» Volunteer Fiesta 2025 – Address by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development and President, SINDA

SINDA CEO, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran;

Volunteers & Partners;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Opening

Today, we come together to celebrate you – our volunteers and partners – and your dedication and passion for the community.

Volunteer Impact Stories

I first want to share two stories that truly capture the heart of volunteerism – stories that show how compassion and commitment have made a difference.

Let me begin with 39-year-old Nehru Sadesh Kumar, who is here with us today.

Sadesh began his journey with SINDA in 2021. In this time, he’s been a familiar face at many of our programmes – from Book Wizards and Door Knocking Exercises to senior engagement events and Mentor Me, where he guides youth who dream of an IT career.

For the past two years, Sadesh has been reading to six-year-old Atharv on a weekly basis, a boy who once struggled with reading and self-confidence. Through stories, Sadesh brought characters to life, got Atharv excited about reading, and helped him believe in himself, by celebrating every small win. Even just a week after his own child was born, Sadesh still came down to read to Atharv, making sure he did not miss a single session. Because of Sadesh’s patience and encouragement, Atharv is now a more curious and expressive reader who looks forward to every session.

Balancing the demands of becoming a new father and full-time work with volunteering is no easy feat. I commend Sadesh for doing so and giving his best to serve others.

Then there’s 26-year-old Mohamed Mustaaq Wafeeq. Born with a hearing disability, Wafeeq has faced challenges most of us cannot even imagine. In a world that communicates through sound, he’s had to work twice as hard to be heard and understood. Yet, he’s never let that hold him back. Instead, he has turned his challenges into strength – using his experiences to inspire others and to give back to the community with a heart full of optimism.

When Wafeeq joined Project Give Heartlands – a campaign aimed at bringing festive cheer closer to low-income homes – he threw himself into the opportunity with a full heart, helping distribute festive gift packs to families in need. His cheerful spirit and positive attitude lifted everyone around him, showing that giving truly has no barriers.

Despite physical limitations, Wafeeq is also keenly aware of those around him who may face even greater challenges and is motivated to do more to support them.

Sadesh and Wafeeq remind us that true service comes from the heart. Their efforts tell us that caring for our community isn’t about having time or perfect circumstances. It’s about having the passion to make a difference, the conviction to want to do good. And there are many more like Sadesh and Wafeeq among us today – volunteers who give quietly and wholeheartedly, and with so much love for the community.

SINDA’s Support Pillars

This love for the community is reflected by more than 600 volunteers who have supported SINDA across 12 volunteer programmes, and many other events and initiatives this year. Together, you have contributed 3,410 man-hours of service, thousands of hours filled with care, empathy and compassion.

Beyond the number of hours and tasks, it also matters how you connect with the people you serve, how you listen to their worries, hold their hand, and show them that they are not alone. Small acts of service can make a world of difference – whether it is reading with a child, offering company to a senior, or inspiring youth to give their best.

I also want to acknowledge our corporate and community partners. Your support goes beyond resources. By resourcing SINDA events, sharing your expertise, or providing in-kind support, you build meaningful relationships and help us reach more people, touch more lives, and create opportunities for those who need them the most.

While SINDA can rally, enable and empower, it is you, our volunteers and partners, who come together on the ground to make initiatives more meaningful and create an ecosystem of care and support that brings real change to the community.

Volunteerism at a National Level

When all of you come together for a single cause, remarkable things can happen. Communities come closer, individuals are uplifted and the spirit of giving grows.

This is the culture we want to build through ForwardSG at the national level: a society where no one is left behind, and where everyone has the chance to be supported and to give back. This is the manifestation of “we first”.

While the Government and organisations like SINDA have important roles to play in such a vision, the responsibilities also lie with each one of us as individuals.

Today’s Volunteer Marketplace is a great example of this. You can learn about and find several opportunities to give back to the community. This exemplifies how individuals, organisations and the Government can work hand in hand, in a collective effort to support and uplift.

Conclusion

So, I look forward to seeing you carrying this spirit of collective upliftment forward and serving even more lives. And I also look forward to discussing more ideas with you at the panel discussion.

Together, let us shape a brighter, kinder and more compassionate society for all.