Teo Kwang Hwee nominated by Chan Mooi Kwai

To Teo Kwang Hwee, his one-room HDB rental unit is never too small to “house” his big heart and tireless spirit. Following his retirement in 2007, Kwang Hwee stretched out his helping hands to his neighbours who were physically challenged. He saw to their daily needs, accompanied them on hospital visits and ran errands for them up to their last days.

His tireless and unwavering spirit stirred him to participate actively in PEACE-Connect, a Centre that provides elderly services and helps build the bonds among the residents in the neighbourhood. A “regular” face at the Centre, Kwang Hwee offers to help the residents and elderly in their daily activities, providing friendship and cheer to them when they drop in at the centre for services and assistance. He also participates actively in community activities.

Besides helping at the Centre, Kwang Hwee goes the extra mile by mentoring an autistic adult, a resident user at the Centre, to prepare him for phasing into the society. In addition, he also personally monitors elderly residents living in three households, and frequently runs errands and carries out minor household repairs for them.

Noorziah Bte Suparthi nominated by Chua Kah Soon

Affectionately known to many residents in her neighbourhood as “Kak Rose”, Mdm Noorziah has a big heart for the needy and serves in her Residents’ Committee for the past nine years.

She had been faithfully serving in the “Food from the Heart” project for the past eight years. Every week, excess food products from shop owners in the Serangoon zone are collected and distributed to the less fortunate and needy families, such as the elderly, single parents and families whose incomes fall below $1000 every month. When “Kak Rose” receives an application for rations/food, she visits the applicant’s home and helps to seek approval for the application. Oftentimes, she goes the extra mile to advise the household on how to seek additional assistance from other programmes or agencies, such as financial assistance under MCYS’ ComCare and job matching services provided by the CDC.

Understanding the importance of building relationships, “Kak Rose” is passionate about promoting interaction and integration among neighbours. She frequently encourages residents and neighbours to participate in community events and helps many residents develop friendships with their neighbours. This enables them to expand social networks within the neighbourhood.

To many in Serangoon North, “Kak Rose” is a caring friend and an affectionate and loving sister.

Chua Eng Hong Steven nominated by Raimati Dave

Steven Chua is popularly known for advocating the “Kampong” spirit in his estate although he only shifted into the neighbourhood four years ago. Always warm, affable and helpful, Steven never fails to listen patiently to his fellow residents and generously dispenses advice and provides assistance when necessary.

Being the handyman in the neighbourhood, Steven’s neighbourly deeds range from helping his neighbours carry out repairs to their homes, pruning trees, clearing fallen tree branches as well as offering his time in organizing the opening ceremony of the new neighbourhood park. What’s more, he generously shares the fruits harvested from his own garden with his neighbours.

Despite Steven’s personal busy schedule as a property developer, he never fails to reach out to the people around him in his neighbourhood. Everyone knows that Steven makes life in the neighbourhood much more comfortable and that he makes a difference to the community!

Iruthayamary D/O Arulnathan nominated by Puspavalli D/O Suppiah

Lovingly known as Mary, Mdm Iruthayamary is a lady with a great heart. She is also known as someone who is always cheerful and willing to go out of the way to help and reach out to her neighbours. Though Mary is a cancer patient, she never says “No” when asked for help. She always puts aside her immediate tasks to render help quickly and willingly.

When Mdm Iruthayamary moved into Potong Pasir in the 1980s, she became close friends with her Chinese neighbour and even helped to look after the neighbours’ three sons from a young age. Though the Chinese family has moved, both families still maintain close contact with each other.

It is not unusual to see Mary accompany her neighbours to their medical appointments, concoct herbal soups for those in need and share personal experiences to cheer neighbours up when they feel down. When the mother-in-law of one of her neighbours was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, Mary showed great support and comfort to the family. Not only did she concoct special herbal soups to cheer the patient up, she gave her moral support by sitting up with her, even until late at night.

She brings cheer, laughter and warmth wherever she goes, and it is hard to be sad or moody in her presence, because she is such a “jolly good fellow”.

Yeong Sik Nui nominated by Lim Puay Gek

An ordinary housewife with an extraordinarily big heart, Mdm Yeong Sik Nui is an epitome of thoughfulness, kindness and helpfulness. She is an exemplary role model to her neighbours.

Every morning, it is common to see Mdm Yeong walk out of her flat to mingle with her neighbours or chatting over a cup of coffee at the neighbourhood coffee shop. Reaching out to the elderly in the neighbourhood and helping out in grocery shopping for them have become a routine for Mdm Yeong. Mdm Yeong will not hesitate to babysit her neighbours’ children or assist to collect their newspapers when they are overseas.

On rainy days, Mdm Yeong goes out of her way to wait for the elderly at the bus-stop in order to walk them home safely. In addition, she brings joy to the elderly as she surprises them with their favourite food and snacks. Her special efforts in caring for the needs of the elderly have been the talk in the neighbourhood.

Mdm Yeong’s thoughfulness is endearing to her neighbours and many treat her as a trusted friend and a role model of kindness.