Teach your kids to think of others through volunteering: here’s our guide to local organisations and charities with volunteer work in Singapore for families, kids and students.
We’re all flat out giving our kids the best education we can, focusing on choosing the best schools with the right philosophy and raising smart, well-rounded citizens of tomorrow. However, many of us can easily overlook the importance of instilling the value of giving our time to help those less fortunate. We’re talking about volunteer work in Singapore.
Thankfully, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities for kids in Singapore to get involved. After all, real understanding and empathy for others truly come through first-hand experiences. Meeting, connecting, and touching the lives of others is a million times more powerful than learning about poverty in a sterile classroom or making a cash donation.
Want your kids to get involved and give a little back? We’ve done some digging. Here’s a handy list of philanthropic organisations and charities needing a helping hand. So go on and encourage your kids to volunteer!
20 charities with volunteer opportunities for children and students in Singapore
Giving.sg
Giving.sg is the national portal for volunteer opportunities at over 600 registered non-profit organisations in Singapore. The roles are many and varied, including volunteering with the disabled, elderly, environment, and the arts. You can even located volunteer centres near you. All ages are welcome, with some parental supervision. Consent is also required for young philanthropists.
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Touch Community Services
Another awesome volunteering opportunity for kids is to connect with the elderly in need and disadvantaged youth through Touch Community Services. One of Touch’s core drivers is to challenge young volunteers to test their limits, unleash their energies and realise their full potential to impact society for the better. Touch also provides a meals-on-wheels service. This gives you a chance to volunteer as a driver and spend some quality time with your child while delivering vital food to the frail and elderly. A family volunteering project? Sounds awesome!
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Habitat for Humanity
Put those little hands to good use with volunteer work at Habitat for Humanity. There are many volunteering opportunities for kids to explore, from skilled to event-specific volunteering. They can take part in cleaning the homes of vulnerable persons, volunteer to clean up neighbourhoods on their own time, or be a fundraiser. Do note that each programme may have age limits, so be sure to check the requirements before signing the kiddos up.
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Soup Kitchen Project
For a hands-on experience, join the charitable folks at the Soup Kitchen Project. They’ll need volunteers every Tuesday from 5.15pm to 7.45pm to distribute food to 420 people in the Jalan Besar–Lavender Street area. Other volunteering opportunities include special projects such as fund raising or checking in on the residents. As long as you are fit enough to walk about and climb up and down the stairs, this is an easy way to involve the kids in volunteer work. Drop the volunteer coordinator a call at 8951 4501 to sign up.
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Willing Hearts
This volunteer-run soup kitchen sends about 5,000 packed meals to 40 locations all over Singapore. Kids can take part in prepping ingredients, cleaning dishes and utensils and eventually packing lunch boxes ready for distribution. If your kids are much younger, let them help with the packing and labelling the lunch boxes! There’s a way for everyone to contribute to this thoughtful initiative from Willing Hearts.
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Make a Wish Foundation
Make A Wish Foundation is a brilliant organisation that brightens the lives of children with critical or life-threatening medical conditions. Your child can volunteer by leading a school fundraising activity – like a car wash, walk-a-thon or bake sale. The sky’s the limit, and all ideas are welcome. Contact this worthy foundation at 6334 9474 or send an email and help make wishes come true!
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The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has a stellar reputation when it comes to making a tangible difference to those in need. Here’s a snapshot of volunteering opportunities that would suit secondary school students looking for volunteer work in Singapore:
Entertainment and Befriending. Learn a thing or two from wise residents as you help the charity run fun activities or performances.
Fundraising and Collection Drives. Put your organisational and fundraising skills to the test as you help out at collection drives for second-hand items.
‘Empower’ Sessions. Volunteers aged 16 and up can assist facilitators as they carry out activities for children.
Check out the Salvation Army’s full list of volunteering opportunities for more inspiration.
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ACRES: Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Singapore)
ACRES is the perfect fit for the budding animal protectionist. Some tasks involve cutting and carrying heavy equipment, so this volunteer work is well- suited for animal-loving kids and students aged 14 and above. Plenty of exciting animal encounters await the brave, and there’s no time like the present!
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Trash Hero Clean-Ups
Gloves and garbage collection bags are provided for the regular Trash Hero beach clean-up sessions. Kids (and adults) can come along and do their bit for the environment by keeping Singapore’s shorelines trash-free. There’s plenty of educational value in this volunteer opportunity, too. Guides will impart wise words about the impact that waste and rubbish have on the global environment. Plus, learn how we can all play our part to help.
