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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
‘3 things I learnt from volunteering'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The TL;DR: Junior college student Tay Karlyn, one of the winners of the Singapore Silent Heroes Student Award, found her niche in volunteering for cancer-related causes after being inspired by her grandfather's experience. Eunoia Junior College Year 2 student Tay Karlyn was one of 84 young people given the Singapore Silent Heroes Student Award in July. SINGAPORE – Although she was only eight years old at the time, Miss Tay Karlyn still remembers the moment her family discovered that her grandfather, then in his late 60s, had been diagnosed with Stage 3 stomach cancer. She saw her family's worry over his health. While he later recovered after surgery, Miss Tay, now 18, realised that not all patients may be as fortunate to have such support. This motivated her to, at 15, volunteer with the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS). A year later, she formed and led Project Lavande, a cancer advocacy initiative under YMCA Youth For Causes (YFC). 'I couldn't imagine how much the fear and feeling of helplessness could be amplified without a reassuring shoulder to lean on,' she says. For her dedication to volunteering, the Eunoia Junior College Year 2 student was one of the 84 young people given the Singapore Silent Heroes Student Award in July. Schools have nominated their students for this annual nationwide award, which was started in 2023, in recognition for their contributions to the community. Here are three things Miss Tay has learnt from her experience as a volunteer. 1. Volunteering exposes you to different segments of society From engaging with children with disabilities from Club Rainbow, to supporting elderly patients at Yishun Community Hospital as a healthcare associate, Miss Tay gained insight into the lives of Singaporeans that not many are exposed to. 'Many of us support our grandparents the best way we can, but what about seniors who live alone?' While conducting research on seniors' well-being in 2023, she gained a deeper awareness of the 'loneliness that comes with age' and how institutionalised places like nursing homes do not always guarantee the mental and social health of the elderly. 'There's only so much you can learn from a screen or an article, so true volunteering is (about) putting yourself out there. 'Only through these experiences can you learn what is going around in Singapore and how to contribute.' 2. Young people can tap existing grants to fund their ideas Whenever Miss Tay shares about the possibility of securing sponsorships and grants for projects, her juniors often look at her with surprise. In her case, Project Lavande, which is student-led and focuses on cancer advocacy, stemmed from an e-mail broadcast by SCS about YMCA YFC's $1,200 grant. Learning about the grant, support and mentorship that came with the programme encouraged Miss Tay to overcome any initial nerves over spearheading a community initiative. She posted an Instagram story calling for interested volunteers to join. 'I gathered a group of unlikely friends, and we thought of SCS as a cause worth supporting,' she says about the three schoolmates who responded. During the team's first brainstorming meeting, one member proposed a fund-raising concert for cancer beneficiaries, to which the group said, 'Why not?' In August 2023, the four organised a fund-raising concert that showcased a variety of band, vocal and dance performances. Through the ticketed concert attended by around 350 people, they raised about $4,000 for SCS. She encourages her peers to have the 'spirit of breaking moulds' and to 'go wherever your heart goes'. 'It wouldn't have been possible if we had been so limited in our ideas and dreams,' she quips. 3. Start off broad in volunteering, to find an area that resonates with you Ms Tay has volunteered with different causes, including maintaining a community farm, and realised that 'different causes call out to you in different ways'. 'You don't need to know the end goal (yet),' she adds, as advice for those keen to start volunteering. 'Be creative, break out of your comfort zone, and be responsible for your own time.' Finding a niche they feel the most passionate about, however, will help volunteers pursue more long-term volunteering commitments. For Miss Tay, this is in supporting cancer patients. So far, she has raised funds for SCS by 'planning and doing back-end work' for the concert and other projects. She chaired her school's student-initiated fund-raising project Heal Hearts, which is working in collaboration with SCS, before stepping down in April. While she may delve into cancer-related healthcare work at university, 'my first battle is to conquer my A levels', she quips.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Forum: Eunoia JC-Marymount CC design marries form and function brilliantly
The architects and planners behind the integrated development housing Eunoia Junior College (EJC) and Marymount Community Club (CC) deserve recognition. This project is a sterling example of innovative urban design that thinks outside the box. Raising the football field five storeys above ground is an architectural feat in itself – a bold and brilliant use of vertical space in land-scarce Singapore. Equally commendable is how the development integrates multiple functions under one roof: a full-fledged community club, a sports hall that can be shared between the college and the community, a large auditorium, a spacious canteen, and a generous study area for students. Every square metre seems to have been carefully considered for maximum utility and communal benefit. In a time when many developments feel like compromises between form and function, the Eunoia JC-Marymount CC complex is a rare gem that succeeds in both. It sets a benchmark for how educational and community facilities can coexist and complement each other harmoniously. Initially, I had concerns about the safety of evacuating people from the elevated football field in an emergency. However, when I saw that one side of the field connects directly to the Eunoia building, and the other side is served by both a lift and staircase, I was reassured that safety had not been compromised. Well done to all involved. Lim Poh Seng More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Hwa Chong regain girls' A Div basketball title; ACJC complete three-peat for boys
