IPCA 2024 - Monica Chua

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I live just across Sengkang Community Hospital (SKCH), and after retiring from my job as a clinic assistant, I often looked across the road from my house and thought about volunteering there as a meaningful way to spend my new-found free time in my area of interest – healthcare. One day, I decided to take action and walked into SKCH and inquired if they needed volunteers. That was how I became its first volunteer.

Since then, I have initiated and led many projects, including weekly arts and craft sessions with the patients. I often go online to Pinterest and YouTube for craft inspiration, and then carefully prepare origami-based craft activities tailored to the abilities of different patients to ensure that everyone can participate. During festive seasons, patients get involved in handmaking beautiful festive decorations to be put up in the hospital.

Besides organising group activities, one of the most rewarding parts of my volunteer work is to make personal connections with patients. As a befriender, I provide a listening ear to patients, offering emotional support and companionship to those who feel lonely. I also help to take patients' meal orders whenever there are language gaps between the nurses and patients.

I also help as a medical escort volunteer, accompanying patients with no family support to their doctor's appointments at the Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) Medical Centre. In addition, I accompany wheelchair-bound patients to hairdressing appointments, watch performances within the hospital, or play games like Rummy and mahjong. These activities keep them occupied, and I can see that they really look forward to being brought out of their wards to do fun and interesting activities.

Every volunteering session has been meaningful. I enjoy every moment spent connecting with patients, and it is heartwarming to see the joy and gratitude on their faces or hear about how they are so busy with their crafts that they forget about their pain and discomfort. That is the reward I get from giving my time to the patients.

I am blessed to have a supportive family who is happy that I am doing something worthwhile and meaningful. Their encouragement and support spur me on to keep doing all I can for those in need.

I have come to realise that volunteering is about building meaningful connections and relationships with patients. By taking the time to learn their names, show empathy and patience, and being respectful, I have forged many connections and hopefully made a positive difference to their hospital stay.


"Monica is a very talented and dedicated volunteer. She leads the arts and crafts sessions and assists in decorating the wards with beautifully crafted designs. Through the sessions, she actively engages the patients, offering encouragement to enhance their wellbeing and confidence!"

Amy Chan 
Wellbeing Coordinator, Social Prescribing
Office of Community Engagement and Education
Sengkang Community Hospital