Building Bonds Through Ice Cream: How Boys’ Town Youths Connected with People with Disabilities

Tags: Boys’ Town, ice cream workshop, people with disabilities, empathy building, social responsibility

A Unique Ice Cream Experience

Keith, an 11-year-old resident of Boys’ Town, recently participated in a unique ice cream-making workshop with individuals with disabilities. Initially nervous about how to interact, Keith overcame communication barriers by responding to gestures and providing assistance. His efforts helped create a warm and inclusive environment, making the activity enjoyable for everyone involved.

“I felt proud because it was my first time helping people with disabilities. Even though it was challenging, I enjoyed interacting with them and would love to do it again,” Keith shared.

Empowering Through Interaction

Organized by security company Certis as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, the workshop brought together 30 Boys’ Town youths and 16 participants with disabilities from the SPD charity. The initiative aimed to foster empathy, inclusivity, and personal growth among Boys’ Town residents, many of whom come from challenging family circumstances.

Certis volunteers and Boys’ Town participants attended a preparatory session to better understand how to engage with people with disabilities. The session increased the youths’ confidence and prepared them to interact respectfully and effectively.

Lessons in Empathy and Inclusion

Throughout the workshop, Boys’ Town participants displayed a willingness to assist, helping with tasks like maneuvering wheelchairs and ensuring everyone felt included. Certis’ senior vice president, Robin Goh, praised the youths for their initiative, describing the atmosphere as “inclusive and heartwarming.”

For the participants with disabilities, the experience was equally rewarding. Learning to make ice cream from scratch gave them a sense of accomplishment and joy. SPD’s day activity center manager, Iris Koh, highlighted the enthusiasm and pride of the participants in creating something new.

Growing Beyond Circumstances

Boys’ Town assistant director Ong Teck Chye emphasized the importance of such service-learning opportunities. He noted that while many Boys’ Town residents are beneficiaries themselves, activities like this empower them to give back to society.

“We hope that these experiences plant a seed of volunteerism in our youths and help them develop empathy and responsibility,” Ong said.

The Path Forward

The success of the ice cream-making workshop has inspired Certis to explore similar initiatives. By fostering meaningful interactions between disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities, the program demonstrated the power of empathy and collaboration in creating a more inclusive society.