#HeartWork: Lisfah Bte Ali

In 2021, Ms Lisfah Bte Ali participated in the Family Circle programme by Beyond Social Services, a support group where the community comes together to provide emotional support and address common concerns such as caregiver stress, children's needs, and financial pressures. Lisfah began her volunteer journey through her interactions with the programme’s participants and her strong desire to assist the community. Over time, she developed strong connections within the community which led Maizy, a staff from Beyond Social Services to recognise Lisfah's potential and invite her to take on a volunteer leadership role.

Stepping into the role of a volunteer leader

Lisfah (left) with volunteers and staff preparing for Tabung, a children's community savings program

Lisfah attributes her success as a volunteer leader to her genuine desire to connect with people. She emphasises the power of empathy and active listening in building meaningful relationships within the community. In her role as a volunteer leader, she is responsible for planning and leading meaningful projects like the Community Tabung Programme and PARKING Day. Her keen understanding of the community needs has enabled her to effectively engaged both volunteers and participants fostering a supportive environment.

“Although my sociable nature and resourcefulness were beneficial, my genuine desire to connect with people was key to my success. When you approach others with empathy and truly listen, they open their hearts, leading to remarkable outcomes,” Lisfah shared.

A memorable project: Parking Day 2023

Lisfah (center) with volunteers and staff at The Community Theatre 2023, Leng Kee Community Club.

One of Lisfah's notable initiatives was PARKING Day 2023, during which she worked with fellow volunteers to design booths for the "Health-In-5” campaign. The campaign promoted regular exercise, health check-ups, prioritising mental wellbeing, healthy eating, and building a strong social support system. The event enabled Lisfah to connect with a broader spectrum of community members, form meaningful connections, and effectively engage with individuals who typically do not participate in such events, even overcoming language barriers with some of the elderly in the process.

Lisfah reflects, “This experience was particularly meaningful to me because many of my neighbours showed up to offer their support. During the event, I had the opportunity to convey the importance of health to a wider audience in an enjoyable manner through quizzes and games. I encountered language barriers with some elderly individuals who only spoke Mandarin or Malay, but my team and I supported each other in overcoming this challenge. I'm pleased that this event allowed me the chance to connect and form strong relationships with more members in the community, including those who are less inclined to participate in such events”.

Balancing commitments: Personal and volunteer responsibilities

Lisfah (left) with a Beyond Social Services staff at MOH for the Healthcare Transformation event.

To manage her volunteer work alongside personal obligations, Lisfah focuses on her personal responsibilities in the mornings before devoting her time to volunteer work in the late afternoons and evenings. Furthermore, she plans evening activities to align with the schedules of working parents in the community.

“I manage my schedule by handling personal tasks such as household chores in the mornings before dedicating my time to volunteer work in the later part of the day. Recognising the busy schedules of the service users we serve, many of whom are working parents, I schedule door knocking and other activities in the evenings when they are more likely to be at home. In instances where personal commitments arise, I rely on the support of my team or decide to reschedule as needed,” shared Lisfah.

Decision-making in volunteer leadership

Lisfah (right) engaging community members for Instantly Healthy Instant Noodle Competition 2024.

Lisfah recognises the difficulties of making decisive choices during ration distributions, particularly when volunteers stray from instructions, and underscores the duty to guarantee that every family receives the necessary support.

“One ongoing challenge for me is making decisive calls during ration distributions. When providing rations, particularly food, to the community, we collaborate with volunteers who assist us in the packing process. We have established specific packing procedures to ensure our community members receive the correct rations. However, deviations from these guidelines by volunteers can lead to mix-ups, resulting in missing or damaged items, like torn rice bags being improperly packaged.

While we deeply appreciate the time and effort our volunteers contribute, I am faced with the difficult task of addressing these errors. It is essential to securely tie up rice bags that have been inadvertently opened before placing them in plastic bags for distribution to families. We have a responsibility to ensure that no one is overlooked or receives more than necessary at the expense of another family. This commitment to the community is paramount”.

Future goals and initiatives

Lisfah (right) together with a community member at Jalan Kukoh Community Day 2023.

Looking ahead, Lisfah aims to further develop her involvement in PARKING Day in 2024 by expanding the "Health-In-5" Movement.

“My aspirations include contributing to PARKING Day 2024 and expanding the outreach of the “Health-In-5” Movement within the community. Additionally, I aim to expand my current volunteer team and engage in more activities and provide support to the Young Mums Group, a peer support network for young mothers facing the challenges of caregiving,” shared Lisfah.

The importance of recognition and appreciation

Lisfah (second row, 3rd from right) at the BOLD at Public Narrative Workshop 2024.

Lisfah emphasises the importance of recognising and appreciating the efforts of her team of volunteers, who dedicated their heart and time to support the community.

“Recognition and appreciation of our volunteers is important to build a good experience for them. My team of volunteers share a strong willingness to step up and help the community, this sometimes means they do a lot of physical hard work during events and food distributions. At the same time, they also dedicated a lot of heartwork in being there for our community members who need a listening ear. This can be challenging, so it’s important that we draw strength from one other to stay motivated and keep going,” said Lisfah.

Advice for aspiring volunteers

“My advice is not to be afraid to start volunteering. If you have the heart for it, give yourself a chance. And if you still need an extra push, I always welcome you to come down and volunteer with me”.

Lisfah's involvement with Beyond Social Services illustrates the significant impact of volunteer leadership, driven by passion, dedication, and a vision to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Her journey serves as an inspiration, encouraging others to embark on their own volunteering path, ultimately stepping up to be a volunteer leader and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.