Guest Post

Taking inspiration from Gametize’s 6D Framework, we based our designs to fit our identified problem statement. Moral Home’s caregivers are currently having trouble assimilating into their new work and living environments: The Garden Angels for Moral Home!

Our partner, Moral Home for the Aged Sick, told us that many of their foreign caregivers primarily from Myanmar and the Philippines feel disconnected from Singapore beyond the walls of their workplace. They stay indoors on their off days, stick to the same few familiar spots, and miss out on the accessible experiences that could genuinely improve their well-being.

Our project addresses a real-world issue in caregiving: the difficulty foreign caregivers and volunteers may face when trying to connect meaningfully with elderly residents in Singapore. While many caregivers are able to support seniors physically, obtaining emotional and social connections are challenged when there are differences in language, culture, and everyday experiences.

By the end of the gamified experience, the initiative seeks to foster sustained volunteer engagement through tasks that build empathy, leadership, and communication. It also aims to encourage meaningful reflection via self-assessment challenges and digital badges tied to soft skills, while evaluating the model’s potential for broader application across future SMU projects and external collaborations.

Our networking-while-volunteering initiative aims to spark and sustain interest in volunteering for nursing homes among SMU students by offering values aligned with their career priorities. We also aim to increase both employment opportunities and volunteerism rates among university students.