Abigail Chay and Javier Ng
Abigail Chay:
Chay and her mother Mdm Yau had always wished to volunteer to do community work but did not know how. One day while passing by a public demonstration of fire fighting and first aid by the Civil Defence, Mdm Yau was approached by a friendly officer to join as a volunteer. She was delighted.
Soon, Chay was also recruited in as a volunteer too. Not long after, more voluntary committees approached the mother and daughter team to join as volunteers. They both felt accepted by the community as they felt they were not good enough and felt shy before joining. They began volunteering from then on.
Mdm Yan and Chay love acting. They started with being extra in movies, drama series, and TV commercials. Then Mdm Yau went for an audition and became a familiar face in a fast chain TV commercial.
While Chay went for an audition for a TV sitcom and got a role and also became a familiar face. Eventually, she got roles in movies, TV series and stage productions.
Mdm Yau passed on in 2002 but she leaves a legacy in voluntary community work and she did not give up hashing her dream even in her old age. Chay is still very actively involved in voluntary community work. They have learnt that even if they feel they are not good enough, there are places that are willing to give them a chance.
Javier Ng:
In 2016, my parents were going through a divorce. It was a rough year for me as I was going through streaming year. It was when I turned wayward, got into gangs, started drinking and smoking. Soon after, I got myself into more trouble with the school and the law.
In 2017, I was given a stroke of the cane by my secondary school for vaping and my involvement in a settlement talk. My mum then told me a phrase “Why did my baby change until like this?”. That phrase woke me up and I know I have to change for the better. No more being rebellious. I started to focus on the most basic fundamental, which is my studies, winning the trust of teachers and classmates, and also focusing on developing myself to be a better person. That was also the year I started to gain relevant experiences.
In 201l my academic performance had improved, from failing ato Band As. I also had the opportunity to be the only Class Chairperson, CCA Chairperson, and VIA Chairperson with the trust from my teachers and peers. I know I must not let them down. That year, I learned to be more understanding and to look out for my peers rather than achieving a goal but not having the support of others. Later that year, I graduated from my secondary school. I also joined CNB as an anti-drug advocate.
In 2019, I started my study in ITE CC. I was pursuing Nitec in finance services. In March, I had the opportunity to go to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Youth Forum, 2019 held in Vienna, Austria. A delegation was led by 2nd Minister for MHA, Mrs. Josephine Teo, in Vienna. I discussed about Singapore’s approach on a Drug-free SG with international delegates. In August, I was appointed to the NCPR, Youth advisory group by then Minister for MSF, Mr. Desmond Lee to work on the cause of our At-risk Youth because of my past.
I also joined the Radin Mas PAP Branch that year. In 2020, when Covid struck, I decided to volunteer myself as a safe-distancing Ambassador. It was a tough and fulfilling duty. That is where I met more passionate grassroots leaders who mentored and taught me many stuff. Fast forward to 2021, I was the top graduate and valedictorian for my studies in ITE. I was also awarded the National Youth award from Mdm. Halimah Yacob, President of Singapore. Today, I am a Year 1 Student pursuing a diploma in community development at NP.
