The annual President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards (PVPA) celebrates individuals and groups that have achieved excellence in giving. Conferred by the President of Singapore, these awards represent the highest honour for giving in Singapore.
The Leaders of Good category celebrates exceptional changemakers who have led, mobilised and inspired others to devote their time, talent, treasure, ties and testimony (5Ts) to multiply their impact in society.
Creating opportunities: Clarence’s journey to empowering youths
Leaders of Good (Youth) winner: Clarence Ching
Inspired by the extensive social mobility work in the UK, Clarence Ching founded Access in 2019 as a social mobility non-profit to provide career exposure opportunities for disadvantaged students. Under his leadership, Access is now a registered charity with a robust team of 150 full-time staff, volunteers, and facilitators. Access has also impacted over 1,300 academically, financially, or socially disadvantaged students across more than 20 schools, observing improvements in confidence levels and career preparedness. Beyond programmes, the team has also spearheaded advocacy initiatives, including its inaugural Access Social Mobility Summit 2024 and its Social Mobility Surveys in 2022 and 2023.
Shaping senior volunteerism: Koh Juay Meng’s impact on public service
Leaders of Good (Adult) winner: Koh Juay Meng
For over 40 years, Koh Juay Meng has been an exceptional changemaker and leader in the grassroots and social service sector. Under his visionary leadership as Chairman, RSVP Singapore is distinguished as the National Centre of Excellence for Senior Volunteerism, profoundly shaping Singapore’s senior volunteerism landscape. He is honoured with the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM) for his commendable public service achievements that included appointments with the ElderShield Review Committee, LTA Active Mobility Advisory Panel, Merdeka Generation Communications and Engagement Taskforce, and the SG Cares Steering Committee.
A legacy of service: Dr. Vasoo’s five decades of impact on Singapore’s social services
Dr S Vasoo has made invaluable contributions to Singapore’s social service landscape over the last five decades. His early work in piloting innovative, community-based projects to reach out to those in need has evolved into mainstream services, such as the Family Service Centres and Aces Care HelpLife we have today. Over the years, he has volunteered in various community organisations and remains active to this day. As an educator and author of various monographs and articles, he has inspired several generations of social workers and members of the public to contribute in their own way.
