Singapore’s own and only people-initiated regional humanitarian relief and development NGO, Mercy Relief (MR), launched its Mercy Clan’s Insigne in conjunction with the International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December. The IVD is a day designated by the United Nations since 1985 to thank the volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contributions.
The Mercy Clan is MR’s initiative to structurally develop and sustain the spirit of volunteering. It seeks to provide a more distinct sense of identity and camaraderie amongst its volunteers; a stronger affiliation for the Institution and a greater inclination towards the humanitarian cause and community service. The Insigne shall be the Clansmen‘s (MR volunteers) crest of credence which anchors on the three cardinal virtues –Courage, Compassion and Conviction.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and MR Chairman T K Udairam unveiled the new Insigne at the Pasir Ris Elias Community Safety and Fun Fiesta event. Mr Udairam said, “Effective volunteerism must embrace the 3 virtues –theCourage to sacrifice (one’s comfort and less pressing priorities); the Compassion to serve (those less fortunate) and theConviction to sustain (one’s services to the community). We hope to be able to cultivate a nourishing culture of volunteerism from here.”
DPM Teo also flagged off some 200 MR volunteers for its Street Party, where they plied the streets to increase awareness on MR and in tandem help build the resource capacity of the NGO.
Earlier in the week, MR Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad delivered a keynote address on “International Volunteerism – He who serves others, serves himself last” at the inaugural International Volunteer Day celebrations at Brunei Darussalam’s Indoor Stadium under the invitation of the Bruneian Minister of MCYS, Pehin Dato Hazair. CE Hassan also delivered a public lecture on “Regional Humanitarian Cooperation – Common sense is not always common” at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and met with officials from the government, private and corporate sectors to discuss and explore possible regional cooperation. Below are excerpts of his addressed and interviews featured by the Bruneian media (to access, click on title):
– Brunei, S’pore youth to uplift SE Asia’s poor The Brunei Times / Asian News Network
– Mercy Relief Eyes Expedition Programme For UBD Bru.Direct / Borneo Bulletin
– Understanding the crux of relief efforts vital: expert The Brunei Times
Hundreds of MR Clansmen (volunteers) registering for the Street Party.
DPM Teo Chee Hean and MR Chairman T K Udairam launching the Mercy Clansmen Insigne which anchors on the 3 virtues –Courage, Compassion, Conviction.
DPM Teo flagging off the Mercy Clansmen for the Street Party.
MR Assistant Director Jaffar Mydin sharing with DPM Teo on the recent works of MR in the region.
Clansmen plying the street to create awareness on MR and raise funds for Singapore’s own NGO.
MR Chief Executive delivering the keynote address to more than 700 volunteers and volunteer managers at Brunei Darussalam’s Indoor Stadium for the International Volunteer Day.
MR CE Hassan met with Brunei’s MCYS Minister Pehin Dato Hazair, MCYS Permanent Secretary Dato Hamid and Singapore’s High Commissioner to Brunei H.E. Jaya Ratnam to explore cooperation for international volunteerism at ASEAN communities.
MR CE Hassan pinning the MR crest onto Singaporean Jyotika who lives in Brunei and volunteers for the local Social Assistance Department to help the sick and elderly.
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.
In the past 12 years, Mercy Relief has disbursed over S$32 million in aid across 40 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives. Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 24 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
For more information, you may call us at 6514 6322 or email corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org
