Alice Lim Kim Kee and Umairah Nabilah Binte Sharudin

Alice Lim Kim Kee:

I grew up in a low-income family. My family consists of my grandmother, my parents, three brothers, and two sisters. Those days we live in attap house in Bukit Ho Swee.

During my school days, I remember I always have problems paying my school fee on time because my parents were poor. This has affected my studies.

When I grew up as a young adult, I started working in the factory to support my family.

I am married at 23 and am blessed with a son and a daughter. When my children were older, my husband gave me his support when I told him I want to start my own business. I love cooking so my first venture was a cooked food stall in Orchard Road. Unfortunately, business was not profitable and I closed it down after one year. After this, I started a flower shop and it took off for more than twenty years.

My journey as a volunteer began with an invitation by a friend to help out in the community activity. To date, I am still serving. I volunteered in the old age home to do monthly hair cutting service and mingling with the elderly. I enjoyed organising activities for seniors and projects for the young and old.

I want to continue to serve the community for as long as I can because I enjoy doing it.

Umairah Nabilah Binte Sharudin:

I grew up in Jurong. My family consists of my parents, two elder brothers, and a younger sister. We live in a HDB flat.

I studied in Rulang Primary School. I am very fortunate to obtain my primary education in one of the prestigious primary schools in Singapore and in Jurong. As a Rulangnite, it gave me many opportunities to represent the school’s Malay Dancers.

In 2018, I joined JCYEL and from there I got myself involved in community activities in Jurong GRC. I am still currently involved with JCYEL to date. I have been involved in performances and volunteer work with JCYEL.

Now, I am in Hua Yi Secondary School. I am in Modern Dance. Although I am in secondary school now, I am still involved in JCYEL. I made new friends and I adapted well to the new environment.

I will commit my time to be involved in community activities in the long run without jeopardising my studies.