[GEN2060X] Reconnect SeniorsSG
- Ong Mui Hong
- KP
- Chong Bao Shen Kenneth
- Sim Qin Ying
IMPORTANT
Course duration. This is a year-long service-learning course offered in both Semesters 1 and 2 of the Academic Year. GEN2060X is offered in Semester 1 of the Academic Year; it runs till the end of Special Term 2 of that Academic Year, when grades are awarded. GEN2060Y is offered in Semester 2 of the Academic Year; it runs till the end of Semester 1 of the following Academic Year, when grades are awarded.
Befriending period. Over the course of twelve calendar months, you will be journeying with your assigned befriendee(s), often elderlies living by themselves. The befriending period for GEN2060X is from September of the enrolling semester to September of the following year; for GEN2060Y, from February of the enrolling semester to February of the following year.
Befriending commitment. The summer semester break (May‒July) forms part of a ‘hard’ commitment which you should fulfil. However, the last two months (Month 11 and 12 i.e. August and September for GEN2060X; January and February for GEN2060Y) constitute a ‘soft’ commitment, which you do not have to fulfil if you are unable to, e.g. if you have graduated, are on Leave of Absence (LoA) or have other commitments, such as Student Exchange Programme (SEP). In such cases, please do a smooth exit from your befriending journey.
During the ‘hard’ commitment phase, you may be away for up to one month at a time, for overseas travel, whether work, studies, or vacation. Thus, you can still enrol in this course, even if you plan to do short overseas exchanges. However, if you think you may likely be away for more than a month at a time, whether due to semester-long or summer SEP, overseas internship, LoA, etc, you SHOULD NOT enrol in this course. You would not be able to adequately fulfil your responsibility to the befriendee(s).
Service work requirement. Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident. For more details, refer to ‘Service Work’ tab.
Note to graduating students. If you intend to graduate at the end of AY2024/25 and wish to read GEN2060, the latest you can enrol is Semester 1 of that Academic Year, in GEN2060X. Grades are awarded at the end of Special Term 2, which means your degree will be conferred in end-Aug, and you will join the Commencement ceremony in the following year.
Many seniors are lonely or estranged, isolated from critical social networks and support structures. Volunteers provide the vital link to reconnect them with society and restore their well-being. In this course, students will learn key concepts in volunteerism, and essential skills, including communications, conflict management, needs identification and risk assessment, to support vulnerable seniors identified by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), checking on them regularly to provide emotional support and early intervention, if needed. Thus, students will develop empathy, sharpen observational and decision-making skills.
Learn more about the service-learning experience at:
Shermaine Ang, 1,000 NUS students befriend seniors as part of course to encourage volunteerism, The Straits Times (17 Nov 2023)
Amanda Yeap, Undergrads form meaningful connections, pick up language skills as they befriend seniors in graded volunteer work course, TODAY (25 Nov 2023)
Service-learning in action: NUS students befriend seniors and champion healthy ageing under year-long community engagement courses, NUS News (15 Dec 2023)
Please click here for frequently asked questions.
For further enquiries, please contact the GEN2060 team:
Course Lead
Mr Kenneth Chong (pvocbsk@nus.edu.sg)
Course Tutors
Ms Han Qi (han.qi@nus.edu.sg)
Ms Karyne Teo (karyne@nus.edu.sg
See you in Reconnect SeniorsSG!