At 16, she wanted more than grades — and one volunteer visit to an elderly stranger’s home changed everything.

Megan and Mdm Kovila

Most teenagers would baulk at the idea of spending their weekend scrubbing away grime in a stranger’s home. But 17-year-old Megan Ow is smiling. Through cleaning and sprucing up the homes of seniors living alone, Megan has found a sense of duty and fulfilment.

“Honestly, I find it quite funny that I don't even clean the toilet at home but I’m helping them to clean their toilets. But it’s what I signed up for.”

That’s why, between juggling school and her social life, the junior college student still makes time for the one thing that’s taught her more about life than any textbook ever could: volunteering.

Megan’s Volunteering Journey

Megan cleaning Mdm Kovila’s living room, as part of a clean-up session organised by SINDA’s Project Shine

Megan’s first encounter with volunteering started like many others, with curiosity and a little hesitation. She had been looking for ways to give back when she came across Project Shine, the house-cleaning initiative by the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) on volunteer.gov.sg.

“Project Shine was the first initiative on the website that intrigued me. I didn’t know Project Shine was targeted at elderly Indian beneficiaries who live alone and have trouble cleaning or keeping their houses clean. But I also didn’t think too much as I felt cleaning someone’s home was a much more personal way to give back, and to have meaningful connections and interactions.”

So, Megan went down to the SINDA headquarters, picked up cleaning supplies, and headed out. Usually, three to four volunteers clean a beneficiary’s home around the Hari Raya, Deepavali, and Christmas periods. Most of the volunteers are university students and working adults, with Megan being the youngest in the group.

“I’ve been to five to six houses so far. While we clean, we’ll chat with them and befriend them. If the homeowner doesn’t speak English, there are other volunteers who can translate for me. All of the beneficiaries are really nice. Some of them are more closed off, but they will always thank us for the help. Leaving their homes in a cleaner state than we started off with makes me very happy.”

This hyper-personal aspect of Project Shine quickly became her favourite part of volunteering. What starts as small talk with the beneficiaries often evolves into deeper topics. The real conversations were an entry point into understanding how small acts of care can truly make a difference.

Revisiting a Home and Seeing Lasting Impact

Megan assisting Mdm Kovila with the dishes

It was back in October 2024 when Megan cleaned her first home, a flat belonging to Madam Kovila Valaindham. The soft-spoken and matronly woman welcomed her into the home and the two shared a spirited conversation about the many places Madam Kovila had travelled. There was a warmth between the two strangers who had just met.

Volunteering with Project Shine opened Megan’s eyes to the unseen struggles faced by these residents. It was a reality so unlike her usual world of school friends and familiar routines.

Moved by the experience and knowing that more volunteers were needed, she returned the very next weekend with her sister. “I wouldn’t say I influenced her to volunteer. I just dragged her along so we could do something meaningful together,” Megan laughs.

Recently, Megan dropped by Madam Kovila’s home for a surprise visit. Having Madam Kovila still remember her made Megan’s day.

“I feel great seeing Madam Kovila again. It reminds me of all the memories that I made the last time I came and all the interesting stories that she shared.”

Finding Unity in Our Differences

Megan with Mdm Kovila, bidding farewell after the surprise house visit

Outside the classroom, Megan shared that she has learnt many less quantifiable but equally important life lessons through volunteering.

Beyond SINDA, Megan is also a dedicated volunteer instructor with the Singapore Red Cross. She also does ad-hoc volunteering when she comes across projects that resonate with her on volunteer.gov.sg.

Despite our racial, religious, and ethnic diversity in Singapore, Megan’s volunteering experiences have reaffirmed that there is a common humanity that brings us all together.

“The world is very big and has lots of different types of people. But race shouldn’t matter when it comes to helping others. Because when I help, I am Singaporean too.”

As we celebrate SG60, now’s the perfect time to give back. As Megan puts it, “What matters most is the intention to help, no matter how big or small”. Every act of kindness counts and if you would like to volunteer, you can do so by searching for opportunities on the volunteer.gov.sg website.