With more to give, S’pore seniors turn a lifetime of skills and experience into volunteer work

Santhanam Srinivasan, who teaches seniors how to use digital applications and tools, with Leong Wing Sun (centre) and Sheila Lim during a mock training session at the RSVP Singapore office on Sept 25.

Published Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 AM

Updated Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 AM

Seniors in Singapore are increasingly engaging in skills-based volunteering, sharing professional expertise like digital training to contribute meaningfully to society.

Organisations like RSVP Singapore and Lions Befrienders create flexible, local volunteering opportunities and support seniors with training and digital assistance to boost participation.

Volunteering provides seniors with purpose, social connection, and personal growth, helping them age with dignity while promoting active community involvement and lifelong learning.

SINGAPORE – It was a career break during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022 that set Santhanam Srinivasan on an unexpected path.

Looking to fill his time meaningfully, the IT professional came across an open house by RSVP Singapore, a non-profit organisation that encourages senior volunteerism. He signed up to teach seniors how to use digital applications and tools. He returned to work in 2023, but continued volunteering.

The 64-year-old, who retired from GovTech in 2025, teaches three to four times monthly , with each session lasting for three hours . He also serves on RSVP’s project steering committee to help implement new volunteer and donation management systems.

More older Singaporeans like Santhanam are bringing decades of professional expertise to help others, besides taking on traditional roles like befriending.

Younger seniors today are generally more educated, digitally connected and want more flexibility and meaning in their volunteer experiences, said RSVP Singapore’s executive director Edna Claudine Leong.

“Not just as a way to help others, but also as a way to continue using their expertise, remain engaged and create meaningful impact,” she added.

The skills being put to use are varied.

Retired manicurist Mak Lai Yeong, 74, provides free manicure and pedicure services at THK Active Ageing Centre @ MacPherson.

For three years, she has spent about five hours monthly helping seniors care for their nails and maintain personal hygiene. Some have uneven and crooked nails due to past injuries, while others need special care due to ailments like diabetes and cancer.

“Since I have the skills, why not help other seniors?” she said. “I will volunteer for as long as I can so that I don’t lose or waste my skills. And what I gain from helping others is this inner happiness that money cannot buy.”

RSVP works with over 160 community partners, including schools, social service agencies and active ageing centres (AACs), to create opportunities that suit different skills and interests.

While traditional volunteering roles such as befriending and community outreach remain popular, RSVP has seen rising interest in opportunities allowing seniors to share their professional knowledge and contribute specialised skills, Leong said.

These include mentoring students, teaching other seniors digital skills and being guides in the community. Senior volunteers also provide administrative support, data entry and data analysis , contributing through skills developed over their careers .

Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders, said there is increasingly room for professional skills-based volunteering, including digital coaching, translation and mentoring.

For some, personal experiences can become useful skills too.

Patricia Lee’s husband was a rehabilitation client at PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee. After he died four years ago, she started volunteering there as a “transport kaki”, accompanying frail seniors to medical appointments.

Patricia Lee (right) volunteers as a “transport kaki” at PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee by accompanying frail seniors to medical appointments. PHOTO: PCF SPARKLE CARE

Patricia Lee (right) volunteers as a “transport kaki” at PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee by accompanying frail seniors to medical appointments.

PHOTO: PCF SPARKLE CARE

She was initially nervous about interacting with seniors who have different needs, including wheelchair users and those with dementia, but she grew more confident with experience and now volunteers at least twice a week.

“I remember one senior who was in her 90s and could not speak very well. I would joke with her, and she would make an effort to respond to me,” the 78-year-old said.

“I feel happier and more energetic,” she said. “I enjoy talking to other seniors and hearing about their lives and families.”

Retired civil servant Mok Loi Wong, 73, found another way to contribute: storytelling.

As he enjoys writing and telling stories, he shares jokes and personal experiences with seniors at NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors in Serangoon twice weekly.

