Speech by President Halimah Yacob for President's Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards Special Edition

Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law,

Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC),

Ms Melissa Kwee, CEO, NVPC,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I am pleased to join you today for the President's Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards (PVPA). It is fitting that this is the first event held at the Istana for a long while. I am glad that we are able to hold a physical award ceremony to recognise those who have contributed much to our society during this difficult time.

When we were beginning to plan for PVPA earlier this year, the world was just starting to grapple with COVID-19.  Shortly after, the pandemic swept across the globe, causing havoc to public health systems around the world.  Many scrambled to protect the vulnerable communities, because the virus affected seniors more seriously. Subsequent safe management measures, though necessary for public health reasons, grinded the global economy and social activities to almost a standstill, causing hardships to many.  Singapore faced similar challenges.

Fortunately, there is always a sliver of hope beyond every crisis.  The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought out the best in many Singaporeans. Over the past few months, I have seen many Singaporeans from all walks of life coming together to help others. It inspires me greatly to know that in the most difficult of times, humanity still prevails. This is why I have decided to dedicate this year’s PVPA to recognising these unsung heroes who have given selflessly during the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is no surprise that we received a record number of 236 nominations for this year’s special edition of PVPA, almost three times of what we received in 2018. The overwhelming response is a testament to the tremendous efforts across the nation in response to COVID-19.

This afternoon, we gather to recognise 24 of these nominees, who are being recognised for their contributions towards others who have been affected by the pandemic. Their heartening stories are an inspiration to the wider community, and exemplified Singapore’s values of care, compassion and unity.

One good example is Ms Soon Bee Siang Sherry, a recipient of the Leader of Good Award. Sherry is the founder of Be Kind SG, a ground up movement which aims to inspire acts of kindness and encourage more working adults to volunteer. During the COVID-19 period, Sherry led more than 10 initiatives to bring the various community partners together to prepare care packs for essential service workers. Indeed, I first met Sherry when I participated in one of these initiatives to join beneficiaries from MINDS centre in their preparation of 7,000 care packs for our healthcare workers. I hope that her dedicated efforts in giving back to society will continue to inspire the wider community to do good.

Several organisations have also contributed much to the community. One of these Organisations of Good is the Food Bank Singapore, which I visited them yesterday. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Bank experienced a drop in volunteers and donations, which in turn affected their ability to help other charities. Nevertheless, the Food Bank took steps to remain operational and adapted their mode of operation to embark on a new “Feed the City” (take-away edition) initiative. They collaborated with more than 80 F&B establishments and involved more than 100 volunteers in the distribution of meals to beneficiaries. This was a win-win arrangement as it supported F&B establishments, whose businesses were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am glad to hear that the Food Bank has distributed almost one million meals to about 15,000 beneficiaries during this challenging period. The Food Bank also leveraged technology to provide accessible food services for its beneficiaries. They are issued with Food Bank Cards with credits to redeem food items from vending machines located within the heartlands.

I also want to make special mention of Mr Muhammad Arshad Fawwaz Bin Mohamed Ali, a recipient of the Special Commendation Award under the People of Good Category. Despite having autism and ADHD, Arshad is determined to pursue his area of interest in music and directing short films. He created an online show, “Inclusivity 4 All”, for persons with special needs to showcase their talents and promote inclusivity during this challenging time of the pandemic. His first show was aired on YouTube and Facebook on Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I hope Arshad’s initiative will continue to encourage the wider community to see the strength and diverse talents of persons with disabilities. They are not only recipients or beneficiaries but also contributors to our society in many ways.  

Let me end by congratulating all the winners and nominees of this year’s PVPA. You exemplify the values of care and compassion in our society. I would also like to thank the NVPC for organising today’s event, and for implementing all the necessary safe management measures to ensure that our recipients and guests are safe.

The pandemic is far from over. Let us continue to stay united in this fight against the virus. Let us support one another in this difficult time.  Together, we can emerge stronger from this crisis.   Thank you.