The schedules are convenient, the youths are anticipative for the sessions, the staff are accommodating, and the interactions are spontaneous. These were the pleasant circumstances, much to the delight of our Psychology student volunteers as they conducted the weekly activities at the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) Youthreach division. Until their final session on the 30th of July, they are convinced to visit the youths again.

It would be observed that after every activity the RECC Psych volunteers would come out of the SAMH Youthreach centre happy and fulfilled. Aside from having that sense of fulfillment for doing something good for others, they have developed their public speaking skills- which made them more confident in their abilities as the weeks go by. Furthermore, they became more sensitive to the youth’s conditions – which enabled them to empathize. Most of the time, they would stay just to spend extra time to listen to the youths’ interests and to find out how the latter feel about the activities at the centre. There have never been any week where there were no ‘sharing’ from the youths. Moreover, as part of the students’ training, they get a feedback from the centre and from the school’s representative (CPD) in order to gain useful insights in conducting activities. These tips equipped them not only in their activity at Youthreach but also in their future endeavors.

The sessions were over, but their spirit of volunteerism lingered. Their passion towards social service stirred up as some have expressed their intention to go back to the centre and spend at least once a week to run their own sessions. They are also willing to assist in the administrative jobs of the few staff.

At the concluding part of the sessions, they were even more encouraged to do more when the youths presented a truly artistic personalized Thank you card to the volunteers and to the representative of the school’s Centre of Professional Development (CPD).

“If there’s a will, there’s a way”. Due to the school’s commitment to the youths, and the students’ willingness to reach out, follow up activities have been planned. One is on September 5th at Sentosa Leisure Island organized by none other than the student volunteers themselves and funded by Chew Hua Seng Foundation (a conduit of RECC). The programme includes games near the beach and watching the Songs of the Sea (which they are very excited about). Another event is a Christmas party in December which will be held at the centre.

Kudos, RECC Psych students, you made it happen!

		The Raffles School of Psycology staff and students have once again embarked on community involvement when they visited the Singapore Association for Mental Health on May 26, 2008. The students expressed their commitment to the centre's "Program YouthReach" by volunteering to conduct sessions for the youths at the centre. They will start the session entitled "Work Well" on July 2nd, 2008, and will be followed by other sessions consistent with the comprehensive service plan of the centre for the youths. "Program YouthReach" is a recovery program for children and youth identified with emotional and psychological problems.