In her early 30s, Ang Saw Kim developed a serious lower-back condition that eventually required spinal surgery. Then working in IT, she spent more than eight hours a day at a computer, unaware of the toll a sedentary lifestyle was taking on her body.
The experience was a turning point. “It made me realise the importance of staying active to prevent or delay health problems. After recovering, I began exercising regularly,” she recalled.
Today, that conviction shapes how the 58-year-old serves seniors in the Jalan Besar community. Since leaving her corporate job in 2022, Saw Kim has been volunteering regularly at MWS Wesley Active Ageing Centre (AAC) – Jalan Berseh, encouraging seniors to stay active through strength training and weekly litter-picking.
“I enjoy teaching seniors exercises because once they learn them, they can continue doing them on their own and benefit for life,” she said.
In the resistance-band training programme she runs with other volunteers, seniors undergo pre- and post-assessments to track their progress. One senior initially declined to attempt the sit-to-stand test because his knee replacements made squatting difficult. After eight sessions of training, however, he surprised both himself and the volunteers by completing it.
“It’s very rewarding to see the seniors grow stronger, become more independent and enjoy a better quality of life,” said Saw Kim.
For Saw Kim, active ageing goes beyond physical fitness. Social connection matters too, particularly for seniors who are isolated or reluctant to venture out.
One way she reaches them is through Wesley Golden Years Get-together (WGYG), a monthly befriending programme she runs with fellow volunteers from Wesley Methodist Church. Through regular contact and home visits, they have encouraged socially isolated seniors to step out of their homes, join activities and form friendships.
“The seniors look forward to coming,” said Saw Kim. “One senior sells tissue paper along Bencoolen Street for a living, but on Saturdays when we have our programme, he chooses to join us instead.”
WGYG also offers creative workshops, from Nagomi pastel art and towel origami to floral arrangement, giving seniors opportunities to discover new interests and express themselves. “We see their childlike side come out during these activities, and when they see their creations, there’s a real sense of joy and accomplishment,” she said.
The idea for another initiative came closer to home. When Saw Kim’s father retired last year, she wondered where he could meet other seniors who shared his love of Chinese chess.
That question led her to start a weekly men’s chess club at MWS Wesley AAC, where older men gather to play Chinese chess, international chess and Dum chess. Some have become regulars and even bring friends along. “Through these initiatives, we’ve seen quiet and isolated seniors become more active and form genuine friendships,” she said.
A Christian since the early 1990s, Saw Kim has served others for decades, guided by the biblical call to love one’s neighbour and use one’s gifts for good.
“Volunteering has shown me that ministry can happen well beyond the church walls,” she reflected. “For me, it is about bringing the church and community closer together by living out my faith in simple, practical ways. By being God’s hands and feet, I hope to be a faithful steward of his grace and bring light into the lives of our neighbours.”
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This article first appeared in Methodist Message produced by The Methodist Church in Singapore.
