Volunteering in MHI 2008

Volunteering in MHI

Introduction

How we started

            MHI started in 1992 when a group of volunteers from Wesley Methodist Church got together to learn sign language from Ms Pauline Satari. After the course, we decided that we want to put our skills and knowledge to good use. We started to reach out to Deaf (Hearing Impaired) adults. However, the initial plans were not very successful. We changed our strategy and reached out to students from the Deaf schools instead.

            The program managed to take off and as each year passes, more people with hearing disability got to know about us and have decided to make the place our second home.   

            The name MHI or Ministry for the Hearing Impaired was coined. In 2004, the name was changed to Ministry of the Hearing Impaired. The mission statement was also reworded to encompass more than just the Deaf and the Hearing. More Hard of hearing (HH) people are born these days and they are also part of the community even though they are not good with sign language.  From the year 2000 onwards, since more hearing impaired people have come to join MHI, volunteers no long just refer to Hearing people. The Deaf (HI) has become a respectable force of volunteers in MHI. They have come to work side by side with the other Hearing volunteers and they are just as capable as anyone in the MHI community.

            MHI is what it is today because God has called all of us to work together setting aside our differences; whether we are Deaf, Hearing or Hard of Hearing, to provide care and love to not only the Deaf community but also others in Singapore. In other words, we are here to make a difference.

Mission Statement

To be a unique and dynamic community of Deaf , Hearing and Hard of hearing persons who touch and transform lives for Christ.

 

Regular Activities

1)            Tuition for students

Tuition for primary and secondary school students are held regularly during school term on Tuesday and Friday nights from 730pm to 930pm. They are tutored mainly in 2 subjects: English and Mathematics. Some tutors also give tuition in other subjects like Science, Principles of Accounts, Biology,etc.  Students come mainly from the Singapore School for the Deaf and Canossian school for the Hearing Impaired. Other students study in the 2 main secondary schools : Balestier Hill Secondary School and Boon Lay Secondary School.  There are a small number from the mainstream schools.

            During school holidays, the tutors will organize camps for them so that they can further build the relationship between teacher and students.

 

2)            Drop in Center

DIC or Drop in Center is run from Tuesday to Saturday after school from 230pm to 6pm. It provides a space for the students for recreational activities such as video games, pool, board  games. They also use the place to do their home work after school instead of going home. The students hold their activities under supervision of adults. YWCA also provides shower facilities for the students. Simple food and drinks are provided for the students

Weekend activities extend beyond just at the YWCA. In 2007, it grew to include hip hop classes and bowling.

 

3)            Sunday Fellowship

A group of Christians (teens and adults) meet regularly after church at 1130am at YWCA to do Bible studies. They also prepare those who are keen to be baptized.

 

4)            Sunday 930am Prayer and Praise Service (Wesley Methodist Church)

MHI provides interpreted services for people with hearing problems. Since 1992, we have been designated to assist the contemporary service to make it more deaf-friendly. We do so by interpreting the service in sign language. Both the worship in songs as well as the sermons are interpreted. This year in 2007, we move beyond sign language interpretation and introduced note taking for those who are unfamiliar with the signs. This enable those who want to take part in worship to understand the service better as we provide a note taking service.  There has been talk as the Prayer and Praise worship team want to integrate the whole audio and visual experience and put it online for all to participate.

            Another group of very young HI attend the Sunday School under Special Sunday School. Volunteers go and help these special children understand the Sunday school better.

 

On going Projects

MHI is part of the COSC or Christian Outreach and Social Concerns Department of Wesley Methodist Church.  Therefore there are many projects for the various groups of needy people that we are invariably involved by association.  This includes Befrienders, Skiers Paradiz, Home for the Elderly, etc.  However we have our own unique activities which we organize especially catering for those with hearing needs.

 

Christmas Party 2008

An outreach program for the Singapore Deaf Community. This year, we hope not only to include a dinner, but also a mini concert for those attending.

 

Chinese New Year Party 2009

An outreach program for those in the Chinese New Year Mood.

 

Deaf Awareness Sunday 2008

An Education program for Wesley Church (population of 4000 worshippers) to help them understand the needs of the Deaf.

 

Missions to Deaf School in Philippines 2009

In 2007, we started visiting a deaf college in the Philippines as part of our missions project. We went to Laguna in the Philippines and the team spent a few days with the deaf students teaching them about worship. This year, we will be going there again.

 

Deaf Awareness to Methodist Churches

For 15 years, MHI has remained in Wesley Methodist Church. There are more than 18 Methodist Churches in Singapore. We have yet to share our services with them. The project will involve new ideas in order to make the members in other Methodist churches more aware of the situation of the Deaf community in Singapore, the special needs of the special people, their special ability and their resilience to survive to be a contributing member in Singapore.

October 2008, we will be reaching out to the Penang Wesley Church deaf ministry. We hope that through the Deaf ministry in Penang, we can reach more rural deaf people and bring the Gospel to them.

 

Conclusion

 

We hope that after you have read the above, you may seriously consider join us as part of the team. No body is born to know everything in volunteering. We hope that you will be patient to come for training. Take the time to find your talents and where you can best fit in. Consider the long term commitments as well as the short projects available. Most of all, set aside all your differences. Whether you come as a Deaf, Hearing or Hard of Hearing to serve, we hope that MHI will be a home for all.