Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Business School
Undergraduates Programmes
2016 HURAY GOLD MEDAL AND CASH AWARD FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
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The Recipient: Yin Ji Jian Andrew
In 2012, I had an internship at World Toilet Organization, a non-profit organization which aims to build toilets for families who could not afford one in developing countries. In 2012, I started an initiative called Innovative and Manageable sanitary Pad (IMPad) to provide rural women with hygienic, affordable and biodegradable sanitary pads, made out of an aquatic weed called water hyacinth. It all started when I was on my internship at World Toilet Organization, and have learnt that in India, 3 out of 10 girls drop out of school once they hit puberty because they could not afford something as basic as a sanitary pad. This, coupled with the highly stigmatising notions surrounding menstruation, has resulted in existing gender inequalities to be further worsened as girls are prematurely cut short of opportunities which education could bring to them; opportunities like myself and many others were able to have because we were fortunate enough to live in a environment where such gross inconveniences do not occur. And that became the purpose which brought IMPad to life - if we could bring one girl back to school with the simple act of providing an effective sanitary pad, then it is all worth it. So, we took our idea to the Young Social Entrepreneurs competition organised by Singapore International Foundation and were lucky to have been crowned one of the winners to receive a grant to kickstart our initiative. That eventually led me to take a year off school and onto the colourful villages of India where I stayed for almost a year, working closely with another organization, Aakar Innovations, which was already in the field doing groundbreaking work to get girls back to school, and women to wean off unhygienic practices of handling their menstrual needs. In the end, just before I returned to Singapore, I was able to oversee a production unit which provided hygienic and effective sanitary pads for 300 “untouchable” girls who live at a shelter. It was truly a defining moment for me, when one of the girls whom we interviewed said that “(now) we could run whenever we want, and sit wherever we like”. For this, my time there has been worth it. You can find out more here: Even after returning, I was still determined to be part of the cause and hence, I took up the role of the organization's advocate here in Singapore. Whenever possible, I would try to share what I have learnt in India to others - in hopes that we could get additional hands for the work which we are trying to do. I have then participated in this competition organised by Prezi, a leading software company based in Silicon Valley, which I eventually won, beating out teams from University of California Los Angeles and Fudan University. By winning the competition, Prezi has given me the platform to further share my work to an international audience and have provided support to the cause we have started in India. http://edu.prezi.com/blog/2015/1/9/our-canvas-my-campus-winners-are-here-to-make-a-change After winning the Prezi global presentation where I raised funds and built awareness around my initiative in menstrual hygiene and education for girls, I was also selected to be the first campus ambassador in Singapore to introduce and coach students on using Prezi for their presentations. Winning the Prezi competition has also awarded the university, both faculty and students, a 1 year subscription for the premium Prezi software, Edu Prezi worth $50 per subscription. I was also the recipient for the Nanyang Humanitarian Award 2014, for my efforts in helping 300 girls in India return to school, and bringing awareness to the importance of menstrual hygiene practices to women in rural villages there. We have also built our community efforts such that we train women from the villages to become community champions such that they can spread the word to their peers. To date, we have engaged about 2000 women for such efforts.
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Click on the individual nominee's photo or name to read their respective profiles.
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| Arthas Ho Shiun | Foo Cho Wan (Karen) | Ignatius Junxian Wong |
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| Li Ruyue | Foo Cho Wan (Karen) | Tan Yu Jia |
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Arthas Ho Shiun
Arthas was first engaged in community work in 2008 at Hospice Care Singapore, where he helped to organize and coordinate an event for 50 terminally-ill patients. His dedication to the cause was evident, as he dedicated long hours to prepare for a magic show performance to the patients. The highly interactive magic performance was well-received by the patients. In addition, he prepared a piano recital piece for entitled “If we hold on together” for the patients. Furthermore, in 2009, Arthas volunteered his time to clean up the flats of single elderly in Ang Mo Kio. As some of elderly were handicapped, their flats remained uncleaned for many years. To carry this physically demanding task, Arthas led a team of 30 volunteers to clean as many flats as they could. After the completion of cleaning their flats, he and his friends then distributed food packets for almost 100 elderly. Arthas frequently self-sources for volunteering opportunities, where he could leverage on his existing skills to empower the society. In 2013, Arthas volunteer to become a mentor at Muhammadiyah Welfare Home to coach youth delinquents. Many of these youths have been arrested by police for crimes including theft, housebreaking and armed robbery. As such, most of them lack a direction in life and are uncertain about the future. Arthas mentored 50 delinquents and gave motivational talks to inspire them to believe in themselves and to work hard for the future. He also rewards them with presents and goodies to encourage them further. In 2014, Arthas became a volunteer at Bedok Green Primary School, where he adopted 2 children from low-income and single-parent families. As these children come from families with financial difficulties, Arthas mentored them on the importance of sound money management. Both children achieved their targeted savings of $160 in total within 1 year and Arthas rewarded them with presents and goodie bags. Besides empowering the society with skills that Arthas could contribute, he also dedicates his time to the communities that are under-privileged. In 2015, Arthas volunteered at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). He assisted in the execution of a planned Halloween event for 200 mentally-ill patients. He worked alongside 60 volunteers to carry out the event smoothly. Arthas is constantly seeking meaningful projects that can empower the society. Furthermore, he has consistently contributed financially to numerous worthy causes and donation drives. Moving forward, Arthas aspires to set up an investment fund that will set aside a portion of gains to empower the under-privileged youths in Singapore.
