Dasari Snikitha, 16

School: Damai Secondary School

Topic: An email on a VIA project to honour deceased donors

Award: Fifth Place, Senior Category, 2024

Dear Ms Ng,

I am Snikitha Dasari, a member of the Executive Committee of Damai Secondary School’s Student Council. I am writing this email to propose a Values-in-Action (VIA) project that will allow the school population to honour Singapore’s deceased organ donors. This project is aimed at, not only serving as a tribute to all the deceased donors’ generosity and benevolence, but also inculcating profound values such as gratitude, compassion, and altruism — all of which enable personal growth and a sense of social responsibility in everyone.

The inspiration for this project came from an unlikely source: I noticed a jar of paper stars while visiting my aunt, and I asked about the story behind it. She told me that the paper stars held at their core heartwarming messages penned by students, in appreciation of her mother's life. She was a selfless woman who elected to donate her organs after her passing, and this act of altruism offered her many beneficiaries a renewed lease of life.

The jar serves as a testament to her mother’s empathy and reminds her each day to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She held in high regard the immense courage and strength required to make such a decision against the damning public opinion of organ donation in the past. To her, this tiny jar of stars served a purpose far greater than its weight, and helped my aunt realise that one’s kind actions will and should always be acknowledged. Kindness presented itself to her as a lighthouse that guides, like the stars, those whose futures seem bleak.

I, therefore, would like to propose for all students and staff members in our school to listen to the stories of organ donors all around Singapore, and translate these tales into creative works of art that showcase their positive impact on society. This can come in the form of literature, comic strips, poems as well as portraits or symbolic art pieces depicting the happiness of the deceased donor and beneficiaries—all to give to the donor’s family.

I believe that this VIA project should be executed from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 20 May 2024 as that is the last week of school for all the students and staff. There will be 2 venues for the VIA, namely the school hall for those who would like to express their gratitude through words, and the six large art rooms for those who would prefer to portray meaning through art pieces. All the students and staff will be tasked with choosing what they would like to do the week before. The school’s English, Literature and Art teachers will accompany the students to assist them with their pieces of work. Additionally, five representatives from each class in Secondary Four will be having a Zoom meeting with the families to convey the heartfelt messages of appreciation, and engage in meaningful and open conversations on the thoughts and feelings of the family members. A teacher moderator will be present to help to facilitate the sensitive discussion. This will also be a meaningful experience for students as they will be socialising with people of different walks of life, allowing them to broaden their perspectives and practise open-mindedness.

I believe that the students will benefit in many ways from this initiative. Firstly, students will get to see the humane face of medicine; healthcare is more than just diagnosing patients. It involves empathy, ethics and critical thinking. Learning about the emotional aspect of healthcare may strengthen and awaken students’ passion for working in the healthcare industry or doing social work in the future. In the same vein, this project is an opportunity for students to befriend like-minded individuals, allowing for personal growth, social cohesion and strong friendships.

As students embark on the VIA project, they will innately become active and concerned members of society, who are aware of how they can learn from and contribute to current affairs and discussions. Beyond practising and refining their writing or drawing skills, they would also undergo holistic development such as developing emotional intelligence and maturity as they engage in open conversations with their peers on sensitive topics. This will serve to dispel the stigma associated with organ donation.

The potential benefits of this project extend beyond its run: students may even go home and educate their family members or neighbours on the misconceptions of organ donation, propagating the awareness further. Besides sparking interest in some students to meticulously research topics of interest and debunk harmful misconceptions, students would also develop effective communication skills and patience. After taking part in the VIA, they would certainly be more careful with the words they use, thinking before they speak to articulate sincere intentions and opinions in a deferential manner.

Presently, participation in the organ donation drive is assumed for Singaporeans unless consent is withdrawn. This project may potentially reduce the withdrawal rate in Singapore, and plant a seed of purpose in willing organ donors. Furthermore, students may even look up to the late organ donors as role models, which would inspire them to selflessly serve society without thinking about their gains. As they learn to engage in and handle difficult conversations with respect and critical thinking, students will become aplomb and possess great savoir-faire. This project will surely be the start of a nurturing and enriching community in school where students can independently tackle emotional topics with ease. On a large scale, this project would inculcate and instill common values and shared goals, allowing for purposeful interactions to take place, fostering a stronger school spirit, and ensuring a close-knit social fabric.

I trust that my proposal was perspicuous in highlighting the significance and benefits of this project to our school population. I hope you will consider holding this VIA project this year.

Yours sincerely,
Snikitha

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2024 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health).

To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg