International Volunteer Day (5 December 2025): Through Wei Song’s Lens - Capturing Hope, One Frame at a Time

This International Volunteer Day, we shine the spotlight on one of our dedicated volunteers whose quiet artistry has touched countless hearts. Through his lens, Wei Song has helped capture the laughter, love, and courage that define our children and families at Club Rainbow (Singapore). His story reminds us that every act of giving — no matter how small — can create ripples of hope and connection. 

By day, Wei Song works as an AI software engineer — thoughtful, methodical, and immersed in technology. But when he picks up his camera, a different world opens up. Through the lens, he sees more than faces and frames — he sees resilience, connection, and the quiet strength that fills every Club Rainbow event he supports. 

Wei Song recalls the moment he first started photography. “I first took a photo when I was five,” he recalls. “It was of my infant sister sleeping.” 

It wasn’t until 2014 that Wei Song bought his first camera and began exploring photography in earnest. A chance encounter on ClubSnap, previously used to be a photography forum, set him on an unexpected path. “It was very coincidental as I was looking for opportunities to volunteer, and there was a call for volunteers” he shared. 

Preparation for each volunteering event starts the day before – “My camera has to be charged, memory card prepared, and reading through the event details provided,” Wei Song says. “On the day itself, I grab a coffee on the way to the venue or when I manage to catch a break during the event. I would also check in with the organisers to look out for and start capturing the key moments. After the event, it’s back home for post-processing before sending the photos to the organisers.” 

For Wei Song, photography is more than just documentation — it’s storytelling. “Photographs capture a precious moment in time,” he says. “Based on that moment in time, there could be a story or cause that people can understand and resonate with, without language barriers.” 

Among the many images he has taken, specific moments resonate with him most. “Moments where the children can be themselves because they know the befrienders and organisers have their backs!” shares Wei Song. 

Photo taken by Wei Song at Celebrating Heroes 2024

Photo taken by Wei Song at Camp Rainbow 2024

Of course, photographing at events with children comes with its own set of challenges. “I try to avoid using flash as some of the children are light-sensitive,” Wei Song explains. “Thus, it can be challenging to find the right amount of light for photos, so I often plead with the organisers to switch on more lights, if possible,” he adds. 

Over time, the people and moments he has captured have profoundly inspired and shaped the way he sees the world – The children’s strong will, grit and mindsets that keep them going. The parents’ unconditional love for their children. Camp Rainbow volunteers (Camp Rainbow is Club Rainbow’s annual biggest and only medically-supervised 3D2N camp for children with chronic illnesses, aged between 6 to 16 years old. Camp Rainbow is entirely volunteer-driven) and Club Rainbow staff’s unbridled passion that powers them. 

What keeps him going is the joy of seeing growth, both in the children he photographs and in himself. “It’s about capturing the unadulterated expressions of kids enjoying the well thought out events and watching some of them grow and become more matured!” 

As the world celebrates International Volunteer Day, Wei Song hopes others will discover the same quiet fulfilment that volunteering has brought him: 

“Volunteering has opened my eyes to scenes of vulnerability and resilience I never would have encountered otherwise. witnessing, and sometimes capturing these moments has helped me to grow, to reflect, and to see life’s small, ordinary gifts with new clarity. I often feel I receive more than I give; volunteering has made me appreciate life in ways I never expected. So, dive right in if you feel like trying, you’ll leave richer than you imagine!” 

At Club Rainbow, our volunteers are the heart of what we do — bringing their time, talents, and compassion to uplift the lives of our children with chronic illnesses and their families. This International Volunteer Day, we celebrate individuals like Wei Song, whose dedication reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a world of difference. 

Thank you to all our volunteers for colouring our rainbow with your light!