One of the 4 service CCAs in RI, Interact has a large focus on direct service. We believe that the personal touch profoundly changes both our own lives and those of the people we serve.
An Interactor’s time in the club will be one that is jam-packed and exciting. All Interactors are attached to service centres (SCs) where they have weekly service sessions with our beneficiaries. We serve a diverse range of people in our community, from children who come from less privileged backgrounds to the elderly. Service is never boring as members are encouraged to go the extra mile and take the initiative to organize their own unique programmes in collaboration with their respective SCs.
Every Interactor is also involved in planning at least one major club event: Interact Camp, Youth Got Heart, Dine in the Dark and a new addition, the Singapore Youth Interactors’ Symposium. Interact Camp introduces the true meaning of service to our new J1s; the Singapore Youth Interactors’ Symposium brings like-minded Interactors from around Singapore together, strengthening bonds and in turn strengthening our heart for service; Youth Got Heart and Dine in the Dark reach out to the general public.
Moreover, Interactors go down for club service once every few months. In 2014, we helped out in the Stop Bedbugs Now programme (a house-cleaning project) and at the Elderly Service Network’s annual carnival for the elderly. Club service is one of the many ways through which we bond as a CCA and get to know each other better while serving the community. Ad-hoc service opportunities are also regularly offered for those who wish to sign up individually or with a group of CCA-mates.
Besides local events, Interact has an annual International Understanding (IU) Trip, an overseas service learning trip where a team of interactors go abroad to serve an overseas community. This is so that Interactors can open their eyes to the wider world and challenge their previous notions of service — after all, Interact stands for “International Action”! This year, we were able to go to Phnom Penh to serve at the UNCAS Home. During this IU trip, our greatest takeaway was not how to raise funds more efficiently or to better “help” people — it was our newfound understanding of the community’s motivations and tenacity, which allowed us to better empathise and not sympathise.
For us Interactors, service is always enjoyable because we do it together — as part of our service-centre groups, self formed teams, or even as an entire club. Interact is a big CCA, with around 80 people per batch. This gives us the opportunity to meet like-minded friends, and take on large-scale projects that would otherwise not be possible. Furthermore, Interact is part of a larger network of clubs around Singapore, so you may meet Interactors from diverse backgrounds. At Stop Hunger Now, over 350 interactors from different schools came together to pack over 8000 meals!
Interactors are not defined by their numerous hours dedicated to service nor the multitude of events that they have participated in, but rather by their passion to serve and their will to learn. After all, the best moments in service are those when you begin to understand more about yourself, when you truly understand why you are doing what you are doing, and when you can finally understand someone else. If you think such an experience is for you, consider becoming one of us!
Interactors have 2 CCA days a week — General Meetings on Wednesday, and one other day to visit their service centre. Commitment is spread out over the year, though the majority of club events are held in Semester 1.
