us with the english write-up, and to conduct the interview
Colleagues from Tri-Love Elderly Department, for all the support and coordination
Towards a Healthy, Active and Happy 3rd Age
"I feel that on the surface, volunteering seems to be about helping others. However, at the end of the day, the rewards we ourselves gain are immeasurable, if not more. We get to interact meaningfully and regularly with people and the larger world.” - ECSS Volunteer, James, 70+ years old
James, who has just passed 70-years-old, has been a volunteer with En Community Services Society (ECSS) for about four years.
He first became interested in joining ECSS due to its various exciting programmes. Still, one, in particular, struck a chord with him:
“I don’t remember how I first came to know about ECSS - I think it was either through the radio or the newspaper.
Anyway, I came to hear of ECSS’ new Kopi And Toast Programme, which, for the first time, would be held in Mandarin.”
Kopi And Toast is a senior-befriending-senior programme, initiated by non-profit Council For 3rd Age (C3A) and jointly conducted by ECSS.
The Kopi And Toast programme connects an active senior (Kopi) with less active seniors (Toast) in hopes of encouraging more seniors to lead more active and fulfilling third lives.
Through a nurturing buddy, seniors are encouraged to take the initiative to discover the best way they want to spend their golden years. James says:
“I was very excited when I heard about it - previously, Kopi And Toast wasn’t accessible to Mandarin-speaking seniors.
I quickly spoke to some of the staff at ECSS and signed up for it.
And this is how I started my journey as a participant and then a volunteer with ECSS.”
For James, he believes that volunteering is an activity that benefits both parties:
“I feel that on the surface, volunteering seems to be about helping others.
However, at the end of the day, the rewards we ourselves gain are immeasurable, if not more.
We get to interact meaningfully and regularly with people.”
“Through my volunteering journey, I have built up confidence.
Volunteering also gives me a goal to work towards, and it gives me a strong sense of fulfillment when I manage to, with a team of people, fulfill these goals.” James says:
“I am a Chinese-educated person, and I see the need for more help for seniors like myself.”
For James, ECSS’ programme, which cater to Mandarin-speaking seniors, is something he feels grateful for.
Read more about James at https://cn.c3a.org.sg/News_detail.do?id=3090
Special thanks:
Volunteer, James, who agreed for an online interview
Volunteer, Chelsea, who helped us with the english write-up, and to conduct the interview
Colleagues from Tri-Love Elderly Department, for all the support and coordination