#HeartWork: Aditya Mahesh Khatri

Mr Aditya Mahesh Khatri's 16-year journey as a volunteer at SHINE Children and Youth Services (SHINE) began almost by chance. During his university years, he and a group of friends participated as a volunteer in weekly children's programmes. Their collective decision to continue volunteering after university, initially motivated by the desire to stay in touch with his friends, laid the foundation for a lasting commitment. Aditya began volunteering with the Trampoline Club programme at SHINE Yishun Centre. Inspired by his experience, he gradually increased his commitment, extending his volunteer efforts to support additional programmes at the centre that required assistance. The sense of community and the opportunity to help children and families kept him engaged over the years.

“During this period, we were fortunate to receive excellent care from the SHINE staff. We were also provided with opportunities to collaborate with them on organising company events, contribute to volunteer bonding and appreciation, and lead new volunteering programmes or initiatives. With this level of support from the team at SHINE, remaining a long-term volunteer was a natural and fulfilling choice,” Aditya shared.

Transition to volunteer leadership

Aditya (last row, 3rd from left) together with his fellow-volunteers from Read-With-Me, Yishun

Aditya's transition from a regular volunteer to a volunteer leader was a natural progression. His early experiences of volunteering in Junior College sparked his passion for volunteering, leading him to join the NTU Welfare Services Club's Friends of Children programme. Over time, the programme grew from six to over 100 volunteers, requiring senior volunteers like Aditya to guide, motivate, and retain new recruits. His confidence in his abilities and the rewarding experience of training others to manage children's behaviour fuelled his motivation to pursue leadership roles.

Guiding, motivating, and retaining new volunteers was a responsibility that all senior volunteers had to embrace and master. This experience not only bolstered my confidence in my own abilities but also emphasised the importance of supporting new volunteers, particularly in children's programmes. Helping them build their confidence to interact effectively with the children has been fulfilling. The ability to train a group of new volunteers, some of whom had no prior experience working with children, to become adept at understanding and managing children's behaviours in a short span of time is incredibly rewarding and motivating for me."

Balancing commitments

Aditya (1st from left) together with the volunteers & staff of SHINE

Managing time effectively to balance personal and volunteer responsibilities is a challenge Aditya navigates with determination. Protecting his weekly volunteering time is crucial, and he is fortunate to have the support of his wife, family, and friends. Additionally, the understanding and flexibility provided by the SHINE staff ensure that he can meet his volunteering commitments without compromising his personal life.

Memorable experiences and achievements

Aditya (last row, 2nd from left) together with Veaders & staff of SHINE

Aditya cherishes the deep community ties formed from the various volunteering programmes. Encounters with children and families outside session times are especially rewarding. Serving on the VC-IPG Volunteer Leaders (Veaders) committee from 2013 to 2019, he contributed to volunteer bonding, communication, and appreciation initiatives. One of his proudest moments was representing SHINE volunteers at the International Volunteers' Day at the Istana, hosted by President Tony Tan in 2014.

Key skills for volunteer leadership

Aditya (last row,1st from left) with fellow volunteers at the SHINE Children's Day 2022 celebration

Aditya believes that patience, openness, and a confident approach are key qualities that have contributed to his success in guiding and coordinating volunteers. Patience is essential when working with children, while openness allows him to observe and learn from new ways volunteers connect with children. Confidence helps build enthusiasm and fosters positive interactions between volunteers and children.

Fostering inclusivity and belonging

Aditya (3rd from left) with senior volunteers at SHINE’s Volunteer Connection 2023.

At SHINE, volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, and Aditya emphasises the importance of fostering inclusivity and creating a sense of belonging. Regular get-togethers and sharing sessions help volunteers connect on a personal level. Aditya also advocates for giving volunteers a ‘"career path’" within their volunteering journey, allowing experienced volunteers to take on additional responsibilities.

“We also endeavour to provide our volunteers with a ‘"career path’" within their volunteering journey. Experienced volunteers who willingly take on added responsibilities not only ease the workload on the staff but also have a multiplier effect in reinforcing the programme's principles and objectives. This shift in roles not only helps volunteers feel appreciated and strengthens their sense of belonging. It but also offers them fresh and diverse opportunities to consider and contribute to the programme, even after many years of involvement,” explained Aditya.

The impact of SHINE's volunteer management team

Aditya (Last row, 1st from right) with fellow -volunteers at Reading Odyssey at Jalan Bukit Merah.

Aditya suggests a "lazy" approach to volunteering—making the effort and time barriers as low as possible to seamlessly integrate volunteering into regular life. He recommends starting with convenient, community-based activities to avoid burnout and discouragement. Retaining existing volunteers is often easier than recruiting new ones and ensuring that volunteering fits comfortably into one's schedule is key to long-term commitment.

In addition, the support and regular communication from SHINE's Volunteer Management team have significantly influenced Aditya's experience as a long-term volunteer.

"My experience as a long-term volunteer at SHINE has been profoundly shaped by the Volunteer Management team," Aditya reflected. "Their consistent support, regular communication, and check-ins have been invaluable. The team's practice of seeking my input on volunteer matters fosters a deep sense of belonging. As a senior volunteer, I'm honoured that the organisation trusts us enough to involve us as pioneering volunteers for new programmes and deployment locations. This level of inclusion makes me feel truly appreciated and integral to SHINE's mission."

The impact of regular commitments on service users

Aditya (Front row, 1st from right) with volunteers before a successful Children’s Day celebrations.

Aditya envisions a future where work-life balance encourages more people to engage in volunteering. He hopes for a common system among social work and community organisations to share volunteer information and references, facilitating the retention of dedicated volunteers. Such a system would help volunteers find new opportunities easily, ensuring their enthusiasm and skills continue to benefit the community.

Aditya recommends that those contemplating volunteering should begin with small, targeted efforts. The influence of even a few hours per week on service users can be profound. Consistent commitment is essential, and safeguarding dedicated time for volunteering in one's schedule enables incremental expansion in the scale and breadth of volunteering endeavours.

“The satisfaction of initiating something small and targeted—even with a few individual service users—and witnessing the substantial impact your efforts can have on them is truly remarkable. Your volunteering commitment can begin with just 30 minutes or 1 hour per week, but consistency is key, and it's crucial to safeguard your volunteering time in your schedule. By doing so, you can gradually expand and amplify the scope of your contributions over time,” shared Aditya.

Aditya Mahesh Khatri's remarkable journey as a volunteer exemplifies the transformative power of sustained commitment and leadership in community service. His experiences, from accidental beginnings to purposeful leadership, underscore the profound impact of regular, protected volunteering time and the invaluable support from SHINE's Volunteer Management team.