His first attempt five months ago did not go as planned. No one laughed at a humorous story he wrote, and he was disheartened. His wife suggested that he talk instead about his childhood in Kampong Ubi, where he helped his parents rear pigs, chickens and ducks, and grow vegetables and fruit trees.

The seniors began to respond with interest, and some would ask what his next story would be.

“Their enthusiasm and anticipation have become one of the greatest rewards of my volunteering journey,” he said.

Volunteer Mok Loi Wong conducting a storytelling session at NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors (Serangoon Central) on Sept 22. PHOTO: NTUC HEALTH

Volunteer Mok Loi Wong conducting a storytelling session at NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors (Serangoon Central) on Sept 22.

Attracting more senior volunteers

Still, there is more room for seniors to get involved.

The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) National Giving Study 2025 found that 10% of respondents aged 65 and above had volunteered in the past 12 months. This compares with 20% of youth aged 15 to 35, 28% of adults aged 36 to 49, and 24% of those aged 50 to 64.

But an earlier study by NVPC in 2023 had also found that older age groups volunteered more regularly and for longer periods than younger people.

Social networks are a way to bring in more senior volunteers. NVPC said those whose close friends volunteer are more likely to volunteer themselves, and do so more frequently.

Semi-retired preschool education consultant Sanesa Salleh, 61, who has volunteered as a Silver Generation Ambassador for almost four years, roped in two of her sisters to do the same. These ambassadors visit seniors to support their health and social needs.

The Silver Generation Office, the outreach arm of the Agency for Integrated Care, has about 9,000 ambassadors, about triple the number when it started in 2014. About half of them are aged 50 and above.

Sanesa Salleh (centre) has been a Silver Generation Ambassador for almost four years and has roped in her sister, Junaidah Salleh (left), to volunteer as well. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Sanesa Salleh (centre) has been a Silver Generation Ambassador for almost four years and has roped in her sister, Junaidah Salleh (left), to volunteer as well.

ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

RSVP’s volunteer pool has grown from 100 in 1998 to nearly 3,500 today , of whom 90% are aged 60 to over 80.

It launched a referral programme in 2025 encouraging volunteers to invite friends to join them.

In the past two years, its number of active volunteers grew by 12% to 885, while volunteer hours rose by 13% to 41,703.

New volunteers must attend a half-day training session to understand the fundamentals of volunteerism. Depending on the role, more training will be given to help them engage with their beneficiaries.

Some seniors who want to volunteer have difficulty navigating digital platforms and online registration, said Singapore Red Cross assistant secretary-general of operations Charis Chan.

To help them, the organisation, which has 465 active senior volunteers aged 55 and above, personally guides these applicants to register as volunteers . It also uses familiar channels such as WhatsApp or phone calls to share information and reminders.

Lions Befrienders’ Wee said volunteering must be accessible and flexible. This includes bringing volunteering opportunities closer to homes and allowing micro-volunteering, where even 30 minutes or an hour can make a difference.

Its number of senior volunteers grew by between 20% and 30% from 2025 to 2026, with over 400 of them as at August .

“Instead of creating a role and expecting a senior to fit into it, perhaps we should first ask what this person can contribute, and how we can enable them to do it.”

Someone who may no longer be able to stand for four hours at an event can call another lonely senior. Someone who finds travelling difficult can still help a neighbour.

PCF Sparkle Care’s chief operating officer Andy Seet said the eldercare service provider has developed micro-jobs – bite-sized and flexible opportunities for seniors to contribute. Participants get a stipend of around $12 to $15 per three-hour block.

Its pool of active senior volunteers aged 60 and above who contributed at least 20 hours increased by 67.7%, from 62 in 2025 to 104 in 2026.

It aims to increase volunteer hours through its micro-jobs initiative from 2,400 to 40,000 by 2027.

Finding purpose and connection

Ultimately, the draw may be less about volunteering itself than what seniors get from it.

In a 2026 survey of RSVP’s volunteers, the top reasons cited for wanting to continue volunteering included ageing with dignity and purpose, and having avenues for social bonding.

