A first step is all it takes: How everything aligned for Jeannine when she chose to volunteer
Written by: Sarah Tan
"Time!”, chuckled Jeannine, responding to my question on one of the main challenges of volunteering. Indeed, time is a scarce resource for Jeannine, who met me right after a private tuition lesson she had offered to a friend’s child.
Jeannine is a professional financial advisor. She is also an athlete. She has recently signed up for both the Safra Swim for Hope, and the Run for Hope organised by the National Cancer Centre and Four Seasons Hotel.
On top of that, she volunteers with Architects of Life (AOL), a social enterprise working with ex-convicts.
Architects of Life offers programs (X-offenders for good, XOFG) for ex-offenders, to develop self confidence and personal mastery to overcome setbacks. They also mentor and coach ex-offenders to develop critical core skills, personal and financial mastery.
It all began when Jeannine was invited to observe a class and a graduation ceremony held by AOL for ex-offenders who had completed their program. It dawned on her that financial literacy would be an important skill for them.
“When they are out of prison, they start looking for a job and they receive a salary. It will be useful for them to know basic financial planning. I thought it would be meaningful to weave this into the program.”
It has been more than a year since Jeannine started volunteering with AOL. Currently, her contribution lies primarily in curriculum planning. Jeannine is also quick to point out that they are constantly adapting to the needs of the participants of the program.
While it first began with the goal of equipping them with the basic knowledge of financial planning, she soon realised that most of the participants were in the process of looking for employment.
Career navigation then became a huge part of the program’s curriculum. This involves personality and skills matches to the jobs the participants are looking for.
Jeannine was also instrumental in getting a team of volunteers together. She admitted that she was very selective in finding the right people for the program. She wanted people who were passionate to serve for the long term. She muses that it all seemed to be orchestrated by a divine hand.
She reached out to her former colleague, an educator, for a private tuition matter. Upon getting in touch again, Jeannine found that her friend had an interest in mentorship.
Seeing that her friend was a right fit for the X-offender program, she asked her friend to help out and her friend readily agreed. In another instance, she met up with her mother’s previous financial planner. Serendipitously, she quickly discovered the financial planner's passion for volunteer work and her keen interest in helping ex-convicts.
Despite not knowing how she could contribute, the financial planner agreed to volunteer. This person is currently well loved by participants and volunteers of the program, who think of her fondly as their motherly figure.
Currently there are over 20 volunteers. In fact, many ex-convicts who have completed the program decide to stay on to be mentors and volunteers themselves. Participants find themselves in a safe community to share, grow and learn together.
This is the first time Jeannine is volunteering with ex-convicts. She finds them to be just like any one of us. “It is only when we want to label them, then they become different in our eyes. But they are just normal human beings.
They need to go to work, they need to eat, they have the same needs as us. In fact, they have a more difficult time than us because they are in a situation where they need to accept themselves and work to have their loved ones accept them too.
"They may be tempted to go back to their old ways and
they have to be aware of their thoughts and actions.”
Volunteering with AOL has also led to personal growth for Jeannine. Seeing how the ex-convicts show up for the lessons each week, despite a long day at work, she is inspired by their sincerity and willingness to learn. She is also well acquainted with their personal struggles and the harsh environment which many of them grew up in.
Their positive attitude and determination to change has impacted her tremendously. She has developed a strong sense of gratitude, even in her most trying days.
She cited a participant she knew who was about to be convicted. He was out on bail when he decided to come for the XOFG program. He showed up every week diligently and was eager to learn.
He also willingly helped out with photography and other work. “Anyone would be crushed, or would be struggling with the fear of having to enter prison soon, yet despite this, he was so eager to learn and to help out. It moved me,” Jeannine said.
“They are very inspiring. They are always trying. Seeing that they are not giving up on themselves and going in the right direction, that really keeps me going,” Jeannine shared. “If you can touch one person, they integrate into society and help others, it creates a multiplier effect. For instance, many of these participants stayed on to become mentors themselves.”
Having volunteered for some time, Jeannine has also seen ex-convicts returning to their old ways and were convicted again. While she feels disappointed, she understands that progression may not be linear.
There are certain issues which a person has to resolve on their own. The team of volunteers will continue to be there for them.
Jeannine hopes that they can find more volunteers for the program. Her encouragement for anyone who is keen on volunteering is to have an open mindset and to attend a class conducted by the XOFG to get a better understanding of the program.
“You will be touched, not by what we volunteers do but by what they (the ex-convicts) do.”
info@architectsoflife.sg
