Work attachment at CWA :)

I had my two week work attachment programme at this voluntary welfare organization - Caregiving Welfare Association - located at Buona Vista.

Caregiving Welfare Association, otherwise known as CWA, is a voluntary welfare organization focused on eldercare work. CWA has expanded its scope and emphasis on direct eldercare services to help seniors age better, while continuing to focus on support and inculcating responsible and knowledgeable caregivers.

CWA provides 3 main services. They are namely Elderly Healthcare Assistance, Welfare and social support, as well as Education and Awareness.

My part of the work attachment programme was quite simple. As part of the welfare and social support programme, a day care centre was set up for seniors to engage in meaningful social activities including therapeutic programmes and recreational sessions, handicraft-making sessions and so on. All I had to do was to make the elderly at the day care centre feel welcomed, as well as to lead some of the handicraft sessions.

This was the very first handicraft I learnt at the centre! Handmade swiss rolls using simply towels, ribbons and tape.

This was also the very first time I had to lead in a handicraft session. Honestly, I was very nervous and worried at the start. What if the elderly cannot understand what I am trying to teach? What if the elderly are not interested in what I am teaching? However to my surprise, the elderly were very interested in the making of the swiss rolls and they picked up the skill very fast! In the end, we had to end the session early as we ran out of materials to make the swiss rolls due to their overwhelming response :)

Next up was the making of earrings! This was one of the handicraft sessions I enjoyed the most. Even though it was quite difficult bending the wire, getting the crystals in place and piecing the whole earrings together, the sense of achievement and accomplishment at the end was awesome!

Can you believe that these flowers were actually handmade by the elderly at the centre? All they used were scrap plastic bags and copper wires!

This is how the flowers will look like at the end :)

This bear is also hand sewn by the elderly at the centre!

So..... where do all these handicrafts go?

They are finally put on sale at street sale events held by CWA themselves! :)

Eventually, all these money earned would go back to the elderly at the centre through social and welfare programmes such as food rationing!

Overall, I have learnt a lot through this work attachment programme. If given a chance, I would definitely go back to CWA to help again :)

-Yun Lu