What volunteering with Babes has taught Spradha Sinha
Babes volunteer, Spradha Sinha
Many in the Boutiques community will be familiar with Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support (Babes), a non-profit organisation that assists pregnant teenagers in Singapore, and one of our regularly sponsored community organisations.
Over the last few years, our collective of brand owners and designers at Boutiques has also banded together to help Babes raise funds for their work — led by Boutiques regular, Evita Sideri of Agora Products, the community donated their time and products to organise a raffle for gift hampers in during Boutiques editions in 2018 and 2019. All proceeds helped to fund the pivotal work that Babes does to provide pregnant teens with emotional support, information, and resources.
Long-time Babes volunteer, Spradha Sinha, has also been a part of these fundraising efforts. In fact, over the 7 years she’s volunteered with Babes, she’s sorted donations, helped with outreach and fundraising efforts, and is now the lead helpline volunteer — which means she’s often the first point of contact for girls and their family members who require assistance.
We had the privilege of speaking to Spradha to find out more about what goes on behind the scenes at Babes, and what her volunteer work has taught her.
Spradha Sinha (centre, in red) has been a volunteer with Babes for more than 7 years. When we asked Spradha what she loves about her current role, she told us, “I feel so fulfilled once the girls have a plan in place, as this means I have been able to guide them to come to a decision that is suited for their circumstances.”
Spradha, how did you first get to know about Babes?
I was working in the garment industry and left my job when my second child was born. Once he started school, I debated between starting a full-time job or giving back to society by doing voluntary work. I shortlisted 4-5 agencies I could volunteer with and visited each one, but connected with Babes. It was their mission of helping teenage girls that drew me in.
Teenage girls may be a small group in society, but they are perhaps one of the most vulnerable groups of women. I’ve always felt that this group of girls is often overlooked. They are young, vulnerable, and lack decision-making skills.
There are many negative stereotypes around teenage pregnancy. Since teenage pregnancy is unplanned, there may be a child born out of wedlock and, in some cases, a child being raised by a single teen mother. It is often seen as a child bearing a child. For fear of being judged, these girls may not be comfortable sharing their thoughts and situation with friends and families. They are looking for support, guidance, and tools to help them make decisions because these decisions have an impact on their entire life.
What do you currently do at Babes?
I am a lead helpline volunteer at Babes. The helpline comprises both direct phone calls on and/or WhatsApp messages. One of our most important responsibilities is to respond quickly to queries raised by girls or her family members or friends. We help them better understand their situation and let them know of the various options available to them.
As a lead helpline volunteer, I also manage a team of volunteers and their roster so that helplines are manned at all times. Periodically, I will conduct helpline training for the volunteers, running them through the system that Babes follows and that I have learned through various training sessions with Babes.
My current role is a lot closer to working with teen pregnant girls in crisis, since Babes Helpline is the first line of contact that teenagers use to reach out to when they find themselves in an unprecedented situation due to unplanned pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy not only affects a teenager but her entire family. As such, we not only receive calls from teenage girls but at times from the mothers, sisters, friends, and fathers too, who often fear their daughter’s future will be compromised because she won’t be able to complete her academic studies.
Regardless, our methodology is always to work with girls through various options and scenarios and help them make appropriate and responsible decisions. When the girls reach out to us, they are fearful, lost, confused, and overwhelmed. There is also shame as they feel they have let their parents down, and they’re worried about what their friends will think of them. Our job is to calm them down and assure them that they are not alone in this journey. We ensure they feel safe and comforted.
Santhiya (left), the Partnership Executive at Babes, conferring with Spradha (right) on cases. As a lead helpline volunteer, Spradha mans the helpline for a few days a week, often answering WhatsApp messages on her iPad and taking calls on the go.
What has volunteering with Babes taught you?
Working as a lead helpline volunteer can get emotionally draining, especially when you are managing difficult cases. But as we move from case to case, it’s unfair to take the emotions of one case to another. Every case is different and has a story of its own, which needs to be dealt with empathy and non-judgemental care.
For example, in my previous responsibilities, I was a befriender to one of the girls. I was a listening ear, helping her research and plan for further studies. Together we would look into options of taking the O-levels and furthering professional skills. She would talk to me about her family and her son, and reach out whenever she needed help. We would sit and talk until she felt comforted.
Babes works with girls under 21 years of age, and the youngest girl I worked with was 14 years old. She was staying in a home, and I would pick her up and bring her to the offices of Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) so she could meet her son in foster care. During the process, I taught her how to change a diaper, hold the baby, and play with him.
When you work with people, you must understand that there is no full-stop in human relationships. In helping these young girls or mothers make responsible decisions, I know we are making a difference in their lives.
How you can support Babes at The Gifting Edition 2022
For more information, visit the Babes website or follow them on Facebook. You can also donate directly online now.
Buy a candle made by Babes
The volunteers and service users of the Babes community have been hard at work hand-pouring candles this edition. This would make a meaningful gift, and all proceeds from the sale of these candles go back to fund the work of Babes.
Make a direct donation to Babes
Don’t need a gift but want to support the work of Babes? You can also make a direct donation at The Gifting Edition 2022.
Learn and become an advocate
You can also speak directly to the staff and volunteers of Babes at The Gifting Edition 2022, learn more about the different programmes they have, and share more about the work that they do with your network.
By MELISSA TAI of Public Culture, an editorial experience studio that believes in connection over communication. This feature was photographed by THO JINWEN for Boutique Fairs Singapore.
