As far as we can remember, this was probably one of Elizabeth’s very first volunteering experiences that was befriending in nature.

Her first exposure to volunteering was simpler and more task-based, helping to pack chocolates. But this felt very different. This was not about preparing something and passing it on. This was about showing up, sitting down, spending time with people, and trying to connect.

Elizabeth was only 4 years old.

She had always loved books, and she still does. More than that, she has always loved reading to people, too. In fact, the first person she ever read to was her younger brother Benjamin. At that time, he was only 1 week old, a quiet little observer and early supporter of his sister’s reading.

So when an opportunity came up for Elizabeth and a few of her friends, who were also around 4 years old, to join a volunteering session with seniors living alone in rental blocks, we thought it would be meaningful for her to try reading to seniors too.

The session was held at the void deck.

It was also our first time as parents joining something like this, and honestly, we did not know what to expect. We simply brought along a few books that we thought Elizabeth liked, without really thinking about what the seniors might enjoy. We also knew that most of the seniors were not English speakers, but at that time Elizabeth could not read Chinese yet, so she read to them in English anyway.

Looking back, it was a very small and sincere attempt. We came with good intentions, but not much experience.

Fortunately, one of our friends had brought some card games, and that changed everything. The seniors were so engaged in playing with the children. There was laughter, participation, and a natural warmth that helped everyone relax.

Interestingly, it did not feel like the children were the only ones there to befriend the seniors. In many ways, it felt like the seniors were the ones befriending the children, too.

Besides reading and card games, the children and seniors also made paper lanterns together. It was simple, hands-on, and easy to do side by side. There was no need for big words or perfect communication. Just being together already meant something. There was something very gentle and beautiful about that. The experience was not one-sided. It became a shared moment of connection across generations, with both young and old meeting one another halfway.

What made this experience especially memorable was how closely it connected with who Elizabeth already was. She was not stepping into something completely foreign. She was bringing along something she genuinely loved, reading aloud, and trying to use it to connect with others.

Of course, not everything went according to plan. The books were not quite the right fit. The language barrier was real. The children were very young. The parents were new to it too.

But maybe that is part of what made it meaningful.

It reminded us again that teamwork is important. We help to cover one another’s short-sightedness and complement one another’s strengths. What one person did not think of, another did. What one child could not do, another activity made possible. Every volunteering experience becomes a valuable learning point, not just for children, but for adults too.