Celebrating the heartbeat of North West: 183 volunteers recognised for their contributions

North West Volunteers’ Awards 2026 organised by North West Community Development Council (CDC), recognises the unsung heroes of the North West. From individuals to organisations to outstanding students and schools who have consistently shown up for our community, 183 awardees will be recognised for their contributions in 2025. This marks the highest number of awardees to date, from 152 last year. Their collective efforts have made a significant impact across the District, growing a spirit of mutual care towards a We-First society. These everyday heroes have dedicated years of service to uplift the lives of residents.

2   Sharing on the impact made by our volunteers and how their efforts help amplify the CDC’s work in the District, at the annual North West Volunteers Awards 2026 held at the Singapore University of Social Sciences on 23 May 2026 from 10am (see Annex A for media programme), Mayor of North West District, Mr Alex Yam says “The work of the CDC does not happen behind a desk. It happens at void decks, in community centres, at the doorsteps of residents who need a helping hand. And it happens because of our committed volunteers, students, corporate and community partners who carry our mission forward with passion and purpose.  Their strong spirit of service reflects a growing “We First” society, allowing us to respond more effectively and strengthen our North West community.”

 3    This year, a total of 17 corporate and community partners will be awarded the North West Partner Award in recognition for their meaningful contributions to the community. Among the prominent recipients are SPH Media and Micron Technology, both of which have consistently rallied their employees to volunteer and give back. SPH Media deepened its community footprint in 2025 by supporting 10 North West CDC programmes, clocking 32 hours of active participation and mobilising 90 volunteers across key initiatives like the North West Service Weeks and Project Sama Sama @ North West. SPH Media sponsors newspaper in-kind and have supported the project’s rollout across six Divisions, signalling their high-level involvement. Similarly, Micron has been a steadfast partner, actively engaging its employees through initiatives such as its annual giving week to raise funds, alongside volunteering efforts across the CDC’s programmes in 2025. Collectively, Micron has rallied more than 150 volunteers to support key initiatives including the North West Service Weeks, Healthy Living Festival @ North West, and the North West Sustainability Festival, consistently going the extra mile in each engagement.

 4  Among this year’s North West Volunteer Award recipients are 26 volunteers who have made meaningful contributions across education and healthy living initiatives. Mr Abdul Razzaq is one who have served as a volunteer educator with MENDAKI since 2017 and continues to oversee the mentoring programme, supporting about 140 students and 16 tutors. As a former beneficiary of the MENDAKI tuition scheme, Mr Abdul Razzaq joined the founding core team of Homework Café @ Woodlands in 2026, extending free weekly academic support to students in the community. Over nine years, he has contributed an estimated 1,800 volunteer hours and now impacts around 200 students annually. Another awardee is Mdm Janice Chai, who has dedicated 11 years of service to the North West CDC’s Dance-Fit Club, growing from a beginner participant to a certified instructor. A trusted and familiar presence at weekly sessions, she has played an active role in leading members for competitions and Chingay performances, while helping residents stay active, build friendships and strengthen community bonds through dance fitness.

 5   The work of the CDC is only made possible because of the dedication and collective efforts of our volunteers, whose willingness to step forward and serve have made a difference in the lives of many residents living in the North West. Further strengthening our “We-First” society are 66 Outstanding School Partners whose dedication to the holistic development of our young have nurtured 75 Outstanding All-Rounder Students to excel as community leaders. One example is Chong Kai Ze, a student from Northbrooks Secondary School and a recipient of the North West Outstanding All-Rounder Student Award (OARS) this year, who began his journey with the North West Youth Assembly (YA) in 2024, at the age of 14. Nominated by his school, Kai Ze actively contributed to various community initiatives, taking on roles that allowed him to engage meaningfully with beneficiaries and fellow volunteers. Kai Ze is a dedicated member of the YA, most notably taking on the role of a mentor to his junior YA members in the Youth Leadership Camp 2025, just a year after his nomination in 2024. Through his efforts, Kai Ze has contributed over 260 hours volunteering with the CDC and sees deeper meaning in making a positive impact to the North West District.

 6 The CDC will continue to aggregate resources, build capabilities, and connect them to community needs, aligning to the CDC’s Vision of building a caring and healthy North West community. North West CDC will continue to work closely with volunteers, who are our key support pillars, to build up our five communities – Caring, Healthy, Sustainable, Inclusive and Learning (see boilerplate for more details about North West CDC’s Vision and Mission, and the five communities). To explore volunteerism and partnership opportunities, please write to northwestcdc_partnerships@pa.gov.sg.