SIF Citizen Ambassadors Inspire Singaporeans With Their Journeys to Becoming Active Global Citizens

Since 25 March this year, commuters have been seeing images of a group of Singaporeans in distinctive orange and green shirts at 55 train stations across the island. These SIF Citizen Ambassadors volunteer in our programmes to help uplift lives – from healthcare and education to good business and cultural exchange. They work alongside their overseas counterparts to share new realities, while fostering greater intercultural understanding.

Their stories, which can found at the stations until 13 May 2021, is the SIF’s latest initiative to raise awareness about the importance of being responsible global citizens and to inspire more people to sign up as volunteers. The campaign, called “Embark on Your Journey as a Citizen Ambassador”, is a collaboration with SMRT Media.

This initiative also marks our 30^th year at fostering people-to-people ties between Singaporeans and world communities. Our work has since impacted over 15 million lives in 28 countries. This is, in large part, thanks to our volunteers who have given their time and talent to the SIF’s mission.

The featured CAs are:

1. Dr Akhileswaran Ramaswamy, Specialist Volunteer (Healthcare) (MusiCare Project)
2. Aminur Rasyid, Young Social Entrepreneurs Programme
3. David Pong, Young Social Entrepreneurs Programme
4. Deborah Low, Specialist Volunteer (In-field)
5. Leslie Tan, Specialist Volunteer (Music Project)
6. Maurice Tan, Direct Service Team Leader (Words on Wheels)
7. Dr Nirmala Karuppiah, Specialist Volunteer (Education)
8. Seluasundram Nagalingam, Direct Service Team Leader (Water for Life)

Leslie Tan, founder of Project Artitude, a platform that uses music to empower lives, said: “Volunteering has opened my eyes to simple and hidden truths; given me joy and space to breathe; and allowed me to touch others with my music. I want to inspire others to volunteer.”

Maurice Tan said: "I regret that I did not start volunteering earlier, but waited until my retirement. The best thing about volunteering is the benefit it offers to the beneficiaries, their communities, and the volunteers themselves.”

He started volunteering in 2014 and has led 21 Water for Life (WFL) and Words on Wheels (WOW) trips to Cambodia and Indonesia. WFL provides rural communities with access to drinking water through the use of clean water technology. WOW seeks to promote learning among children by giving them access to a mobile library and the internet.

Deborah Low spent a year as an in-field volunteer and taught English to Laotian government officials. She said: “SIF has enabled me to make friends for a better world. Although I am no longer based in Laos, I still keep in touch with my dear friend, Toukta, and support her with English-related writings.

“Through this initiative, I also rekindled a friendship with a fellow volunteer who saw my poster. I am thankful to have made many friends in my volunteering journey.”

Seluasundram Nagalingam said: “You make a living by what you receive, you make a life by what you give. Volunteers reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and love.” The volunteer since 2013 added: “I am thankful for the opportunity to inspire more people to take up this noble cause to benefit the community at large and I’m ready for the next Water For Life project when it restarts.”

Get in touch with us to find out how you can become an SIF Citizen Ambassador too.