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JULY 18, 2000
Students asked to continue helping after leaving university CONTINUE doing volunteer work after you leave university and start working. This was Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee's message to all undergraduates. The Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs said: ""The transition from studies to work should not be the death knell to active involvement in community service, sports, the arts or other meaningful pursuits." He was speaking at the launch of Charity Fiesta 2000 - an annual fund-raising event by the National University of Singapore Students' Union Volunteer Action Committee. Two former members of the committee lent support to Mr Ho's message. Both had volunteered at Minds (Movement For The Intellectually Disabled) during their university days. Said master's student Lai Sheau Wen, 27, who previously worked as a lawyer: ""Work was tedious and the hours long. Sometimes, I had to work on weekends. ""It was difficult to commit the time." Ms Tang Peng Peng, 28, a civil servant, agreed. She had a three-year break from volunteering before starting again. She said: ""There is more to life than just work. I needed to find something fulfilling to do." Prof Ho also singled out two groups started in universities in Singapore. The Children's Cancer Foundation developed through the efforts of former NUS hostel residents. And the mentoring group, True Hearts Connection, was initiated by former National Technological University union president Daniel Chew. Copyright @ 2000 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. |