By Sng Ler Jun, with additional reporting by Maggi Lim

The world is loud and full of distractions; it can be hard to find a moment of peace against the humdrum of life. But on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon in July, nine co-operators are finding a much-appreciated respite at the new Bird Paradise in Mandai Wildlife Reserve lending a helping hand.

The nine members hail from six local co-ops, including Singapore Teachers’ Co-operative, Citiport Credit Co-operative, A Good Space Co-operative, Silver Caregivers Co-operative, POLWEL Co-operative and Singapore Government Staff Credit Co-operative. All of whom have volunteered their time to spend the afternoon with the elderly folks from SASCO Citizens’ Home at the new bird park.

Bird Paradise first opened its door to the public on May 8, months after the iconic research and conservatory Jurong Bird Park, which dates back to some 52 years ago in the seventies, ceased operations at the start of the year. All 3,500 birds from the Jurong Bird Park were rehomed to the new location in Mandai.

Bird Paradise features eight walk-in aviaries, each of which is distinguished by a particular habitat and geographical location from where the birds hail. Much to the elderlies’ elation, the co-op volunteers accompanied them to the different aviaries, where they get a glimpse of how the birds live within these environments and witness their natural behaviours on display.  

Jointly organised by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) and SASCO Citizens’ Home, the volunteering initiative is one of the Federation’s co-operative collaborative outreach engagements to encourage different co-ops to partner and do good together.   

Check out the photos here: