Neo Say Keong and Arunraj Chidambaram
Volunteerism
Neo Say Keong:
Volunteerism, this word never struck my mind then. There was a survey in 1981, when I just moved into Clementi Town, and I was asked this question: Are you willing to join a newly formed Residents Committee (RC)? Appointed by MP Mr Bernard Chen, I became a RC member in early 1982. My second son was also born that year. I managed to juggle working as an assistant manager in a logistics firm, my role as a father, and volunteering.
Our RC was about to organize our first event: a children's party. Most of our members including me did not have much experience in event organization. Despite this, I was asked to lead the project and the event was well received. The following year, I was appointed vice chairman of Clementi Zone One RC. Not long after, my RC chairman requested that I attend a Citizen Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting. Soon, I became a member. In 1989, my family moved to Bukit Panjang and I joined its CCC. The MP then was Mr Lee Yiok Seng.
In 1997, a new MP, Dr Teo Ho Pin became our grassroots adviser. I was asked to organize a fundraising event for our RC. Not long after, I became Chairman of Bukit Panjang Zone 10 RC.
In 2001, I started to serve under MP Mr Gan Kim Yong, under a new constituency, Zhenghua.
The following year, I took on the roles of chairman of Zhenghua Community Club, Town Councilor, and PAP member. In 2005, I started to serve under a new MP, Mr Liang Eng Hwa. As I was serving as Chairman of a neighborhood temple, I was invited to take on the role of IRCC chairman to promote racial and religious harmony.
In 2020, I had the opportunity to do community work with the new MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Mr Edward Chia. Managing numerous hats in grassroots organizations was a challenge. To date I have served under six MPs, 39 years and counting. Still attending meetings, organizing events, and learning.
Arunraj Chidambaram:
My journey as a volunteer started a decade ago when I was 16 years old. I first joined the 4th Term of Zhenghua Youth Executive Committee (YEC) as an ordinary member in 2011. I was inspired by my mother, Selvarani, who previously served as a youth volunteer and then served in Zhenghua WEC, to become a grassroots leader. I have served in 5 terms ever since I joined the youth club, and I have picked up many skills such as time management, public speaking and critical thinking along the way.
I also joined as a volunteer in Zhenghua WEC's KidsREAD Club, a nationwide reading programme aimed at cultivating the love of reading among children aged 4 to 8 who are from less privileged families. Each session spans 1 hour where children are engaged in a fun and interactive programme by volunteers like myself. I perform storytelling and conduct story-related activities that spark their imagination and creativity. In 2016, I became the coordinator for Zhenghua KidsREAD Club where I was able to plan out the list of storybooks to be read for each session while recruiting passionate volunteers and kids.
Similar to Mr Neo, I was also fortunate to serve under Mr Liang Eng Hwa in grassroots organizations and Meet the People Session (MPS), which is held every Monday night at Zhenghua PAP Branch. I have volunteered with Mr Neo at the branch as a petition writer and as a new volunteer was able to pick up new skills by observing him. Then I became a PAP member and have been serving in Young PAP (YP), the youth wing of the People's Action Party, to connect the party with the younger generation. In 2020, together with Mr Neo, I started to serve under Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui when he took over as our new MP.
In July 2021, as the incoming Chairman of 2nd Term Zhenghua Youth Network, I was recruited into Zhenghua Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) as a member. I wish to leave a legacy like Mr Neo, as he is an inspiration for new and young volunteers like me, by serving my community and inspiring youths into volunteerism.
“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