Eunoia Junior College's Gweneth Low (left) attempting to block a layup by Hwa Chong Institution's Eda Kong (right) in the National School Games A Div Girls' basketball final at Jurong East Sports Hall on May 23, 2025. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM SINGAPORE – A strong defence was the key as Hwa Chong Institution's girls' basketball team regained their National School Games A Division title by defeating Eunoia Junior College 53-36 at Jurong East Sport Hall on May 23. In the process, Hwa Chong, who had lost 57-44 to Nanyang Junior College in the 2024 final, also claimed a record-extending 14th title. When asked what was the key factor behind their success, Hwa Chong coach Neo Beng Siang replied: 'Defence, always emphasise on defence. We needed to match our opponents' intensity and play good defence. 'I need to thank all the players for their effort and intensity and, of course, our opponents and their never-give-up mentality to keep fighting, although they were down by 20.' His captain, point guard Madelin Lock, who scored a game-high 18 points, said: 'I felt that the team was really nervous at first, but our fighting spirit and our team camaraderie allowed us to push through, even though we were missing our shots. 'We fought for everything, and for me personally, they (the team) really lifted me up and they kept encouraging me.' Hwa Chong Institution's Madelin Lock sinking a free throw in the National School Games A Div Girls' basketball final at Jurong East Sports Hall on May 23. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Both teams got off to a scrappy start and it took two minutes before Hwa Chong opened the scoring via a free throw from Julia Sim. But they soon got into their stride and held a commanding 18-6 lead heading into the second period. Eunoia coach Allen Lee said: 'We didn't play according to our game plan. In the first quarter, Hwa Chong managed to pull ahead and open a lead against us. 'So from then on, it was an uphill battle, but I'm very proud of the girls, because we never gave up.' Hwa Chong further extended their advantage in the second and third quarters, leading 31-15 and 48-25 respectively. Eunoia fought back in the final quarter, outscoring Hwa Chong 11-5, but it was not enough to overturn a 23-point deficit. Eunoia captain and power forward Allysa Lidya Bintang said: 'In this final, we had really a lot of hope to win. 'Throughout the game, our level of fight was really there, but unfortunately, we didn't get the result we wanted, but it's okay, I'm really, really proud of my team, because they really fought all the way until the end.' Anglo-Chinese Junior College captain Eshan Kaul holding the trophy aloft as his teammates celebrate their win over Raffles Institution in the National School Games A Div boys' basketball final at Jurong East Sports Hall on May 23. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In the A Division boys' final, Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) overcame a slow start to beat Raffles Institution (RI) 64-57 and claim their third consecutive title. RI flew out of the blocks and quickly gained a 10-5 lead over the defending champions. But ACJC eased into the game and finished the first quarter 15-14 up. 'I think we came out of the gate with a very strong belief that we could have done it,' said RI captain Ignatius Lau, a shooting guard. 'That was probably the best start we could have asked for. We knew that they were going to hit us back. But I feel like my team has responded really well, we still kept in the game and made sure that we gave them a good fight.' RI coach Kua Hiong Yong added: 'To reach this final and then post such a big fight to the team that has two consecutive championships... I think they have done whatever they can, so I'm very proud of my boys today.' Raffles Institution's S Adityah (in white) attempting to block a reverse lay-up by Anglo-Chinese Junior College's captain Eshan Kaul (in dark blue) in the National School Games A Div Boys' basketball final at Jurong East Sports Hall on May 23. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM ACJC then turned up the heat in the second quarter, going into the half 32-23 up, before maintaining their lead despite RI outscoring them 15-14 and 19-18 in the third and fourth quarters respectively. ACJC coach Lee Boon Hian, who was very animated throughout, shouting instructions from the sidelines, said he believes this helped 'the players to push further, because I think they were kind of lost'. He added: 'Being vocal will lead them to the championship.' His captain, power forward Eshan Kaul added: ' Our coach is always like that. That's his way of encouraging us and motivating us. And through training he's like this, and it's a lot of pressure, but it trains us for this moment exactly, so that when the time gets tough, we can execute his plan. 'The feeling is great, we train super hard and have had a lot of problems, but to come back and win it, it's an incredible feeling.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
