At Madam Mary's cosy home, Volunteer Jade and Befriendee Madam Mary sat comfortably on the sofa, recalling their special friendship that blossomed through Filos' Senior Befriending Programme. Their bond goes beyond that of a befriender-befriendee relationship and they have grown to become like sisters to each other.

It started last year in July when they were brought together by Christina, Filos’ programme coordinator. Mary could not help but laugh as she reminisced about their first meeting, saying, "When we first met, we fell in love already!"

Before meeting Jade, Mary had other befrienders who would only call and visit sporadically. However, Jade's faithfulness stood out. "She calls and visits me often," Mary shared with a grateful smile.

As they shared their memorable moments, their strong rapport and bond was evident. Mary recalled how Jade had cared for her when she injured her back after returning from overseas. "She went all the way back home and gave me her back corset to use, to protect my back. I was so touched, she’s such a nice lady!"

Jade shared how visiting Mary's house always made her feel like coming home. "It’s so cosy and I feel welcomed here," Jade said with a warm smile. Jade also shared that she feels privileged to be able to visit and befriend Mary, calling it a blessing.

When asked to describe their relationship, Mary exclaimed, "Oh, it's fantastic!" Jade, on the other hand, shared that Mary's openness to share has made their relationship the most special bond she has ever had in all her years of befriending.

Like Mary and Jade, the meaningful bonds formed through volunteering could go a long way in enriching both the volunteers’ and beneficiaries’ lives.

If you are keen to experience volunteering, check out the volunteering positions below or reach out to us at volunteer@filos.sg today!