Service – PACE

WHAT IS IT?

Our Service program provides some wonderful ways for UWCSEA parents and families to get hands-on in connecting with and helping people and places in Singapore. In partnership with local NGO’s we offer a spectrum of opportunities throughout the year including preparing meals for migrant workers, accompanying children who live with food insecurity to purchase groceries for their families and cleaning up coastal areas of Singapore from a kayak!

These volunteer experiences are open to all members of UWCSEA. Some are designed for parents alone and others to be undertaken as a family. They can become regular occurrences or done as one-offs, making them the perfect way to serve the community even if you can’t make a long-term commitment. We offer both weekend and weekday activities so that many parents have a chance to participate. While we can’t tailor activities to every age, ability and interest, we’re confident that even the youngest of our school-age children can make a meaningful contribution to one of these local causes.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE

Singapore has one of the world’s highest levels of income per person, but more than 1 in 10 citizens are reported to be living in poverty and struggle to provide their families with basics such as shelter, food and healthcare. In addition, many of the 1.2 million low-wage migrant workers in Singapore sacrifice their own comfort to provide for their families back home. Separately, but just as important, Singapore suffers from a high level of marine pollution due to the busy shipping corridors and local waste.

These are all issues we can help to address.

PACE Service gives UWCSEA parents an ideal way to make a positive impact on low-income families, migrant workers and the natural environment and show our children that we respect the school’s values and play a part in upholding the UWC mission.

We aim to promote respectful service and cultivate empathy towards the circumstances of those we serve. By working with local NGOs who are attuned to the needs and nuances of the community, we offer a way to engage meaningfully, and sensitise our children to the challenges facing migrant workers, low-income families and the environment.

SERVICE WITH PACE

We are working with three organisations to provide UWCSEA parents and families with community service opportunities. We also regularly look for more ways to make a difference so if you don’t see anything below to suit, follow us on social media or check back here in a couple of months to see if there’s something new to interest you.

Children’s Wishing Well – FRESH

Volunteers accompany children from low-income families on supermarket shopping trips to help them buy groceries. Operating on a budget of $50 (provided by the volunteer) the children shop for what they want and need and learn about nutrition, budgeting and decision-making. This is an intensive 2-hour experience with a child that presents the volunteer with an opportunity to teach children how to choose nutritious and value-for-money food while also learning about their lives.

Krsna’s Free Meals

A soup kitchen in Singapore run by volunteers who are compassionate and determined to serve those in need, Krsna’s Free Meals serves up to 1800 free breakfasts and lunches daily to migrant workers. You and your child can volunteer to prepare pure vegetarian meals for some of the least privileged people in Singapore. The activity could involve peeling and cutting vegetables for cooking or preparing and serving meals, all with a grateful heart. If you can’t come down to our kitchen to help you can still make an impact by providing a one-off donation to help celebrate someone’s birthday or other special occasion.

Coastal Kayak Clean Up!

In conjunction with Camp Challenge, PACE coordinates a Coastal Kayak Clean Up where families get to enjoy a morning kayaking around the Singapore coastline while collecting rubbish that pollutes our waterways. This provides a lovely time to bond with your family and practice teamwork while spending a meaningful morning helping the environment.

Like many parents, when faced with the question, “what do I want for my children?” – I usually revert to some version that rings the hope that they will find happiness and success. And then, as a parent – I often question whether I am really setting them up for true happiness? Have I done enough to teach them where real happiness comes from?’ It’s not an easy analysis of one’s parenting, however, on days like this past Family Service Day, I rest a little easier knowing I’ve demonstrated what I believe to be a very powerful, sustainable, true source of happiness – service for others.

Neha PatelPACE Chair

My son Yohaan and I met you at the PACE event, Unlitter Red Dot at Dover Crest a couple of weekends ago. Just wanted to let you know that the event has inspired Yohaan to live his life differently and it makes my heart explode with pride when I see him notice trash around the city and use his own initiative to help. Yesterday, we went for a walk/run around Sentosa and he decided to stop and pick up loads of bottles and rubbish on the rocks!

Natasha ThomasUWC East Parent

The youngest volunteer, Ayanna Beck, a K2 student at Dover enthusiastically repeated that ‘it was the best morning ever.’ Inessa Patel, a G2 student at East said she “enjoyed packing food because I liked working in a packing line with my friends.”

Ayanna & Inessa

Like many parents, when faced with the question, “what do I want for my children?” – I usually revert to some version that rings the hope that they will find happiness and success. And then, as a parent – I often question whether I am really setting them up for true happiness? Have I done enough to teach them where real happiness comes from?’ It’s not an easy analysis of one’s parenting, however, on days like this past Family Service Day, I rest a little easier knowing I’ve demonstrated what I believe to be a very powerful, sustainable, true source of happiness – service for others.

Neha PatelPACE Chair.

My son Yohaan and I met you at the PACE event, Unlitter Red Dot at Dover Crest a couple of weekends ago. Just wanted to let you know that the event has inspired Yohaan to live his life differently and it makes my heart explode with pride when I see him notice trash around the city and use his own initiative to help. Yesterday, we went for a walk/run around Sentosa and he decided to stop and pick up loads of bottles and rubbish on the rocks!

Natasha ThomasUWC East Parent.

The youngest volunteer, Ayanna Beck, a K2 student at Dover enthusiastically repeated that ‘it was the best morning ever.’ Inessa Patel, a G2 student at East said she “enjoyed packing food because I liked working in a packing line with my friends.”

Ayanna & Inessa

UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Walk Through WWII Battlegrounds at Bukit Brown

September 21, 2022

30 November 2022
08:30 am - 11:30 am

The Battle of Singapore was fought from 8-15 February 1942. Though short, it was a week of intense fighting before the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese forces. Meandering through Bukit Brown, an expansive beautiful park rich in heritage, join us on a guided walk that will take you back to one of the most turbulent times in Singapore! We are deeply honoured and thankful to Claire Leow, for guiding us and sharing her valuable knowledge with us on our Walk Through War Time Singapore. Clair has been a journalist for over 21 years and loves photography, community projects, travel and visiting historic sites.