Warming Hearts

“Old folks are looking for company, someone to chat with.” It’s this very realisation that has kept Mr James Ouyang spending time every week the past five years reading the news to the elderly. He had been brought up by his grandparents, and holds a special affection for the elderly; so, when his friend invited him to join the weekly news sharing programme, he agreed immediately.

Mr James Ouyang, who is originally from Guangdong province in China, used to feel nervous about reading the newspapers with the elderly, because of his lack of familiarity with local dialects, as well as the fear of saying the wrong things.

But with time, he came to understand the likes and dislikes of the elderly, and how to talk to them. Realising that the elderly are more interested in health news, he spends time discussing trending topics on health and wellness on top of reading the news with them. Sometimes he would chat with them in his native Cantonese, which brings him closer to them.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed, which is why more and more seniors have been attending his Saturday news-sharing sessions. From the seven or eight attendees when he first started, the group has now grown to over 20 people, and there are often no empty seats.

Aside from feeling grateful to the elderly folks for their support and appreciation, he also feels a sense of satisfaction when he sees them picking up digital skills, “It’s so fulfilling to see them master the skills we taught them and read the news using the digital devices provided.”