Mr M P Sellvem, President of the Civilians Association Singapore
Mr Ang Eng Tat, Chairman of the Singapore Silent Heroes Student Award
Ladies and Gentlemen
1. Good afternoon everyone. I am very happy to be here with all of you today. I thought I would share some personal sentiments watching the two lovely girls who shared about their experiences earlier. It is every parent's dream for their child to be talking about good deeds, not just about academic scores and how well they are doing in school. When you see your child speaking like this, it is a different kind of fulfilment, and I feel inspired as a parent. I really hope that more parents and children are able to serve Singapore and the community in many different ways.
2. As we gather here today to celebrate our young Silent Heroes, I want to like to share with you some of my reflections on quiet compassion.
3. In this digital age where people often think of compassion in the form of grand gestures that must go viral on social media, I think the impact of quiet compassion is often overlooked. Many of us think that good must be publicised, talked about and shown. But actually, good is not only done in grand gestures, but also in small personal acts of kindness. To all students here today, there may be pressure to publicise and talk about your good acts. Trust me, it should come from your heart and it should be felt, not seen. It could be in the form of taking the initiative to greet the security officer at the school gate, inviting a new classmate to recess, or simply holding the lift door for someone about to enter.
4. Quiet compassion is also about having the courage to do what is right. Like what Gemma sang earlier, there was a phrase called "cast away your fears". Sometimes kindness requires you to first put away the fears, step out and do something a little different. It requires a little bit of courage to do what is right, even when no one is watching. It is being considerate, empathetic and warm towards others, without any expectation of reward. You may not always see the impact of your actions, but the encouraging word that you shared or the helping hand that you extended might have made someone's day brighter. This quiet compassion is a universal virtue that is valued across all cultures, all religions, and is a cornerstone of a caring and inclusive society.
5. The nurturing of quiet compassion begins with our parents and educators in Singapore. They instill in us the values of empathy, respect and responsibility, and I want to thank all parents here today for sowing those seeds in your children from young. This courage will grow with every thoughtful act, every moment of genuine support, and every selfless contribution. If all of us consistently work hard to create an environment where quiet compassion can flourish, we can build a much kinder and a much more inclusive Singapore.
6. That is why I am incredibly proud of all our young Silent Heroes today. I understand there are more than 80 of you here, up from about 50 last year. Hopefully next year, we will see even more recipients. I am very sure your parents and teachers are very proud of you. Let me share three inspiring examples:
- You met Tze En just now so I will not repeat her story. To Tze En's parents, thank you for encouraging your child to perform these acts of kindness and to serve someone else. To Tze En, thank you for serving since the age of six. It is my hope that more young kids in the future will step out and contribute to society.
- Koi Heng, Jeremy and Aidil from Evergreen Secondary School have gone out of their way to support their classmate, Denzer, who is physical challenged. On their own accord, the trio would wait for Denzer at the school drop-off point every morning, and go for recess and classes together. Your care and concern stem from a deep sense of empathy and genuine friendship rooted in kindness, respect and inclusion. Thank you very much.
- Phoebe Fung from Eunoia Junior College spearheaded a collaboration with the Singapore Heart Foundation as part of the YMCA Youth for Causes. Together with three other friends, she helped to raise awareness about heart health through a charity run under the name of Project Avocardio. Participants also penned encouraging messages which were distributed alongside care packs for heart patients.
7. To all our young Silent Heroes, thank you for turning quiet compassion into action and inspiring others, including myself, to do the same. I hope all of you will continue planting these seeds of compassion and service in every aspect of your lives.
8. In closing, I would like to thank the Civilians Association Singapore and Singapore Silent Heroes Movement for initiating this meaningful programme.
9. Thank you.