VOLUNTEER

Positive change through the power of mentoring

by | Oct 17, 2025 | Stories From Beneficiaries, Stories From Volunteers, Testimonials for MKFC

Testimonial

Positive change through the power of mentoring

Mighty Kids, families & Community

Mentor & Mentee

Back in 2019, Yvonne* was only 10 years old when she first joined the MKFC programme. Over the years, she participated regularly in the events at the activity centre, such as enrichment lessons, life skills workshops, academic support, and holiday outings. She is a responsible girl who always helps to clean up after each activity, and volunteers to guide the younger children at the centre.

In 2023, Yvonne expressed her interest in having an adult mentor to provide some guidance in life. By March that same year, the MKFC team found a suitable match, mentor Louise, who was assessed to be a good fit to become a mentor for Yvonne.

Over three years of mentoring, Yvonne and her mentor met up weekly for their sessions. They enjoyed having a simple catch-up over the week’s happenings, baking cookies, discussing practical issues like finances, and even exercising together. For example, mentor Louise took the effort to prepare Yvonne for her school NAPFA 2.4km run. Through their shared quality time, their bond has strengthened gradually.

Yvonne shared that by having a mentor in her life, she has gained more confidence over time. Under the guidance of mentor Louise, Yvonne learnt to manage her emotions and is now more decisive about her path in life. She expressed appreciation towards her mentor for guiding her throughout different stages of her life. Often, Yvonne is thankful that she can share freely with her mentor on many things because she knows that she will not be judged, and her mentor will always be there for her when she needs help.

Besides spending time together, mentor Louise and Yvonne also decided to spend time giving back to the community by doing good together. Both of them volunteered as photographers at the LCSS 2023 Christmas Carnival and also helped out at the balloon sculpting booth during the LCSS 2024 Christmas Carnival. This mentor-mentee pair recently participated in the LCSS 2025 Run for Life event held at Gardens by the Bay as they wished to do their part to contribute to the fundraising goal of $125,000 to support the work carried out by LCSS.

Looking back, mentor Louise recalled how Yvonne used to be very shy at the start. However, she has gradually opened up to sharing with her mentor. As she is growing in her self-confidence, she also takes more initiative to kickstart things that she is interested in.

Indeed, Yvonne’s story is a testament to how a young person can be encouraged and supported as she strives to do more in giving back to society. Mentor Louise and Yvonne demonstrated a powerful testimony that encapsulated the power of Mentoring.

“Over the mentoring journey with Yvonne*, I have seen her grow in her ability to articulate her emotions and process what’s happening in her life more logically and thoughtfully.”  – Sharing by mentor, Louise

“With the guidance of my mentor, I’ve learned to manage my emotions better and approach challenges with increased self-assurance.”  – Sharing by mentee, Yvonne

A story of hope and courage to grow

by | Oct 17, 2025 | Stories From Beneficiaries, Testimonials for FOCY

Testimonial

A story of hope and courage to grow

Friends of Children & Youth

Mentor

Adriana was 13 years old when she was referred to Life Community after her mother’s incarceration. Initially, she had low self-esteem and confidence. Being cognitively slower than her peers, Adriana faced academic challenges and did not pass her PSLE on the first attempt. Her caseworker did not give up and enrolled her in the paid tuition scheme. Her caseworker was someone who believed in her, and that sparked optimism in Adriana as she started to grow in her motivation to thrive in life.

Over time, she also discovered her interest in photography and joined Life Community’s interest group. When one of her photographs was selected (photo below) for the Charity Golf auction, her confidence was boosted. This affirmed her belief in her potential and improved her confidence. As she persevered, she also passed her PSLE eventually and was promoted to secondary school.

Unlike her peers, Adriana had limited exposure to independent travel as her caregiver was more protective. At a Life Community’s workshop, she learnt life skills such as using Google Maps for navigation, and she was inspired to put her skills into action. Her caseworker coached Adriana after getting her caregiver’s consent. With a newfound sense of courage, she successfully travelled independently for the first time and is now capable of daily commuting to school.

