Ms Delia Ng, Chief Executive Officer, Focus on the Family Singapore,
Board of Directors,
Parents, school leaders, educators, and our young Family Champions,
1. A very good morning, to all of you here. Today, we are celebrating young people who have made a difference to their families through simple acts of care.
2. As I was preparing this morning, I asked myself, do I experience or perform any simple acts of care at home? I realised that over the past couple of years, my husband has been doing very simple acts of care for me, even though I don't spend much effort thanking him for it. He puts the car key into my car every morning without fail, because I tend to leave the car key behind.
3. Often, we are so caught up in our daily lives that we think that everything is perfect and organised around us. We forget that there was someone who made an effort to understand each of us, and put in a bit of extra time and energy to do something caring for us. Those of you who have the blessing to experience these small acts of care, please go and tell him or her, or your children, that you appreciate it. These small moments stay with us, not because they are very grand, but because they are very thoughtful, and they showed a certain understanding for each of us and our personalities.
4. This year's Celebrate FamChamps is themed "Joyful Acts Matter". We often feel that what we do must be big, visible, and widely recognised to count. This happens quite often in our schools when students choose projects that they want to embark on. When I engage many of our youths, they usually pick causes like sustainability, serving the elderly, helping the lower-income, or big acts that they feel can change the world. Not many young students would choose to focus on family as a theme, and for all of you here today, I am very thankful that you have chosen to do something for your families. It may not be as well-recognised or 'cool' as many other projects, but what you do has a very long-term impact, and I hope you can share more of what you have learned with your peers and classmates.
Building a "We-First" Society
5. At every year's National Day Rally, we talk about the kind of society we want to build, the most recent one being a "We-First" society. We forget often that any kind of society we want to build will have to start from families. That society will have to begin at home, and this is where our young Family Champions have been practising and will lead the way to shape our society ahead.
Strengthening Our VIA Efforts
6. This is also where FamChamps plays an important role. It is a values-driven initiative that gives students the opportunity to put values into action at home and reflect on what they have learnt through its Family Challenge. This mirrors the spirit of Values in Action in schools, where students learn about the strengths and needs of others, take the initiative to contribute meaningfully, and reflect on their own journeys.
7. So, I want to thank Focus on the Family Singapore for its longstanding efforts in complementing our schools' Values in Action. By encouraging young people to contribute to their families and communities through simple but intentional acts of care, Focus on the Family is helping to nurture a generation that leads with heart.
Appreciating Our Schools & Students
8. Now, let me also recognise the schools and educators who have walked alongside students on this journey.
- We have Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School, which we are here at today. They have been a FamChamps partner since 2015, and their sustained commitment over the years has helped many generations of students develop values that I'm sure last beyond their schooling years. We have Peer Support Leaders who have participated in the FamChamps Camp Experience and brought their learning back to the school community, organising activities that encouraged their peers to take on Family Challenges and strengthen family bonding. I understand that the school has also worked closely with its own Parent Support Group to organise 'Breakfast with Dad' and this has helped to create opportunities for fathers and daughters to spend meaningful time together.
- I also want to thank Mdm Sumitha Kirsnan from Clementi Town Secondary School. She has been with FamChamps since 2018, and I think what we find most admirable is that she shows up, not just as a coordinator of programmes, but as someone who is genuinely involved in her students' growth as Family Champions. She may not know it, but she is raising many families to come. Over the years, she has worked with alumni and volunteer mentors to support them in carrying out their Family Service Projects, and also coaching new teachers who join the programme.
9. Of course, none of this would be possible without our young Family Champions here. To all of you here today, I want to encourage you that the small things you do each day matter more than you may realise. Those of you who are doing little acts of care for your parents, even if your parents don't say it to you every day, it means a lot to them. After a tough day at work, your small act of love and kindness will touch your parents' hearts in a very meaningful way. Every chore completed, every word of appreciation shared, and every act of kindness shown will help to strengthen your family and build your own character. These habits will stay with you long after today, and it will shape the kind of friend, colleague, partner, and parent you will become in the future.
10. So thank you again for all your contributions and all the acts of care that you have shown.