For 78-year-old Chua Chor Keng, volunteering has meant helping lower-primary pupils overcome anxiety about maths , supporting museum educators on learning journeys for children and befriending seniors at an AAC in Bukit Purmei.

(From left) RSVP Singapore volunteers Chua Chor Keng, Hum Swee Kin, and Teo Wei Min at Kreta Ayer Square on Sept 21. They support museum educators in facilitating learning journeys for primary school pupils at Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery. PHOTO: RSVP SINGAPORE

(From left) RSVP Singapore volunteers Chua Chor Keng, Hum Swee Kin, and Teo Wei Min at Kreta Ayer Square on Sept 21. They support museum educators in facilitating learning journeys for primary school pupils at Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery.

PHOTO: RSVP SINGAPORE

The retired administrative clerk and former tutor spends at least five hours volunteering monthly.

“When I volunteer, I make others and myself happy,” she said. “It also widens my social circle and allows me to acquire new knowledge and information along the way.”

It is also what keeps fellow RSVP volunteer Santhanam going.

“Volunteering fills a void that appeared on retirement. It also gives me a sense of belonging,” he said. “Without it, I would be left with nothing to do, which is not a healthy prospect.”

Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times, covering a wide range of topics including community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.

9 月 25 日，在 RSVP 新加坡办事处的模拟培训课程中，教授老年人如何使用数字应用程序和工具的 Santhanam Srinivasan 与 Leong Wing Sun（中）和 Sheila Lim 在一起。

发布于2026年10月11日 上午5:00

更新于2026年10月11日上午5:00

新加坡的老年人越来越多地参与技能型志愿服务，分享专业知识（例如数字培训），为社会做出有意义的贡献。

像 RSVP Singapore 和 Lions Befrienders 这样的组织创造了灵活的本地志愿服务机会，并通过培训和数字援助为老年人提供支持，以提高他们的参与度。

志愿服务为老年人提供目标感、社交联系和个人成长机会，帮助他们有尊严地老去，同时促进他们积极参与社区活动和终身学习。

新加坡——2022 年新冠疫情期间的一次职业中断，让桑塔纳姆·斯里尼瓦桑走上了一条意想不到的道路。

为了充实自己的时间，这位IT从业者偶然发现了新加坡RSVP（一家鼓励老年人参与志愿服务的非营利组织）举办的开放日活动。他报名参加了教老年人使用数字应用程序和工具的志愿服务。2023年他重返工作岗位，但仍然坚持做志愿者。

这位64岁的老人将于2025年从政府科技部门退休，他每月授课三到四次，每次持续三个小时。他还担任RSVP项目指导委员会成员，协助实施新的志愿者和捐赠管理系统。

像桑塔纳姆这样的新加坡老年人，除了承担诸如结交朋友等传统角色外，还利用他们数十年的专业经验来帮助他人。

RSVP新加坡执行董事梁爱娜表示，如今的年轻老年人普遍受过更好的教育，与数字技术联系更紧密，并且希望他们的志愿服务经历更加灵活和有意义。

她补充说：“这不仅是一种帮助他人的方式，也是一种继续发挥自身专长、保持参与并创造有意义影响的方式。”

所运用的技能多种多样。

74岁的退休美甲师麦丽英在THK麦波申活力乐龄中心提供免费美甲和足疗服务。

三年来，她每月大约花五个小时帮助老年人护理指甲和保持个人卫生。有些老年人的指甲因过去的伤病而参差不齐、歪斜，而另一些老年人则因糖尿病、癌症等疾病需要特殊护理。

“既然我有这些技能，为什么不帮助其他老年人呢？”她说。“我会尽我所能一直做志愿者，这样我的技能就不会退化或浪费。而且，帮助别人带给我的，是金钱买不到的内心快乐。”

