In a strong display of kampung spirit, more than 210 senior management and employees of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) gathered at the heartlands of Singapore for the third edition of aRWSome Volunteer Day, clocking more than 2,600 volunteer hours decluttering, cleaning and sprucing up the homes of elderly and needy residents living in 26 one- and two-room rental flats in Queenstown division. For the first time, this year’s flagship home refurbishment programme by the integrated resort’s corporate social responsibility arm – RWS Cares – took the company’s sustainability efforts a step further by including several green initiatives such as an upcycling workshop for senior citizens and collaborating with vendors to recycle waste from their homes in support of a Zero Waste Nation.
This year’s green outreach efforts are an expansion of the partnership with Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) under the Silver Homes programme – an initiative that provides the needy living in rental flats with a clean, safe and healthy living environment. While the homes were being cleaned, 70 elderly residents learnt, in a fun and engaging upcycling workshop by conservation and education experts of RWS, how to re-purpose common household waste items such as single-use plastic bottles and old t-shirts into pen holders and tote bags respectively. RWS also collaborated with industry partners such as KL Enviro to sort out recyclables from the waste generated from the homes, and Diversey to provide environmentally-friendly floor and toilet cleaning solutions. Like previous years, RWS assembled a roving team of handymen from its Facilities Management and Engineering department to help residents with more technical and complex repair works such as electrical wiring, plumbing and carpentry.
(Left photo) RWS volunteers (in yellow) and staff from KL Enviro (in blue) sorting out recyclables from unwanted items from the rental homes of Lengkok Bahru. (Right photo) Residents from Queenstown Division participating in an upcycling workshop conducted by RWS volunteers.
In the weeks leading to the event day, RWS volunteers had spent time on the ground, visiting the residents and befriending them to understand their needs at a deeper level. Volunteers were also trained on proper waste management techniques on segregating dry from wet waste for more effective recycling.
Flagging off aRWSome Volunteer Day at Lengkok Bahru in Queenstown division this morning, Mr Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer of RWS said: “Our collaboration with Central Singapore CDC continues to grow through the years, reaching out to the elderly and needy community and improving their living conditions. It is heartening to know that we have made a positive impact to lonely seniors as well as families who are incapable of coping with day-to-day housework. Besides social giving, sustainability is also a key pillar in our corporate social responsibility efforts to fight climate change. This year, we have extended our sustainability initiatives to this event to support the nation’s zero waste efforts, and we are delighted that our partners KL Enviro and Diversey have responded to our call to contribute towards a greener future. The needy beneficiaries also participated in the recycling and upcycling activities as they learnt from our volunteers to declutter, recycle and re-purpose materials at home into useful everyday items.”
Ms Denise Phua, Mayor of Central Singapore District, said: “A life well-lived is one that makes a positive difference in someone else’s. It is heartening to see the leaders of RWS pave the way for its staff to make that difference. With the Silver Homes programme, RWS staff volunteers improve the quality of the living environment of vulnerable seniors and needy residents in Central Singapore. Apart from cleaning their homes, they befriend and organise fun-filled activities to engage the residents. I am grateful to the leaders and staff of RWS for taking their corporate social responsibility so seriously, and for their sincere and sustained efforts to care for people in need in our society. “
(L to R) Mayor Denise Phua, Mdm Loh Wai Cheng, Adviser Dr Chia Shi-Lu and CEO Mr Tan celebrating Mdm Loh’s 90th birthday at her Lengkok Bahru home.
“I am very thankful for the dedication shown by the warm and caring team of volunteers from RWS. Not only were they sincere in reaching out to me, but they often checked in with me to ensure that my needs were addressed in detail. Having to balance housework while looking after three young children under my care is a daily challenge, but now I can manage better in my neat and clutter-free home. With the money I save from using LED bulbs for my light fixtures, I can now purchase for the kids their favourite food from the nearby market,” shared Lengkok Bahru resident Mdm Loh Wai Cheng.
(L to R) Adviser Dr Chia Shi-Lu, Mayor Denise Phua and CEO Mr Tan helping to repaint the wall of Mdm Azizah’s home (seen second from left) at Lengkok Bahru.
Echoing similar sentiments, Lengkok Bahru resident Mdm Azizah, who lives with her four children, commented: “As I have a young child with special needs, it is difficult for me to work and maintain my home at the same time. This is why I am truly grateful for all the help that RWS has given me and my family. My mother recently passed away, and I hope this home makeover can usher in new beginnings, cheer and hope for my family. Despite my family challenges, I also set aside time to volunteer and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction to be able to help others. I hope this spirit of giving can continue to spread as this will make the world a better place.”
