Interview with a Samaritan

Shannon, an SOS volunteer in her late 20s. The following interview was conducted by Youth.SG.

Youth.SG: Why bother?

Shannon: I have always wanted to do some form of voluntary work, as a way of helping others and contributing to the society. And I thought that it is never too early or late to start volunteering.

How did you start volunteering for SOS?

I came across an article a few years ago about SOS’ services, and their need for more volunteers. I went on to check out SOS on their website, and was glad to know that there will be training provided. Also, volunteering at SOS allows me to do voluntary work on a regular, long-term basis, which I prefer rather than short-term duties.

What kind of training did you go through before you started taking calls?

There were classroom trainings through lectures and role-playing, thereafter which we were given the chance to apply our skills (i.e. answering calls on the hotline).

Did you face any difficulties?

There were times when I felt affected after hearing the problems shared by the helpline callers. But I was very glad that there were other Samaritans and the staff from SOS to share my thoughts and feelings with, which helped me to cope and manage my negative feelings.

What sacrifices have you made?

I may have missed some of my social events once in a while, but I do not see that as a sacrifice. Rather, I would remind myself about the fact that there are other people in Singapore who needs help and someone to talk to. To me, answering their calls is something very minimal that I can do for them.

In times of trouble, it helps to talk. Do you agree that everyone has that need to do so?

As the saying goes,"a problem shared is a problem halved". I do think that talking or expressing oneself in times of trouble can help relieve the pressure and level of stress.

How do you know you've succeeded in making a difference?

Other than providing a listening ear to each caller, we will also help them explore the different options, inform and refer them to appropriate resources when need be. At the end of the call, they may or may not thank me, but hearing them sounding less distressed or less unhappy already makes my day.