STUDYING at University of Queensland, Australia, I am discovering that education is not just about books and cramming for exams. Education as a concept should be holistic and involving more than just studying but also involves observation, participation, contribution and reflection.

Then there is also personal growth, that comes from both giving and receiving. Many people tend to save that for later in their life but I believe that that giving back to society can start at any point - and you don’t have to wait till you graduate!

After all, we the young have an abundance of enery to make these things happen. It was with this in mind that I started volunteer work while I was still living in Penang, and continued here in Australia.

I am excited to be part of a programme in Australia called the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). It aims to enrich the quality of life of nursing home residents who have limited family and social contact outside of the home.

In Malaysia, I used to visit a few residents in the Penang Home on a casual basis. Here, however, I have committed myself to a more formal, organised and systematic programme.

Abigail (second from right) enjoys working with children

The infrastructure built by the Australian government facilitates my involvement and provides the support and safety I need. For example, here I am assigned to one particular resident, receive training, and am accountable to a supervisor.

Befriending someone living in an aged care facility does not only benefit the resident, but the very act of volunteering brings alive the good heart of community. One cannot underestimate the healing possibilities that genuine kindness and generosity can bring. Knowing that my smiles and light chitchat might have made someone’s day is enough to make mine too.

Apart from the very old, I also have a soft spot for the very young. Therefore, I have also started being involved in the children’s ministry at church, helping out with holiday activities, among other things. I do everything from preparing food, to leading games, to cleaning wounds, to engaging in water pistol fights!

I have learnt a lot too! Just steping into the shoes of a mother of five for a couple of hours, and one discovers what multitasking is really about. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching Sunday School in Penang and was keen to continue working with children here. It is different, but not quite.

Children everywhere are fundamentally the same; loud, messy, and unpredictable. I may not usually like it, but I’d roll around in dirt on a sunny day if they insisted on it! Looking through the eyes of a child allows me to discover great joy in small things.

Indeed, I can learn more from five minutes spent with children than from hours of lectures. To me, a child’s laughter is revives my soul and gives me drive to keep going. Besides, I am sudying psychological science and plan on specialising in Child Psychology. So what better way to study than to surround myself with the “subjects” in question!

Childhood is a crucial period for developing one’s character and self-esteem. Positive experience and influence are vital in these early years, and I aspire to contribute towards that.

The volunteer placement process is very strict here. It took at least one month for me to be officially qualified to be a volunteer. I had to get my police clearance and working-with-children-check completed before being allowed to be involved with these volunteering services. I suppose these hassles might be the biggest deterring factor for the public to volunteer but I can see why they are needed.

While some believe in karma, which sets the expectation that doing good would bring one good luck in return, I think it should be the other way around – bless because one is blessed. I hope soon there will be some initiative like the CVS in Malaysia to get the public more involved in contributing directly to society.

I am sure there are good people everywhere who are just waiting for a chance to do something that will make a difference.