Our PAP activists are our eyes and ears on the ground. Their dedication to serve is how we connect with Singaporeans, hear their views and turn ideas into action.
During the PAP’s Awards and Conference 2026 on Sunday (25 Oct), we honoured 526 activists for their service to Singapore. Here are some of their stories.
Finding common ground in the everyday
Don’t be fooled by her young age! Despite being 27, Dani, a Young PAP member, has been a veteran volunteer with the PAP for nearly 10 years.
For Dani, volunteering is very much a family affair. Her parents, as well as her late grandfather, have all been grassroots leaders. It was no surprise that Dani, too, was inspired to step up to serve in her community, first in Punggol North and now in Sengkang Central.
Being in an Opposition ward, Dani shared that residents could be more reserved when they see PAP volunteers out and about. However, Dani has found a uniquely Singaporean way to build connections.
“I’m quite a foodie, so I love asking residents about their favourite hawker stalls in Sengkang. I hope they’ll remember me as the neighbour who loves food, rather than just someone who volunteers for a political party.”
According to Dani, serving in an Opposition-held ward has encouraged her to pay closer attention to the everyday issues that matter to residents.
“I think it’s important to recognise that people can have different political preferences while still wanting the same things for our families and neighbourhoods,” she said.
The experience has also taught her to listen with an open mind, even when conversations are difficult or when opinions differ.
“One lesson I carry with me is that listening to understand is far more valuable than listening just to respond.”
For young Singaporeans considering volunteering, Dani’s advice is simple – Just take the first step and don’t underestimate the change you can make just because you’re young.
Nur Wildani Juraimi, from our Sengkang Central branch, has been awarded the Youth Medal for her service to the community and for inspiring younger Singaporeans to make a difference.
A commitment to serve despite the challenges
Even in constituencies where the PAP is not the elected party, our volunteers remain committed, doing what they can to help fellow Singaporeans. Pei Wen, a volunteer at our Eunos branch for 10 years, is one of them.
Working with Branch Chair Jagathishwaran Rajo, Pei Wen and the rest of the Eunos team engage residents regularly through Eunos Connect. The session is held on Mondays to provide residents with an avenue to share their concerns and feedback.
However, serving in an opposition ward comes with its own set of difficulties. “There were times when we wished we could do more,” Pei Wen shared.
One of the more frequent pieces of feedback concerns estate cleanliness.
“As this fell under the purview of the WP Town Council, it limits our ability to address these concerns directly, even when we were eager to help improve the situation,” said Pei Wen.
Despite these challenges, Pei Wen keeps going, driven by a belief that being a good listener can go a long way.
“Sometimes, people are less concerned about how we can help until they feel that we genuinely care about them. Building trust and showing empathy often come before offering help.”
Choong Pei Wen, from our Eunos branch, has been awarded the Long Service Award (Bronze) in recognition of her dedication as an activist over the past 10 years.
A familiar face residents can turn to
For residents of Moulmein-Cairnhill (MoCa), Professor Sean Rozario is a familiar face not only at the Meet-the-People Session (MPS) but also around the neighbourhood.
Having volunteered for 18 years and also a fellow resident at MoCA, Professor Rozario has cultivated strong bonds with residents, who would approach him at markets and coffee shops for advice.
He recalled an encounter with an elderly widow who was too frail to visit MPS after a fall. This led Professor Rozario to meet her at a coffee shop near her home to understand her housing concerns and work with the team to help her explore her options.
Such experiences, to Professor Rozario, reflect what grassroots service is about— teamwork, patience and sincerity to help residents feel less alone in difficult moments.
“What touches me most is seeing a resident come in feeling worried or frustrated but leave feeling a little more hopeful after speaking to us,” he said.
Reflecting on how grassroots work has changed over the years, Professor Rozario shared that while technology has made communication much faster, the time-honoured tradition of meeting residents face-to-face at MPS still endures.
“Residents want to be heard, and they want to know that someone cares. Nothing replaces the human touch of meeting someone and listening to what they have to say.”
To pass this belief on to the next generation of volunteers, Professor Rozario helps out at the MoCa Academy. In this community initiative, experienced volunteers mentor new ones to help them develop the skills needed to support residents.
At 58, Professor Rozario remains committed to volunteering as long as he has the energy. In his words, “satisfaction in life does not always come from what we achieve for ourselves (but) what we can do for others.”
Sean Patrick Rozario, from our Moulmein-Cairnhill branch, has been awarded the Long Service Award (Silver) in recognition of his hard work, commitment and loyalty to the Party.
When kindness comes full circle
At 12, Roger Chia saw firsthand the power of community. His neighbours had banded together to help his young siblings and him with funeral arrangements and expenses after his mother passed away and his father was working overseas. This sowed the seeds in him to help those in need.
Roger moved to Toa Payoh in 1976. Two years later, he began life as a grassroots leader and served under 3 MPs (Mr Eric Cheong, Mr Davinder Singh, and Dr Ng Eng Hen) and 10 elections. He is currently serving as an Honorary Member under MP Cai Yin Zhou.
He recalled the early days when he and three other neighbours set out to form the Residents’ Committee (RC), now known as the Residents’ Network (RN) in the 1970s.
Even though money was tight, Mr Chia refused to give up.
“We decided to do what we could with our own efforts. Every week, we collected old newspapers to sell and raise funds. We also went door to door to seek donations from our neighbours.”
Through these efforts, the team of volunteers were able to raise enough money to establish the RC Centre.
Reflecting on his 40-odd years of service, Mr Chia shared that community service has never been about recognition.
“It is simply about remembering the kindness we have received and doing our best to pass it on to others.”
Chia Ah Sah, Roger, from our Toa Payoh Central branch, has been awarded the Commendation Star Medal for his leadership on the ground and tireless efforts to serve the Toa Payoh community for over 40 years.
Lessons in leadership from a lifetime of service
As this year’s oldest awardee, Lim Siew Kee, aged 90, has spent over half his life in grassroots service.
Being part of the generation that had witnessed first-hand the racial unrest in the 50s and 60s, Mr Lim places great importance on building trust with residents from all walks of life and different racial and religious backgrounds.
“As a community leader, there is no room to play the religious card. We must set a good example and respect all religions,” he said.
This belief to bring people together, which aligns with the PAP, has also strengthened Mr Lim’s commitment to the Party and motivated him to continue devoting his time and energy to serving the community.
Asked what advice he would give younger volunteers, Mr Lim cited humility as a driving force. A leader does not always get it right, but a willingness to admit fault, learn from mistakes and do better the next time is the hallmark of a good grassroots leader, said Mr Lim.
Lim Siew Kee, from our Potong Pasir branch, has been awarded the Commendation Star Medal in recognition of more than five decades of dedicated service to the Party and the community.
