About three years ago I joined the Agency for Volunteer Service as a registered volunteer and attended the appropriate orientation seminar. Since then I have been engaged in various kinds of volunteer service including working at large scale carnivals, serving the mentally-challenged, manning the Community Chest donation hotline and even physical labour. In the last couple of years, I have served as keynote speaker, and even hosted, orientation seminars for up to 100 new volunteers.

When I first went to help at a centre for the mentally-challenged, I was a little apprehensive. But I soon learned there was no difference between their activities and activities of other youth centres. What they wanted was to take part in swimming, wind-surfing, camping, barbecues and horse-riding, etc. However, some of them were also physically-challenged and this did make it a little more difficult for us to help - but never impossible!

Serving in the Force, we have to deal with many unsavoury and negative aspects of life and our small circles of friends are almost always from among our colleagues. But, as a volunteer, I find that many of my fellow volunteers are professionals and it was easy to build up a close relationship with them and with the staff manning the various service centres.

My son was just 10 years old and I sometimes took him with me as a 'little volunteer'. By doing so, I hoped I could provide him with an appropriate role model and that he would learn to cherish his own well-being, to care about others and serve the community in the future.

In recent years, the Force has been advocating a healthy lifestyle that includes volunteer service to the community. Over the years, various formations and individuals have provided many different services and I hope, I believe, that this culture will continue to expand throughout the Force.

Remember that civil servants have a considerable amount of leave which makes us the most appropriate group to render assistance to underprivileged members of our community. I have identified numerous non-monetary rewards that volunteers receive for the help they offer. For examples:

1. We can get to know people from different walks of life enabling us to broaden our horizons.

2. We can have many opportunities to meet people other than colleagues at seminars enabling us to gain self-confidence and an ability to contribute to seminars and lectures.

3. We can set a good example for our own children.

4. We can learn how to organise activities and gain relevant professional knowledge from social workers in the field.

The most rewarding thing I have achieved has been mobilising colleagues to do volunteer work - one of whom was actually my supervisor. Now he not only does volunteer work for Suicide Prevention Services, but also participates in training new volunteers.

Volunteer Service Day
The Force will organise the Volunteer Service Day on December 15 at the Police Sports & Recreation Club to promote volunteer service. Over 30 booths from our volunteer service groups and outside voluntary organisations will be set up to display their services and to recruit volunteers. There will also be video show that captures the pleasurable and rewarding moments in the life of voluntary service providers and their recipients in the field. We hope you will join us!

Sgt Lam Hok-chim: volunteering is a most rewarding experience