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ItsRainingRaincoats
Migrant workers in Singapore are often overlooked and under-appreciated. ItsRainingRaincoats is an initiative that aims to improve the lives of migrant workers. They do this by strengthening their integration into the community. Kids can volunteer by organising events and distributing basic essentials to these folks.
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Food Bank Juniors Club
Food Bank Singapore’s goal is to fight hunger, reduce food wastage and take donations of unwanted food for voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), charities and soup kitchens. They”s a Food Bank Juniors Club, aimed at kids five to 12-year-old, where they can volunteer at the warehouse and be educated about hunger and food wastage issues in Singapore. For more information, email or call them at 6831 5395.
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Riding for the Disabled Association Singapore
The Riding for the Disabled Association Singapore (RDA) has been giving thousands of children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of horse-riding therapy for over thirty years. No previous horse experience is required.
Volunteers will start as side walkers, guiding smiling beneficiaries around the track as they enjoy a welcome break from wheelchairs. Note: volunteers must be aged sixteen and above. It’s a fun volunteer opportunity with kids in Singapore. Psst, check out this video on the work of RDA Singapore to find out more.
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Singapore Red Cross
You know this organisation as a CCA in schools. But the Singapore Red Cross is more than that. It’s part of the largest nationwide humanitarian network that renders assistance to those in times of suffering.
Ages nine to 35 can automatically sign up as a Youth Member. They’ll have volunteering opportunities for various services, such as helping out at Singapore Red Cross events. Register as a volunteer or email for more information.
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KidsRead
Do you have an avid reader at home? Then get them to share their love of reading with kids from less privileged families. How? By partaking in KidsRead, a nationwide reading programme! Kids aged fifteen and above will spend an hour each week reading books (hooray!). They also get involved in story-related activities that spark imagination and creativity. It doesn’t stop there. Postcards will be sent to the beneficiaries too. Your kid will love reading, enjoy interacting with others, and gain confidence.
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Club Rainbow
Started in 1991, Club Rainbow is a local charity that supports and empowers children who have chronic illnesses. Youths and students can sign up for volunteering opportunities to help with the organisation’s programmes and services. Children with chronic illnesses may require wheel chairs and other support equipment, so, they don’t get to go out very often. Supporting their events and activities help children socialise and have fun, while allowing some respite for their parents. As volunteers, the beneficiaries will also look up to them as friends and mentors. Only sign up when you’re ready to commit! Otherwise, there are other ad-hoc activities that kids can participate in too.
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Krsna’s Free Meals
Join Krsna’s Free Meals, a compassionate soup kitchen in Singapore, and help serve free breakfast and lunch to those in need. Volunteer tasks include packing meals, cutting vegetables, and cleaning the premises. No specific skills are required; all you need is a positive mindset! Suitable for kiddos aged 13 and above and open to individuals, families, or groups. Breakfast shifts are from 6:30am to 9am, and lunch shifts are from 9:30am to 2:30pm daily, including weekends and holidays. Register to volunteer. Comfortable, non-slip, covered shoes are recommended as you will be working in a kitchen.
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Boys’ Brigade
If you have a strapping lad aged eight to 12 keen for some Boy Scout training and community involvement, The Boys’ Brigade is for them! BB CARES (Community Activities Rallying Everyone to Serve) is a day of fun and meaningful community activities. The Boys Brigade also runs an annual Christmas Share-a-Gift initiative to distribute grocery items and gifts to the needy. A fun way for the kids to volunteer in Singapore!
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Lion Befrienders
Singapore’s ageing population has been rising, and most of them are either living alone or put up in care homes. Lion Befrienders help these folks feel less alone by having volunteers assist them in maintaining social integration. Volunteer tasks can be as simple as chatting with the seniors and it’s a great way for students to learn more about the older generation while engaging in volunteer work. Other volunteering opportunities include facilitating activities at the centres, visiting the elderly in their homes, and becoming chaperones to those who need to go for medical appointments. Children below the age of 18 have to be accompanied by a guardian.
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National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation has been bringing hope into the lives of those with renal failure for almost 50 years. The NKF offers volunteering opportunities through its events and programs. Get in touch through its volunteering link and join its mission to educate and prevent kidney disease and to care for those afflicted.
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Volunteer.sg
Volunteer.sg is part of SG Cares, a national movement to build a more caring and inclusive Singapore. The one-stop site connects you with 36 agencies, giving you plenty of volunteer opportunities in Singapore. Choose to volunteer with causes that are close to your heart. From sports to arts and culture, you’ll have a chance to get up close and personal with the events while on duty, too.
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