BACK TO FOCY

A Bond that Builds: Dave & Dr Paul’s Mentoring Story

by | Oct 17, 2025 | Stories From Volunteers, Testimonials For LSC

Testimonial

A Bond that Builds: Dave & Dr Paul’s Mentoring Story

Life Student Care

Mentor

Dave* was 9 years old when he first met his mentor, Dr Paul, in 2024. Although Dave was naturally quiet and shy, he slowly opened up to his mentor through drawing and building Lego blocks. Over time, he began to share about his time with Papa and Mama. Dave once wrote, “I want to see Papa and Mama together.” As his mentor, Dr Paul could not change Dave’s circumstances, but helped him to face life with hope and resilience. Perhaps that is the greatest gift a mentor can ever give.

Once, Dave looked up at Dr Paul and said, “You are supposed to help me.” A simple yet powerful statement that revealed how Dave understood mentoring: to grow, to heal, and to become a better version of himself.

One day, the roles reversed as Dave became the one who guided his mentor to fold an origami. This greatly increased Dave’s self-confidence. On another occasion, Dave surprised his mentor by singing a song. This melted Dr Paul’s heart as he recalled Dave being once shy and quiet. It was a beautiful turning point for Dave!

Dr Paul often says, “Dave truly warms my heart with his unexpected enthusiastic participation.”

He added a quote, “Mentoring a young child is to help him develop his hidden and untapped talents.”

Over time, the special bond between Dave and Dr Paul deepened through shared birthday cakes and memorable story times. Dave has also grown tremendously as he has overcome his shyness and can now greet others warmly while expressing himself confidently. Truly, mentoring has led to Dave’s transformation.

What began as structured mentoring evolved into a heartfelt relationship, where both mentor and mentee gave and received in equal measure. For Dr Paul, the sessions have been enriching and life-affirming. As for Dave, the sessions have provided a safe space where he could be seen, heard, and most of all, valued.

After every mentoring session, Dr Paul is dedicated to sending detailed updates of mentoring activities and Dave’s progress to his parents. Using WhatsApp, both parents and the mentor could communicate openly and work together to help Dave flourish. It is wonderful to witness how our mentor is committed to regular updates, and both parents are receptive to receiving support.

Indeed, this real-life story is a beautiful testament to how our volunteer mentor worked closely with the parents to enable a child’s flourishing and growth.

BACK TO LSC

Empowering Children on Cyber Security with Ensign InfoSecurity

by | Oct 13, 2025 | In The News

IN THE NEWS

Empowering Children on Cyber Security with Ensign InfoSecurity

To mark Children’s Day and Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Ensign InfoSecurity, Asia’s largest pure-play cybersecurity services provider, partnered with Life Community Services Society to host 50 children aged 7 to 11 for a half-day programme at its Singapore headquarters. The initiative aimed to build digital confidence and safe online habits, equipping children with practical skills to protect themselves in today’s connected world. 

The activities included escape rooms, puzzles, and interactive challenges, where the children learned essential digital defence skills – from creating strong passwords and spotting suspicious links to understanding the value of kindness in online spaces. Guided by Ensign’s employee volunteers and supported by Life Community’s dedicated team, the children became Cyber Explorers for the day, outsmarting digital villains and earning their place as real-life cyberheroes. 

“Cyber awareness must start early,” said Charles Ng, CEO of Ensign InfoSecurity. “This Children’s Day, and as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we wanted to do something meaningful for the children supported by Life Community. By making cyber safety engaging and relatable, we hope the experience not only raises awareness of online issues from a young age but also builds lifelong curiosity and digital confidence in technology.” 

Life Community’s CEO, Ms Lam Moi Kwai, echoed this view: “This Children’s Day, we wanted our children to feel not just celebrated, but empowered. This programme is a natural extension of our mission to nurture every child to be the best they can be, which is by helping them thrive in every space they inhabit, including the digital world. Cyber safety is not a luxury; it is a life skill, and partnerships like this allow us to meet our children’s needs in holistic and relevant ways.” 

 

    BACK TO PRESSROOM

    President’s Challenge 2025

    by | May 29, 2025 | In The News

    IN THE NEWS

    President’s Challenge 2025

    In 2025, the President’s Challenge will support 60 programmes from 52 organisations, including six initiatives that will receive more funding. 

    These programmes will receive funding ranging from $715,000 to $1,250,000 over five years, enabling them to scale their impact. 

    One of the three key shifts the President’s Challenge has made in 2025 is to ensure the programmes it funds not only support immediate needs, but also uplift people and develop their potential. 

    In addition to the six initiatives receiving extra funding, the President’s Challenge will also support 54 other programmes with funding ranging from $105,000 to $300,000 each, spread over three years. 

     

     

    BACK TO PRESSROOM