Christmas at Gardens by the Bay
Fifty residents from the Sunshine Welfare Action Mission (SWAMI) home were treated to an early Christmas at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on December 17, 2017. This event was jointly organised by one of the youth and students of the Singapore Polytechnic Interact Club. This gave a wonderful opportunity to interact with the residents in a more relaxed and comfortable setting.
The event started with a brief introduction. Each resident was paired with two volunteers to ensure their well-being/welfare.
The first stop was the Flower Dome. The dome boasts over twenty thousand species of flowers from around the world. It was indeed a mesmerising sight for the residents and volunteers to capture. Some of the residents shared their experiences on gardening with the volunteers. Others recollected their childhood memories of collecting flowers during the good village days. One volunteer even shared how she gets patients to paint flowers as part of progressive therapy.
The youth adjourned for a short tea break. Delicious sandwiches and curry puffs were served to the residents.
Second stop was the Cloud Forest. The Cloud Forest boasts a variety of plant species. It was even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 35 metres. The residents certainly enjoyed learning a thing or two about the unique biodiversity and lush vegetation on display.
The event concluded with the volunteers giving presents to the residents. The residents had an enjoyable time spending their day with Sai Youth. Heartfelt gratitude was expressed for the wonderful event.