Help where help is needed.
Eight remarkable undergraduates who are guided by this simple but life-changing maxim were recently recognised with community service awards for their selfless devotion to make life a little better – and fairer – for society’s marginalised. They represent the inspired young men and women among us whose compassion for others ignites in them strength to serve and will to carry on – even in the face of a raging pandemic. The awards – sponsored and named after donor organisations – are presented annually by SMU, to undergraduates who have made a mark through their outstanding service, contributions and volunteer efforts to the local community. Winners were announced in late August.
Kenneth Wong Jun Jie (SOA) was presented this year’s Singapore Soka Association (SSA)-Ikeda Peace Award, for his unyielding commitment to and spirit of volunteerism. He was recognised specifically for his work in helping Singapore’s homeless. Since the start of the 2019, he and a team from the Catholic Welfare Services have scoured Singapore’s streets for homeless ‘rough sleepers’ and connected them with agencies that provide support and temporary housing. Noticing that the shelters faced a shortage of food supplies – especially when the pandemic hit hard – Kenneth and three close friends started a ground-up initiative, Food for the Homeless Singapore, to raise funds to buy emergency furniture, basic necessities and food for these shelters. To date, the project has lovingly served over 2000 hot meals to more than 100 grateful individuals living in homeless shelters.
Megan Lau Lyn-Ing (SOSS) received the Yu Xin Community Leadership Award for contributions to Thye Hua Kwan Hospital and Fei Yue Community Services where she befriends elderly patients during engagement sessions and teaches seniors basic computer literacy skills respectively. She was also a Community Care Partner with Care Corner Cluster Support, and devoted time to make home-visits to low-income families and the elderly to check on their well-being. Megan also volunteered as an assistant teacher with SPD (formerly Society for the Physically Disabled) and helped prepare lesson plans and materials for children with special needs.
The Yu Xin Community Leadership Award is presented to students whose selfless community service and leadership impact the elderly and disable persons communities.
The following six students were conferred the Pilot Pen Community Champion Award. These awards are distinguished into six categories and salute full-time undergraduates whose work at the grassroots level has raised awareness of issues or helped these groups in society: persons with disabilities, the elderly, youths-at risk, low-income and single parent families, mental health awareness, and animal and environmental advocacy.
Chua Kai Zhen (SOSS) was recognised for her role as president of SMU Youth Mentors where she led her peers in mentorship and outreach activities for underprivileged students.
Dabria Yiong Si Hui (LKCSB) received the award for animal welfare advocacy. She founded The Animal Welfare Station, a one-stop platform which provides information and resources on animal welfare issues connected via WordPress, professional networking site LinkedIn and Instagram.
As SMU Red Cross Youth Chapter’s vice-president, Derrick Chua Wen Jie (LKCSB) oversaw SMU’s blood donation drive – organised especially because of Singapore’s blood shortage in the wake of Covid-19. He helped to plan and execute Project AC – which imparts vital first-aid skills to the elderly, and also led his CCA to collaborate with TOUCH Community Service’ Meals on Wheels programme to deliver food to the elderly and lower-income families.
Tan Huang Ngin (SOSS), Liao Qiu Xu (Yong Pung How SOL) and Pearlyn Ng Qifang (LKCSB) were individually lauded for their efforts to help low-income families.
Huang Ngin’s roles in SMU Youth Mentors and SMU Rotaract involved many committed hours tutoring underprivileged children and befriending seniors.
Qiu Xu volunteered in Buona Vista’s Meet-the-People sessions and did pro-bono work for the Singapore State Courts. He was also a SMU Rotaract member where he taught children basic emotional and life skills.
Youth Corps Leader Pearlyn Ng taught computer literacy skills to seniors and basic coding to children. As an active member of SMU Rotaract, she volunteered time to interact and engage with children with Down’s Syndrome. She was also involved in Project Inspirar where she befriended the elderly beneficiaries and engaged them in hands-on activities.
For these students, being conferred the awards have cemented their purpose to help out in the community even more.
Said Kenneth: “I am extremely humbled to receive the SSA-Ikeda Peace Award. This has re-affirmed my decision to serve others, and I am further motivated to continue using my skillsets to drive social impact.”
Derrick shared he was honoured and grateful that Pilot Pen encourages the spirit of giving. But more than that, he wishes his actions can spark a positive domino effect with others.
“I hope I will be able to continue serving the wider community in meaningful ways and in doing so, inspire others to do the same!”
At the end of the day, it is the love for others – including animals – that make us want to help. To our eight award winners: please continue inspiring us with what you do; for going the extra mile – outside of studies, work and personal lives – to brighten the rocky paths of those who walk them. We, and your beneficiaries, would just like to say a big ‘Thank You’!