HDB Community Day – People

Web banner for HDB Community Day 2025 – People, showing happy residents in the heartlands.

Building caring and connected communities together

HDB’s Friends of Our Heartlands (FOH) network brings together passionate volunteers who help nurture caring and connected communities in HDB estates. From welcoming new neighbours to conducting useful workshops for fellow residents, these volunteers play a vital role in helping community spirit to flourish in our heartlands.

Key statistics of the Friends of Our Heartlands network

Volunteers contribute under 3 key tracks:

  • Cultivate neighbourly ties
  • Activate shared community spaces
  • Facilitate conversations on improvement projects within our heartlands

See our community champions in action:

Deyi Secondary School

Champion of youth volunteering over the past decade

Infographic for Deyi Secondary School highlighting community engagement programmes involving students and elderly residents.

At Deyi Secondary School, students play an active role in fostering environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Secondary 1 to 3 students from the school’s Green Club actively contribute to positive change in the neighbourhood by engaging with residents, seniors and family centres. In the process, they establish strong bonds with the community, and develop skills in event planning and community outreach.

For its contributions in creating lasting impact in our neighbourhoods, the school received the Platinum Award in the School category of the Friends of Our Heartlands Programme, marking a decade of dedicated service to community and environmental causes.

Charlotte Toh

Nurturing the next generation of changemakers

Infographic featuring quotes from Charlotte Toh and a student on volunteerism.

Charlotte, a senior lecturer at ITE College Central, is a change-maker who has made significant contributions to education and community building. Since 2020, she has been mentoring and guiding her students in the Higher Nitec in Services – Event Management programme to develop their skills to lead and execute community projects.

Under her guidance, the students successfully organised the “Love Thy Neighbour (4th Edition)” project, a community carnival that brought together over 900 Ang Mo Kio residents. The event featured sustainability workshops and outreach events in partnership with organisations such as the Singapore Kindness Movement and the National Environment Agency.

Through her dedication, Charlotte has fostered a culture of service, leading the way in helping students make meaningful contributions to uplift their community.

Hari Prasadh Rajasekaran

Passionate advocate in action

Infographic featuring photos and a quote from Hari Prasadh Rajasekaran on his volunteering journey

Hari, a passionate and dedicated volunteer, is a firm believer in the importance of environmental stewardship. He volunteers at HDB’s Sustainability Trails, where he engages residents and encourages them to do their part for the environment. At other events such as HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) focus group sessions, he actively listened to residents’ feedback and helped convey their ideas so that meaningful improvements could be made in the neighbourhood.

Hari is also a warm and welcoming face at HDB’s MyNiceHome Roadshows, where he supports new home owners, especially seniors, with settling into their new surroundings.

Through his consistent commitment, Hari has helped to nurture friendlier and more connected communities.

Muhammad Fathurrahman bin Maideen

From reserved resident to confident volunteer

Infographic featuring photos and a quote from Muhammad Fathurrahman bin Maideen on his volunteering journey

As one of Tengah’s pioneer residents and volunteers, Fathu has played an important role in welcoming and supporting his new neighbours.

While soft-spoken by nature, Fathu is enthusiastic when engaging fellow residents. At the MyNiceHome Roadshows for Tengah BTO projects, he generously shares his experiences as one of the town’s first residents, and helps address new homeowners’ concerns about moving to a town that is still under development.

Fathu has grown in confidence through his volunteering journey, taking on a more active role facilitating discussions, contributing ideas and guiding other volunteers in planning engagement activities for Tengah residents.

Fathu’s story shows how everyone can contribute to community-building. His dedication has helped to foster a welcoming and supportive environment in Tengah where all residents can feel at home.

Aaron Lim and Lana Lum

Gardening novices who grew community connections

Infographic featuring photos and quotes from Aaron Lim and Lana Lum on their volunteering journey.

Aaron and Lana began volunteering in Tengah even before they moved in. Keen to be part of a warm, inclusive community, they actively connected with future neighbours at the MyNiceHome Roadshow for Parc Woods @ Tengah by volunteering at the gardening workshop then.

Though Aaron and Lana had no prior gardening experience, their desire to create a vibrant, environmentally-conscious community in Tengah led them in an unexpected direction.

Realising their interest in gardening, they began leading gardening workshops to guide fellow residents on growing seedlings at home, forming strong and meaningful friendships with their neighbours.

As leaders of the gardening activities at HDB Community Day 2025, Aaron and Lana look forward to inspiring more Tengah residents to pick up gardening.