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Foo Cho Wan (Karen)
2. Book for charity In 2015, I was invited to contribute a chapter to an investment book alongside prominent experts and investors such as Adam Khoo. The book, titled “Your Cash Moves” has been sold in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. We launched the book at a property conference held at Marina Bay Sands where wealthy investors would visit. All the proceeds of the sales were donated to Singapore Children’s Cancer Foundation. To date, over $2000 is raised for the charity. 3. Fundraising event: Chocolates for charity The funds helped the animals in the shelter to obtain basic necessities such as food and shelter. 4. Community service Aside from that, I have organized the first community service leadership camp for all the executive committee members of the various community service club to share ideas related to community service. Through the Meals on Wheels, I distributed food to the needy individuals. I also participated in Lion Befrienders Flag Day where I raised funds for the elderly. I’ve also visited an old folks home where I spent time with the elderly, engaging in conversations and playing games. At the end of the day, it helps bring joy to the elderly. 5. Helping the environment
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Ignatius Junxian Wong
He commenced his humble beginnings, where he has spent all 3 years in polytechnic, as an avid volunteer taking the role of a Changi Youth Ambassador, where he assisted transiting passengers at the airport every week, in going the extra mile for them by portraying service excellence and warm hospitality of Singapore. In 2008, Ignatius embarked into his very first overseas community project in Cambodia (Project IT Joy) from his CCA officer’s encouragement to step out his comfort zone to volunteer in an entirely new environment. He visited various vocational schools and an orphanage In Phnom Pehn, where the team had set up and programmed over 400 computers and conducted computer and English lessons. Ever since that project, the beneficiaries have touched his heart and he has decided that he has discovered his lifelong ambition will be international volunteerism. Subsequently, this passion has led him to sign up for another overseas community project in Cambodia in 2010 (Project Suesday), in the contribution of extending ‘Grace Road’, a concrete road which was previously a mud track for Proyouth Village, one of the underprivileged communities in Siem Reap province. In his varsity years, fuelled by his passion from his past fulfilling experiences, Ignatius joined NTU Rotaract Club’s International Service Division with an aim to extend his help once more in Yangon, Myanmar (Project PYAW III in 2014). He had a deep reflection that international volunteerism must go hand in hand with sustainability in order to achieve long term benefits. Eventually, he was given the opportunity to lead and plan a team in the preceding year back to the same overseas beneficiary, Witharkhar Nunnery Teaching School (Project PYAW IV in 2015). In this current academic year, his journey with Project PYAW, which is a multifaceted community service project, emphasising in education, morals, basic refurbishment and sanitation for the brighter future for the unfortunate Burmese children, has not been obstructed because of his graduation and he will embark this June again for his third round (Project PYAW 5 in 2016) as a facilitator and project advisor. Also, he would be traveling to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Colombo, Sri Lanka at the same year in participating in worldwide environmental and conservation protection projects. By virtue of his OCIP, Ignatius has been actively volunteering locally as well, where he has previously volunteered his time with Boys’ Home, MSF, IMH, Club Rainbow and Ang Mo Kio – Thye Hua Kwan Hospital to be in touch with various communities in need, so as to deepen his journey to understand the true spirit of volunteerism, altruism and selflessness.