RSVP 与 160 多个社区合作伙伴（包括学校、社会服务机构和积极老龄化中心）合作，创造适合不同技能和兴趣的机会。

梁先生表示，虽然传统的志愿服务角色，如陪伴和社区外展仍然很受欢迎，但老年人志愿服务中心（RSVP）发现，老年人越来越有兴趣分享他们的专业知识和贡献他们的专业技能。

这些服务包括指导学生、教授其他老年人数字技能以及在社区担任向导。老年志愿者还提供行政支持、数据录入和数据分析等服务，运用他们职业生涯中积累的技能做出贡献。

狮子会志愿者组织（Lions Befrienders）的执行董事凯伦·韦表示，基于专业技能的志愿服务，包括数字辅导、翻译和指导，正变得越来越有发展空间。

对某些人来说，个人经历也可以转化为有用的技能。

Patricia Lee的丈夫曾是PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee的康复客户。四年前他去世后，她开始在那里做义工，担任“接送员”，陪伴体弱的老年人去看病。

Patricia Lee（右）在PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee担任“接送志愿者”，陪伴体弱长者就医。照片：PCF SPARKLE CARE

Patricia Lee（右）在 PCF Sparkle Care @ Yew Tee 担任“交通助手”志愿者，陪伴体弱的老年人就医。

图片：PCF SPARKLE CARE

起初，她对与有不同需求的老年人互动感到紧张，包括使用轮椅的老年人和患有痴呆症的老年人，但随着经验的积累，她变得越来越自信，现在每周至少做两次志愿者。

“我记得有一位90多岁的老人，说话不太清楚。我会和她开玩笑，她也会努力回应我，”这位78岁的老人说道。

“我感觉更快乐、更有活力了，”她说。“我喜欢和其他老年人聊天，听他们讲述他们的生活和家庭故事。”

73岁的退休公务员莫来黄找到了另一种贡献力量的方式：讲故事。

由于他喜欢写作和讲故事，他每周两次在实龙岗的NTUC健康老年人日间中心与老年人分享笑话和个人经历。

五个月前，他的第一次尝试并不顺利。他写了一个幽默故事，却无人发笑，这让他很沮丧。妻子建议他改写自己在甘榜乌比的童年，在那里他帮父母养猪、养鸡、养鸭，还种蔬菜和果树。

老人们开始表现出兴趣，有些人还会问他下一个故事会讲什么。

他说：“他们的热情和期待已经成为我志愿服务生涯中最大的回报之一。”

9月22日，义工莫来黄在职总保健乐龄日间中心（实龙岗中心）举办讲故事活动。照片：职总保健

9月22日，志愿者莫来黄在职总健康日间中心（实龙岗中心）为乐龄人士举办讲故事活动。

吸引更多老年志愿者

不过，老年人仍有更多参与的空间。

英国国家志愿服务和慈善中心（NVPC）发布的《2025年全国捐赠研究》发现，65岁及以上受访者中，有10%的人在过去12个月内参与过志愿服务。相比之下，15至35岁青年人的这一比例为20%，36至49岁成年人的这一比例为28%，50至64岁人群的这一比例为24%。

但 NVPC 在 2023 年进行的一项早期研究也发现，老年人群体比年轻人更经常、更长时间地参与志愿活动。

社交网络是吸引更多老年志愿者的一种途径。NVPC表示，那些亲朋好友参与志愿服务的人更有可能自己也成为志愿者，而且参与的频率更高。

61岁的萨内萨·萨利赫是一位半退休的学前教育顾问，她担任“银龄大使”志愿者已有近四年之久。她还拉拢了两个姐妹加入进来，共同参与这项志愿服务。这些大使会定期探访老年人，为他们提供健康和社会方面的支持。

