This April, the SHELTER 3 (for school-going teenage boys) residents moved into their new home in Petaling Jaya. Several faithful volunteers have also “moved” with the residents, continuing their volunteer work in the new home. It has also been encouraging to have new volunteers join the team.

Presently, there are less than ten volunteers who serve regularly in SHELTER 3. Here are some of their comments on what volunteering means to them:

“I have learnt volunteering goes beyond fulfilling a set of tasks and duties. It involves the sharing of his or her life’s bittersweet experiences, with the victories and failures with that one objective of encouraging and guiding each youth. It also involves not the mere teaching/tutoring or imparting of knowledge by the volunteer but encouraging the learning in all the youths in all aspects of life. Yes, aspects of life beyond what you and I would possibly received!

Sherene Lee

“I always had the desire to help needy children. I graduated from University of Malaya forty years ago, so the teaching helps me to refresh what I learnt so long ago and at the same time enables me to learn few things together with the student. It is really enjoyable and I am pleased that I can do a little to help needy people. At present, I am teaching Science and English to one Form 3 student. I hope that God will bless me with better teaching skills so that the student can benefit from our time together.”

Cheang Boon Khean

“It gives great privilege and joy to me just to see the smile on their face knowing that I am always there for them. I just want to feel cared for and to help them gain the positive impression that every individual in this world is important. I also want them to know that though there may be some difficulties in life, it should not hold them back from success. These lovely children need our support and love.”

Reny

“Teaching the teenagers language and maths over the past two years have been very rewarding. Depending on the needs of each individual child, lessons have to be tailored (most of the time by trial and error) to meet the child’s level and interest. I really look forward to my weekly appointment with the boys. Over the time spent with them, I have also become a friend to them. I would like to encourage all who love relating to children and teenagers to make time for volunteering in SHELTER.”