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“It is not how good you are, but how good you want to be”. Ruyue has always been Sports Events Her passion for volunteering for sports events continued during university. In Year 1, Community Events In Year 1, Ruyue joined Volunteer Management (VM) under Welfare Services Club. She was part of the organizing committee for a three-day camp for underprivileged children at Underwater World Sentosa, and a one-day activity for the low-income senior citizens at Marina Barrage. In addition, Ruyue was also the ambassador for DAS Awareness Campaign to spread the awareness of Dyslexia among NTU students. In Year 2, Ruyue joined NTU Students' Union - BP Mentoring as the Liaison Director. In BP Mentoring, they gave free tuitions to secondary school students on a weekly basis. As a Liaison Director, she was also the coordinators to ensure mentees’ and mentors’ welfare was well taken care of. Since Year 3, Ruyue volunteered at Da Feng Che Kindergarten during her holiday in In Year 4, Ruyue volunteered to be a facilitator for Savvy Silvers, aiming to help seniors to learn how to use smartphones efficiently and independently through lessons. Furthermore, Ruyue is the Honorary General Secretary for Anglo-Chinese School Over the years, Ruyue becomes more passionate to volunteer. She just starts volunteering for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Furthermore, she just applied to be a volunteer for the 18th ASEAN University Games. Ruyue has made a promise that even after graduating from university, she will continue to volunteer, and volunteer for different types of events to benefit more people and enrich herself. As a saying goes, “the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more”
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Hui Min has been an active volunteer since she was a student in Dunman High School and over the years, has both planned and executed/taken part in a variety of Service Learning Projects and Initiatives. She has collaborated and worked with diverse groups of beneficiaries over the years. Since 2010, Hui Min was an active volunteer at Weekly Meet-the-People sessions, and continued with her role as a volunteer in the first few Semesters of University. She experienced the meaningfulness and importance of serving the society and community, and the sense of fulfillment through working on cases spurred her to continue using her knowledge and expertise to serve the society. Hui Min was also the Secretary and Financial Controller of Dunman High School’s Community Service Club, whereby she planned and executed Service Learning activities for the Club, and was also part of the Executive Committee in-charge of planning a nation-wide Service Learning Symposium which saw Service Learning leaders from various schools share about their schools’ Service Learning Projects. She also volunteered weekly at Northlight School where she interacted with the students and imparted knowledge to them through activities. Before graduation from Dunman High School, she initiated a Food Donation Drive in collaboration with Food from the Heart, and was in-charge of the planning, organization and execution (including rallying volunteers) of the Donation Drive with a team of peers. Other volunteering related activities saw her as a peer tutor, and being awarded the Finalist Award with her team in the Thinkquest International Competition, an international competition aimed to address a societal issue. During her candidature in NTU NBS, Hui Min was the Events and Service Learning Director of NBS Tax Advisory Club, whereby she led her team of Subcommittee members in planning and executing the club’s inaugural Service Learning Event, with beneficiary being a Children’s Home. This also started off future annual Service Learning Events for the club. She was also the Financial Secretary for her hall’s Service Learning Committee which served to raise funds and public awareness for the Committee’s beneficiaries. Hui Min also planned and executed a Corporate Social Responsibility Project with her fellow interns during one of her internships, with the beneficiaries being elderlies at a senior citizens’ activity centre. She also participated in a case competition aimed at Corporate Social Responsibility to reduce carbon footprint and benefit the environment, whereby her team emerged as a Finalist Team. Hui Min’s volunteering and Service Learning experiences had inspired her to do more for the community and society, and to continue with volunteering and Service Learning activities after graduation.
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Yu Jia has been a keen and active volunteer since her junior college days. Elected as the Community Involvement Advocate for two consecutive years during junior college, Yu Jia collaborated with various external social organisations like the Care Corner Student Care Centre (Toa Payoh). She spearheaded various events and led her team in planning educational activities which benefitted the children with learning difficulties. She was also a member of the Interact Club, she contributed to the weekly planning of activities for the needy children in the Rotary Club. As a regular volunteer at the Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital from 2011 to 2013, Yu Jia took on different roles towards enabling the hospital staff, the patients and visitors. Other than being a Patient Greeter, Yu Jia also served at the call centre, aiding in the sending of hospital appointment reminders to the patients. Notably, Yu Jia was also involved in the research project for infection control in Khoo Teck Phuat. Over the course of the project, she has dedicated her time to analyse and record the numerous data given. Her hard work has been instrumental in the hospital study which has helped the doctor and staff to draw key conclusions and trends from the analysed results. Her effort will also go a long way in reducing the rate of patients exposed to infection during their hospital stay and in turn hasten their recovery and reduce complications that may develop. Her passion for volunteering extends beyond the borders of Singapore as evident by her involvement as part of the main committee of the Overseas Volunteering Expedition in the Welfare Service Club during her sophomore year in NTU. The role as a business manager gave her the opportunity to organise many fund raising events as well as liaising with external sponsors. She has led the team in raising a total of $1,000 within 3 days of the Welfare Service Club week. After almost a year of planning, the team and the volunteers finally embarked on a two week journey to the poorest district of Ho Chi Minh City in the village of Phuong Thinh. There, they completed the construction of a brand new kindergarten which will benefit more than 50 underprivileged children by giving them access to education when young. During the stay, they have also visited the needy families and handed out food and resources to improve their living conditions. Working with the local university volunteers, the team conducted a series of English lessons that has helped to improve the language standards of the younger children in the village. More recently, Yu Jia rendered her service at the 28th SEA Games and 8th ASEAN Para Games. She was an Events Marshall Leader for the former event, in the Squash and Tennis competition. She was responsible in leading the team of volunteers in answering the queries of spectators, maintaining order and facilitating human traffic flow at the event. Yu Jia enjoys in the meaningful interactions that she makes with people from all walks of background during her volunteer experience. She believes that to the each act of kindness send forth a tiny ripple of hope which in time will accumulate to become a sweeping wave of change, shaping the world into a better one. She hopes to be continuing being a source of change, reaching out to more people and ultimately be able to establish a social enterprise. Video Link (OVE)
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