International volunteers' day - 5 december 2004

A tribute from NCSS to all our Social Service Volunteers
[in celebration of Internation Volunteers Day, 5 Dec 2004]

You are protectors and defenders
With gentleness you strengthen,
With courage you defend
With compassion you nuture
the ones who need it most

You are individuals donating yur time,
giving your heart
You are groups coming together to help
You are corporations lending support
And you are vital for the survival of our society
because the empathy for others,
the spirit of volunteerism,
and the hope and dignity engendered
by giving, are all linked together,
to form a circle of compassion
and in the centre are you, the volunteers

But such is the spirit of giving that it enriches not
only those who receive, but also those who give
Becasue through the act of giving,
we also gain so much
and by adding to the sum of
human kindness and happiness,
volunteers and givers also increase their own.

Thank you for all the hours, the days,
the nights, the weeks, the months
and the years of giving,
and know that gratitude and appreciation
are always with you.


this poem, written on the thank you book mark given by NCSS.
is to all volunteers.
you and me alike.
i dedicate this to all volunteers out there.
[esp to my interact exco! :) fishball, gab, sya, jiahui, xinyi (l), xinyi (k), wanjun, dephne, pk. we worked so hard in 2003 for the organisations and interact itself. this poem goes to you guys :) missing you guys lots and yea of course, exco outing akan datang! [correct usage? muahaha.] which weekend? christmas itself? ]

to all volunteers and budding ones,
happy international volunteers day :)