银发世代办公室是综合护理机构的对外联络部门，拥有约 9000 名大使，是 2014 年成立时的三倍左右。其中约一半人年龄在 50 岁及以上。

萨内萨·萨利赫（中）担任“银龄大使”已有近四年，她还拉拢妹妹朱奈达·萨利赫（左）一起做志愿者。海峡时报摄影：吴索伦

萨内萨·萨利赫（中）担任银发一代大使已有近四年时间，她还拉拢了她的妹妹朱奈达·萨利赫（左）一起做志愿者。

圣徒照片：吴索銮

RSVP 的志愿者队伍已从 1998 年的 100 人增长到如今的近 3500 人，其中 90% 的人年龄在 60 岁到 80 岁以上。

2025年，该组织启动了一项推荐计划，鼓励志愿者邀请朋友加入。

过去两年，该组织的活跃志愿者人数增长了 12%，达到 885 人，而志愿者服务时间增长了 13%，达到 41,703 小时。

新志愿者必须参加半天的培训课程，以了解志愿服务的基本知识。根据具体岗位，他们还将接受更多培训，以帮助他们更好地与服务对象互动。

新加坡红十字会行动助理秘书长陈嘉玲表示，一些想要做志愿者的老年人难以使用数字平台和进行在线注册。

为了帮助他们，该组织拥有465名55岁及以上的活跃老年志愿者，他们会亲自指导这些申请人注册成为志愿者。此外，他们还会利用WhatsApp或电话等常用渠道分享信息和提醒。

狮子会志愿者协会的韦女士表示，志愿服务必须方便易行且灵活。这包括让志愿服务机会更贴近居民的家，并允许进行微型志愿服务，即使是30分钟或1小时也能发挥作用。

2025 年至 2026 年，该组织的老年志愿者人数增长了 20% 至 30%，截至 8 月，老年志愿者人数超过 400 人。

“与其设立一个职位并期望一位资深人士能够胜任，我们或许应该首先问问这个人能做出什么贡献，以及我们如何才能让他/她做到这一点。”

如果有人无法在活动中站立四个小时，可以给其他孤独的老人打电话。如果有人出行不便，仍然可以帮助邻居。

PCF Sparkle Care的首席运营官安迪·西特表示，这家养老服务机构开发了微型工作——为老年人提供灵活便捷的短期贡献机会。参与者每完成三小时的工作，可获得约12至15美元的津贴。

其 60 岁及以上、贡献至少 20 小时的活跃老年志愿者人数增加了 67.7%，从 2025 年的 62 人增加到 2026 年的 104 人。

其目标是通过微型工作计划，到 2027 年将志愿者服务时间从 2400 小时增加到 40000 小时。

寻找目标和联系

归根结底，吸引人的或许不在于志愿服务本身，而在于老年人能从中获得什么。

在 2026 年对 RSVP 志愿者进行的一项调查中，他们表示希望继续做志愿者的主要原因包括有尊严、有目标地老去，以及获得社交联系的途径。

对于 78 岁的蔡卓庆来说，做义工意味着帮助小学生克服对数学的焦虑，支持博物馆教育工作者带领孩子们进行学习之旅，以及在武吉布美的 AAC 与老年人交朋友。

（从左至右）9月21日，RSVP新加坡志愿者蔡卓庆、胡瑞健和张伟敏在牛车水广场。他们协助博物馆教育工作者在牛车水文化遗产馆为小学生开展学习之旅。图片：RSVP新加坡

（从左至右）RSVP Singapore 志愿者 Chua Chor Keng、Hum Swee Kin 和 Teo Wei Min 于 9 月 21 日在 Kreta Ayer 广场。他们协助博物馆教育工作者在 Kreta Ayer 文物馆为小学生提供学习之旅。

照片：RSVP新加坡

这位退休的行政文员兼前家庭教师每月至少抽出五个小时做义工。

“我做义工的时候，不仅让别人开心，也让自己开心，”她说。“它还能拓宽我的社交圈，让我在此过程中获得新的知识和信息。”

这也是RSVP志愿者Santhanam坚持下去的动力。

“志愿服务填补了我退休后出现的空虚感，也让我感到归属感，”他说。“如果没有志愿服务，我会无所事事，这可不是什么好事。”

Chin Soo Fang 是《海峡时报》的资深记者，报道范围广泛，包括社区、政治、社会问题、消费者、文化和遗产等话题。