30
December
2015
|
16:00
Asia/Singapore

Vision for a better future

Beneficiaries receive encouraging notes in their 'affirmation envelopes' that they can re-read when they are going through tough times (Photo: CampVision)

Twenty NUS Raffles Hall residents strove to impart values such as perseverance and teamwork to about 100 at-risk youths who participated in the Live Your Dreams camp, held from 4 to 6 December at Sarimbun Scout Camp in Singapore.

As group leaders, they led troubled teens from local foster homes, family service centres and schools through physically and mentally challenging activities that nudged them out of their comfort zones.

Raffles Hall’s collaboration with volunteer-driven movement CampVision began informally last year, when Year 2 Economics student Tan Wei Chun rounded up some fellow residents to volunteer at the 2014 Live Your Dreams camp. The first official partnership took place earlier this year, when the NUS students helped CampVision produce its annual Ministry of Vision, a platform which enables youths to put their past behind them through theatrical and arts therapy.

Wei Chun, who co-chaired the 2015 Live Your Dreams camp, could see great synergies in bringing the Hall and CampVision together. The Hall residents, for example, could share theatrical knowledge to those participating in Ministry of Vision.

The students signed up with Live Your Dreams to give back to the community, but found themselves reaping benefits from the experience too. As Year 2 Life Sciences student Lim Wan Xin put it, “From this camp, I realised that I have the ability to be strong and resilient too. I can bounce back from past mistakes. I just had to keep believing in myself and keep on going.”

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Year 1 Mechanical Engineering student Liew Nam Yang climbing up a steep, slippery slope nicknamed Butter Hill, one of Live Your Dreams’ many challenging activities (Photo: CampVision)

Raffles Hall’s involvement with CampVision continues on even after the camp. From January to April next year, the students will aid in CampVision’s 2016 edition of Ministry of Vision.

By Raffles Hall