"Celebrating Heroes", Club Rainbow (Singapore)'s annual event acknowledging and appreciating caregivers and siblings
On 31 August 2024, Club Rainbow (Singapore) held its annual event, "Celebrating Heroes," at HomeTeam NS Khatib. Since its inception in 2015, this event has provided a platform to acknowledge and appreciate caregivers and siblings who have shown remarkable dedication and resourcefulness in caring for their loved ones and improving their well-being.
This year's event honoured three caregivers with the Exemplary Caregiver Award (ECA), selected from a list of eight nominees. Additionally, four siblings received the Exemplary Sibling Award (ESA), chosen from a pool of twelve nominees, while two siblings were awarded the Commendable Award. A new category, the Resilience Family Award, was also introduced this year and presented to a deserving family.
Exemplary Caregiver Awardee (ECA), Ms. Yvette Wang
Exemplary Sibling Awardee (ESA), Naqish Bin Junaidi
Dr. Sashikumar Ganapathy, Council President of Club Rainbow, emphasized the importance of recognizing the challenges faced by caregivers and siblings. He said, "Caring for a child with chronic illnesses is challenging and often complex. 'Celebrating Heroes' is our way of honouring the remarkable caregivers and siblings in our community. This event, along with other initiatives under our flagship programme Care Connection, aims to support and empower caregivers by enhancing their emotional resilience and reminding them that they are not alone in their caregiving journey."
Among the recipients of the Exemplary Caregiver Award was Ms. Yvette Wang, who left her job to care for her son Elijah, who has autism and speech delay. She dedicated her time to understanding and supporting his holistic development, including teaching him daily living skills, seeking community resources, and attending courses. Another recipient, Ms. Mashurny Herniaty Binte Masjod, the mother of Alaynaa Isabella Binte Mohd Shariff Chia, who has cerebral palsy, learned sign language to better communicate with her daughter. Mashurny accompanied Isabella to weekly therapy sessions and most of the programmes organised by Club Rainbow to help her experience different activities and learn new skills. The Resilience Family Award was presented to Ms. Suzannah Abu Bakar and her two older children, who have each played a crucial role in the development of their younger sibling Sri Putri Indraqasih Bte Jamal, who was born prematurely
Resilience Family Award, Family of Sri Putri Indraqasih & the late Sri Putri Cenderawasih
One of the Exemplary Sibling Award recipients was 16-year-old Ms. Qistina Ad'delyna Binte Mohammad Riduan, who has been helping her mother care for her 2-year-old sister, Nur Indah Salsabella Puteri Muhammad Yusofe, who has cerebral palsy and a lung condition. Qistina took the initiative to attend a home care training course, where she learned to care for her sister, including how to suction her phlegm. She also learned how to tube-feed her sister by observing her mother. Another awardee, Ms. Siti Haleymatul Jannah Binte Jamal, supported her family by working part-time while studying and caring for her younger sister, who was born prematurely. With their mother being unwell, Haleymatul also took on household chores and helped guide her younger siblings in their studies after school.
In addition to the award presentations, the event featured specially curated activities for caregivers, including sharing sessions where award recipients discussed their caregiving journeys. Exciting programmes were also organized for the children, each of whom was paired with a befriender throughout the activities. Mediacorp celebrity and Club Rainbow ambassador Ms. Denise Camillia Tan volunteered as a befriender during the children’s programme. The event welcomed 250 participants, including 72 beneficiaries and their family members, and was supported by 150 Club Rainbow volunteers and staff.
MediaCorp artiste and Club Rainbow ambassador, Denise Camillia Tan (2nd from right in the back row) supported the event as a Befriender
Through "Celebrating Heroes," Club Rainbow continues to shine a light on the often-overlooked contributions of caregivers and siblings, offering them the recognition and support they deserve.
Watch the Exemplary Caregiver Award and Exemplary Sibling Award videos to learn the inspiring stories of these unsung heroes, whose selfless sacrifices and unwavering love continue to inspire us all.
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