These Home Team volunteers who serve with dedication and passion have been recognised for their contributions.
TEXT AND IMAGES: HOME TEAM VOLUNTEER NETWORK
The Home Team gives out the Minister for Home Affairs (MHA) National Day Award annually to a group of individuals, to recognise their outstanding contributions as volunteers. This year, MHA acknowledged seven individuals who have made significant contributions.
Let’s hear from two recipients, Ms Tham Yoke Leng and Mr Nadanasigamani Senthil, on what keeps them motivated to devote their time and effort to helping out with the Home Team.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOME TEAM?
Ms Tham: I am a Buddhist Fellowship volunteer and conduct weekly counselling sessions at Selarang Park Complex Prison for the inmates. During these sessions — which are conducted in English — we aim to share the Buddha’s teachings with the inmates so they can bring positive change and improvement in their lives.
I also share my personal experiences of practising the Buddha’s teachings. This helps the inmates gain insights into the positive effects of embracing compassion and wisdom, and how it can help diminish negative emotions like greed, hatred and delusion.
We also introduce them to the Noble Eightfold Path, as taught by the Buddha, which provides a framework for their journey towards a better life. During the sessions, we include guided mindfulness and awareness meditation to help calm the mind. This helps the inmates to be present in the moment and cultivate gratitude for everything they have.
Mr Senthil: Our Citizens on Patrol (COP) team conducts monthly patrols around our neighbourhood. Our objective is to enhance the safety and security of our residents. Whenever the residents see us wearing our COP vests, it encourages them to share any feedback regarding suspicious activities or gatherings they may have noticed.
We take note of these and will notify the police when necessary. It’s a collaborative effort and we serve as community partners, working hand in hand with the Home Team to contribute to a secure neighbourhood and safer nation.
WHAT HAS MOTIVATED YOU TO KEEP VOLUNTEERING?
Mr Senthil: On 16 June 1995, I arrived in Singapore as a work permit holder in the construction industry. I felt blessed to be able to work and live in a country that is known for its safety, security and commitment towards fair laws and equal rights for its diverse population.
Over the years, I embraced the opportunities offered by the Singapore government, and through hard work and dedication, I progressed from a worker to become a Director in a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME).
Even after obtaining Permanent Resident (PR) status and citizenship, I volunteered actively and was driven by both passion and a sense of responsibility to give back to the community that has provided a safe home for my family. I hope that one day my son will follow in my footsteps, becoming a volunteer and serving the nation as the next generation.
Ms Tham: During the sharing sessions, I noticed the inmates’ eagerness to learn and embrace the Buddha’s teachings in their daily lives. Their desire for a happier, more peaceful existence for themselves and their loved ones was evident. One particular inmate, who initially seemed disinterested, transformed over a few weeks, actively seeking ways to improve himself. Witnessing their determination to reform motivates me to support their journey and remind them that they are not alone.
Buddhist Fellowship has received appreciation letters from both inmates and ex-offenders, expressing how much they valued the sharing sessions and the positive impact of the Buddha’s teachings on their lives. Some ex-offenders have even visited the Buddhist Fellowship Centre to deepen their understanding and continue their practice. They also volunteer and help with wholesome group activities, including assisting in homes.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS OR THOSE KEEN ON VOLUNTEERING WITH HOME TEAM?
Ms Tham: Everyone makes mistakes. As a volunteer, avoid judging a person’s mistakes. Instead, keep an open mind and an open heart to accept the inmates for who they are and the errors they have made. Remember, these inmates also possess a loving heart and are not bad people.
Mr Senthil: Volunteering with passion makes the work truly interesting. It is the responsibility of every citizen to actively participate in ensuring our country’s safety and security. By receiving public support and involvement, our Home Team can focus on safeguarding other parts of the nation from internal and external threats.
Relying solely on the Home Team for our safety could leave us vulnerable to our enemies, leading to issues within our community. Threats can happen anywhere. Therefore, we must act as vigilant “third eyes” for the Home Team, promptly providing information to the authorities on any abnormalities or suspicious activities we come across. Strengthening the unity in our multiracial society is vital in securing the well-being and safety of our future generations.
Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App, and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.
