It is normal for us to feel insignificant at times – to look at the daunting array of problems and think to yourself, “I am just one person, what good would my contribution do?”. We follow Ryan along his volunteering journey with NUS Project WAO, a student initiative with a mission to “assimilate both student and migrant community”. “We do not call them beneficiaries, we call them migrant sisters and brothers.”, Ryan shared.

As part of the logistics and marketing cell, Ryan felt that the migrant community was often overlooked. Building pretty much every brick and foundation of Singapore’s landscape, the migrant community “make such a profound impact on our community, but we often don’t hear anything about them besides the horrible cases from the news”. Besides that, what propelled him to volunteer was the sense of community. “I’m happy that I got my members because even when the task is very mundane and tedious, we always do it laughing and I feel like we’re very bonded”, he recalled. Through such planning, it elevates the average volunteering experience to a meaningful and fulfilling one. 

Image credits to MWC

Of course, like many of us, Ryan did have some reservations about volunteering. “I think sometimes when you see people volunteering, like your friends, then you think ‘you confirm do it just to put something on your resume’.”. It is unsurprising for him to have this mindset as it aligns with our workaholic culture. The assumption that one is just volunteering to get something in return highlights how transactional relationships are becoming the default. However, more exposure to the volunteering scene can debunk this mindset – “people will always tell you stories about how much it helps them, how much it brings them joy to help other people… it shows me that not everybody is selfish”. Another common misconception is that volunteering only benefits the recipient. Ryan shared that “volunteering is not just about helping people; you’re also getting help in a way”. One can learn a lot from helping others, it reinforces the privilege one has, it teaches us to be appreciative for the little things. 

 
Image credits to MWC

Then what is stopping people from volunteering? Well, similarly to the bystander effect, Ryan remarked, “the reason why I didn’t do it earlier is because I feel that there are always more sincere or better people to do it”. Expectations that are placed on volunteers, be it personal or societal, could present themselves as deterrents. Though, the ability to help should not hinge on any shortcomings you might have, it should not stop you from wanting to volunteer. As Ryan advised, “Honestly, I think as long as you have the thought of volunteering, then that’s all that matters. People often overlook how much a contribution matters, but honestly, it’s bigger than you think.” 

Join us at MWC and make a difference by volunteering to support our migrant brothers! Click here to find out more.