Yazid Abdullah PBM and Chang Yu Qing
Yazid Abdullah PBM:
Life was not so rosy during the early 60s and 70s. After completing my Senior Cambridge, which coincides with our nation becoming independent in 1965, I continued my studies at Singapore Poly, the only polytechnic during my time, with a circle of friends, boys and girls.
Play and study are our daily activities: Tea & birthday parties, roaming on the beach & spending hours at a friend’s house is a routine. With little pocket money from our parents, we have to work part-time, giving tuition & selling gift items to make ends meet. After graduating with an IT Diploma and pressured by our parents to find a job to support a family financially, I started my career as a TO at Singapore Telecom (Singtel).
We had witnessed the beginning of the large-scale building of HDB flats in the early 70s. The exodus of kampong people moving in HDB estate with its surroundings is totally a new experience for me. During one of the campaigns to keep our estate clean, I was spotted & being asked to join as a Grassroots Volunteer. This is to ensure our estate is clean & safe from dengue.
Gradually my involvement in the Grassroots started blooming. I was so attached & shortly been co-opted to join other grassroots activities & meeting many friends from other ethnic groups as a result. Our bonding did not only matter at the grassroots level but was involved in our festive occasions.
In the legacy environment, it was easily identified that each ethnic group congregated amongst themselves: The Malays seen in Geylang, Indians in Little India & Chinese in Chinatown. However, this has changed from the 90s onwards, thanks to the government. The multi-social groups stayed in HDB like one family. We no longer see our neighbour as someone alien to us. Because in an emergency, the neighbour comes to our help faster than our own sibling. After 40 years as a volunteer, I look forward to serving further.
Chang Yu Qing:
Being born in the year 2000 and coinciding with the Chinese zodiac sign Dragon, life has been rather fast-paced and fast-changing. I still vaguely remember my childhood days where cassette tape recordings still exist. Now, it’s obsolete.
Growing up, my parents and grandparents are the inspirations in my life. Since a tender age of 4, I’ve been a “permanent Resident” at Fengshan Community Centre as my mother was serving as a grassroots leader there. I'd spent my days below the stage, looking up to my mother while she hosted events, CNY dinners, NDP events, etc. The centre was my second home.
Slowly but surely, I’d started taking a more active role at the CC. From helping at ticketing booths to serving food at the buffet spreads during various events. These grew my interest of becoming just like my mother: A Grassroots Leader.
At age 15, which is the minimum age to sign up as a GRL, I emailed a staff member at Siglap CC to register my interest as a volunteer. Since then, I’ve continued this interest till today. I joined the Siglap CC Youth Executive Committee (YEC), where we organised Edusave Awards Ceremonies, created a conducive environment for students to study & get assistance at, and even helped to raise funds for a new community hub. It is very heartening to see the smiles of our residents when they come for our events.
Now at the age of 21, being an undergraduate student, I continued my volunteer journey as a writer at weekly meet-the-people sessions in the Bedok constituency. To me, being able to be part of the solution for any challenges faced by our residents, gives me great gratification. In this 21st century, life is so fast-paced that at times we forget to slow down and appreciate the community/environment we are surrounded by. Let’s take this chance to stop & look around & embrace the Singapore we are living in. I look forward to what the future holds for us!
