Singapore Chapter – Community Event 2015

About the Event

Written by Gabriel TEO (FS2013-14, Singapore Management University)

In order to foster a sense of charity and kindness among Fung Scholars, the Singapore Chapter decided to organise a community event, for the first time, as a way for Scholars to give back to society. A poll was conducted to determine the level of interest Scholars had in a particular type of community activity and “providing food for the needy” came out tops.

Willing Hearts, a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation running a soup kitchen that provides 3000 meals daily to the needy, was chosen as our beneficiary. Willing Hearts was subsequently informed about our desire to help them out.

On 7 March 2015, 5 Fung Scholars, Sophia YEO (FS2013-14, Singapore Management University), Janel LOI (FS2013-14, Singapore Management University), Hao Ming CHEONG (FS2012-13, National University of Singapore), Gabriel TEO (FS2013-14, Singapore Management University) and Meiqi PHUA (FS2013-14, National University of Singapore), from the Singapore Chapter made their way to Chai Chee Community Hub to volunteer at a soup kitchen run by a non-profit organisation, Willing Hearts, which provides meals on a daily basis to the needy and underprivileged of society.

Kitchen work began at an unearthly hour of 6am in the morning with Janel and Sophia tasked to make roti pratas for breakfast while Hao Ming and Gabriel were given the job of frying vegetables. Once they had completed the task assigned to them, the Scholars proceeded to help out in other areas of the kitchen. These included assisting in the preparation of ingredients, cooking of meals, packing of food and delivering of meal packets to the needy. Despite the physically demanding nature of the work, the 5 Scholars laboured on with smiles on their faces, knowing that their efforts would go a long way in brightening the lives of the needy.

All the Scholars who participated found that the event was both fun and meaningful. “I never knew that there were so many people in need of food in Singapore. This has been an eye-opening experience for me and I would definitely come back. Helping out in the kitchen is fun too!” Meiqi remarked.

Gabriel also mentioned, “I enjoy cooking a lot. And helping out at Willing Hearts is the best way to channel my interest in cooking toward a worthy cause.”

We would also like to thank the Foundation for its support and funding. Moving forward, we hope to encourage more Scholars to join such community service activities and hope that helping out in the community will turn into a regular and sustainable event.