With the recent cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and earthquakes in China and Japan, what does it take to help on the frontline? Serena Sim, 32, gives Hsieh Nizhen the cost breakdown of lives saved, one person at a time

How did you get involved with mission work?
I come from a family of doctors and nurses, so it’s in my blood.

What prevented you from becoming a doctor?
Laziness. [Laughs] I did a mass communications degree in place of [studying] medicine. But I’ve always had an interest in first aid and helping people. When my grandparents fell sick, I took care of them. On the side, I’ve helped out in an old folks’ home and a children’s hospital ward. And at university, I was also a lifeguard.

When did you decide to get involved in mission work?
In 2003, I joined the Red Cross as a volunteer.

So it’s not even a paid job? No. What does your role at the Red Cross involve?
Basically, providing medical and logistical support.

Is there an experience that sticks in your mind?
I was in Myanmar after the cyclone. And it struck me how much people were willing to help each other in the face of not just the disaster but a government that wasn’t willing to help its own people. There were doctors who approached the richer Burmese instead of the government for money for medical supplies. The Singaporeans who worked there would travel a fair distance to the delta region during their lunch breaks and bring sacks of rice to the locals who were going hungry. It really touched me and I came back feeling that we don’t have the same genuine care here.

How do you stay focused and keep your emotions in check?
To be honest, I never think about it while I’m away. You don’t have time to think. You just do what you have to do when you’re there. It’s only when I come home that the emotions hit. But being a Buddhist helps me keep it all in moderation.

Aren’t you afraid sometimes?
Of course I am. There’s a certain danger involved. Sometimes I worry that I may not make it back from a mission and if that happens, I worry about my family and how they may take it. It’s always a risk, but it’s worth it.

Why this desire to help others?
It’s my passion. Someone once told me, ‘Alleviating one person’s suffering is enough of an achievement.’ And it’s true – especially when I get caught up trying to save the world.

Are there negative repercussions to mission work?
When an area experiences what is called a ‘saturation of help’, you often find people who become too dependent.

What do you mean?
They are no longer willing to work and I have seen people just stand there and put out their hands for money. It’s a big problem when you’re helping people who were once self-sufficient and end up not wanting to help themselves. On one hand, you live in a First World country without the threat of war or natural disaster, and on the other hand, you deal with a lot of suffering in other countries when you go for mission work.

How do you deal with the contradiction?
I like shopping, getting my nails done and sometimes while sitting having a latte, I experience a small flashback and it’s like this split in reality. But I try not to judge the difference and instead embrace how lucky I am to be free to do as I please.