Why this grandma embraces tech and now teaches others to do the same
Hospital executive and active volunteer Rahimah Salimin introduces fellow seniors to useful apps that can help with everyday tasks. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
BRANDED CONTENT 'I must learn, otherwise I will miss out': Why this grandma embraces tech and now teaches others to do the same This active volunteer, who is far from retirement mode, chooses to spend her weekends meaningfully by sharing her practical IT knowledge with fellow seniors to help them better navigate everyday tasks
Staying still does not suit Madam Rahimah Salimin who, despite being 70 years old, is still working full-time at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), where she provides clerical support to the emergency services department.
On Saturdays, the grandmother of 20 – with another grandchild on the way – still chooses to be on the go.
Watch to learn how Madam Rahimah Salimin spends her personal time meaningfully, making a difference to the lives of her fellow seniors.
Not only does she volunteer with NTUC Club's engagement platform U Live, helping to guide and usher the seniors during events, she also advocates technology as a Smart Nation Ambassador (SNA) and visits seniors as a Silver Generation Ambassador (SGA).
Madam Rahimah (bottom row, sixth from left) has been actively involved in NTUC U Live since 2015, often volunteering as an usher at events. PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAHIMAH SALIMIN
'Time is yours, you can manage it yourself,' she says, her voice light and cheerful. 'My own children are already so old and have their own families. There's nothing to do at home, so I can volunteer my time instead. Life is so short, and time is precious.'
SGShare: How more S'poreans can help the vulnerable
Singaporeans now have a new platform to help fellow Singaporeans in need.
To mark SG60, Community Chest's regular giving programme, Share, has been rebranded as SGShare to rally more to give regularly and support critical social service programmes.
Starting this year, donations will be matched by the Singapore Government under the SG Gives matching grant, with up to $250 million available.
Every dollar donated will help vulnerable communities, offering them opportunities to pursue their goals regardless of background.
Here is a simple illustration of how your SGShare contribution can go a long way.
Madam Rahimah began her volunteer journey in 2015 with U Live before she was subsequently introduced to SNA and SGA in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
One of Madam Rahimah's first tasks as an SNA was to be a guide for the Smart Nation Builder, a roving showcase of Smart Nation initiatives and digital government platforms, and for members of the public to provide their feedback.
As a Smart Nation Ambassador, Madam Rahimah will volunteer at roadshows to encourage Singaporeans to embrace digital technology in their everyday lives. PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAHIMAH SALIMIN
Armed with her own growing digital knowledge, Madam Rahimah also encourages the seniors she visits for her SGA work, sharing with them how apps such as those for home grocery delivery and transportation could make their lives much easier – and safer, in case they have a fall outside.
Confessing that she initially did not even know how to navigate to a website on the computer, the digital training workshops and her 'thick skin' to seek help from the younger ones have helped improve her knowledge.
'When I realised that fellow seniors weren't digitally savvy, this motivated me to learn more, and then to share my knowledge with them. The issue is when you don't understand, and you don't learn, you might also get scammed easily,' she says.
Madam Rahimah is now adept at using apps to order groceries online and also encourages other seniors to do the same. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
From booking a taxi to ordering food and shopping for groceries online, Madam Rahimah can now confidently do it all.
'Now that I'm older, it's more convenient to order groceries online,' she says. 'It can be tiring and challenging to carry bags of rice or sugar from the supermarket.'
She also attends digital courses at work, with topics that include artificial intelligence and video conferencing like Zoom, and encourages her senior colleagues to do the same, even if they are reluctant.
Through her interactions with other senior citizens, Madam Rahimah has formed new friendships and finds herself making deeper connections with many others in the community. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA
'I am not from the digital era but I know that, moving forward, Singapore will become more and more digital-focused. These changes are beyond my control, so I must learn, otherwise I will miss out,' she says.
Being a volunteer has also helped her form deeper connections with her neighbours, who recognise her from the community roadshows, when she helped them with digital tech. She says with a laugh: 'They will say 'hi' to me at the market, and then we will go drink kopi together.'
This SG60, be inspired by stories like Madam Rahimah's. Find your own way to give back – whether through teaching, learning, or connecting. Visit Giving.sg to support over 600 causes and help build a more caring Singapore.
Celebrating SG60 with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
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