The season of giving typically evokes images of familiarity, tenderness and warmth, shared among the people who play a part in our everyday rituals. Whether that comes in the form of physical or online interaction, it is just something about the year-end that stirs moments of gratitude and reflection, making it the perfect time to celebrate the bonds we share despite our differences. However, there are those who experience gratitude or intentionally extend their embrace of kindness beyond their immediate social circles. These individuals may or may not be heroes of fights perceivable or visible to the naked eye, but they acknowledge the hidden, and very human forces that quietly work to make our world spin that much more smoothly. Volunteer work might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of the Singapore people’s strengths, but that does not mean we do not have our own beacons of hope who, despite it all, prove that advocacy need not be the work of saints.

What is important is having someone who believes in the good of humanity, but more crucially and above all, finding more kindred spirits who can turn that will into action. In this special feature, we gather three individuals volunteering at local non-profit organisations to share why they do what they do and why it takes more than a single willing heart to fight the good fight. In the hopes that this year brings not just joy but a more deep-seated appreciation for the life that we lead, Men’s Folio hopes that the work of these three inspires you to start 2026 on a better foot, leading with grace, warmth and love.

Chelsea Yap, Tech Sales & Content Creator

Could you share a bit about your volunteering history and what led you to it?
Volunteering came into my life at a time when I was disconnected from myself and felt I was doing meaningless work. On paper, I was doing well — good job and trajectory — but something felt missing. I realised I had been chasing milestones for so long that I forgot what made me feel alive. As a result, I started looking for experiences that reminded me of who I am at my core — someone who loves people, stories, and meaningful human connections. Volunteering became that doorway back to myself. My volunteering journey started with a focus on career uplift. I mentored tertiary education students who wanted to land a job in tech, imparted digital marketing skills to mentees internationally, and volunteered at a female-led organisation in Singapore as a podcast host on career tips. Over time, I found out the aspects of volunteering that resonated with me most and adjusted from there.

I’ve spent a portion of my annual leave on purpose-driven projects since I started my full-time job last year: teaching elementary school kids in South Africa and working with NGOs in India focused on female empowerment. My next plan is to volunteer in Cebu in 2026. There’s something very humbling about stepping into spaces where people’s challenges are so real and immediate. It grounds you in a way normal travel never could.

How do you pick where to go and which organisations to work with?
I’m very intentional about where I volunteer because I want my impact to be responsible, and not just to feel good. For me, it comes down to two things. The first is alignment with my values. I care deeply about certain social causes such as education, women’s empowerment, and community uplift. Most of my projects fall into these areas. I choose causes where I know my existing skills (teaching, communication, and digital skills) can actually be helpful. The second would be the organisation’s sustainability and ethics. I research whether the organisation has many reviews from actual Volunteers and a strong online presence, to ensure that I’m stepping out of my comfort zone in an environment that feels safe and will be there through each step of my journey, logistically.

What’s something you wish more Singaporeans knew about volunteering, both locally and overseas?
I wish more Singaporeans knew that volunteering doesn’t have to be something you do only after you’re done enjoying life or when you “have extra time”. A lot of us take leave because we’re burnt out at work and want to escape. I’ve learnt that taking leave to volunteer can also be incredibly meaningful in a way that sightseeing at Mount Fuji or seeing the Northern Lights alone sometimes isn’t. It’s not just fun and games, travel, or bucket-list tourism that can recharge you. Being in a new community, contributing your skills, and learning from people with completely different lived experiences brings a different kind of fulfilment that many of us don’t realise we’re craving. I also think this links back to work-life integration.

When you’re in a job you genuinely align with, taking leave doesn’t always feel like running away from something. It feels like expanding your world. Volunteering becomes an extension of who you are, not an escape from your 9–5. If more Singaporeans saw volunteering as an option for how to spend their leave — not something that needs to wait until “later in life” when they have more time and energy — I think we’d see so many more meaningful exchanges happening both locally and overseas.

What have been some of the greatest challenges and lessons learnt from your experiences so far?
The biggest challenge is confronting my own privilege and limitations. Volunteering forces you to unlearn the need to “fix” things and instead learn to listen, understand, and support. I learnt that impact starts with empathy, not expertise. People don’t always need solutions; sometimes they just need to be seen, heard, and supported. You will also feel helpless sometimes — and that’s okay. The problems are big. You’re one person, but small actions still matter. Kindness still matters. Even if you only made a tiny bit of difference and contributed a small value, it’s still better than nothing. I also discovered that volunteering isn’t just about helping others — it’s also about healing yourself. In every project I’ve done, I’ve learnt something about resilience, gratitude, compassion, and who I want to become as a human being. I’ve seen women who are not allowed to learn freely show up to learn digital literacy in secret. I’ve seen students who face violence in their everyday life show up in school to learn. In all honesty, I’m so privileged to have learnt from these beneficiaries.

I know we are there to help, but they’ve imparted so much to me instead. Ultimately, volunteering has reminded me that a meaningful life isn’t built solely on personal achievements, but from moments of genuine human connection.

Gilbert Goh, Founder of Love Aid Singapore

For those who still don’t know, can you briefly introduce your organisation to us, and how do the causes you stand for affect our country?
I’m the founder of Love Aid Singapore. We’ve been operating for eight to nine years, mainly in the Middle East, in Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon. We live in an increasingly globalised society, and any conflict will definitely affect the world, even though Singapore is far from the Middle East.

Love Aid Singapore started close to 10 years ago. Have there been noticeable changes in Singaporeans’ attitudes towards the causes you stand for since then?
I feel that people are more aware now of the Israel-Palestine conflict, following the 7 October attacks, where many innocent lives were lost. The global community, including Singaporeans, has come to realise that this is a matter that dates back to 1948. However, Singaporeans tend to be less vocal about it, perhaps because of the issue’s sensitivity.

What mechanisms, steps, or actions can drive Singaporeans to come together, engage, and financially back your causes?
In Singapore, I give regular talks to donors and supporters to keep them informed about what I’m doing with their funds. We can come together more as a group of like-minded people and plan something out together, as great minds think alike! Additionally, there are several pro-Palestinian events held throughout the year, many of which feature people handmaking crafts and selling them to support humanitarian aid. There’s also Hearts Fiesta, a community gathering event that combines a flea-market concept with a performing arts festival, fostering a sense of humanity and hope for those who often feel helpless about the Palestinian cause.

Given the current socio-political climate, where diversity, equity, and inclusion can almost come across as performative to some organisations, while others have completely obliterated it. Why should we care about inclusion? Does it have economic benefits for organisations to consider?
So far, no Singaporean NGOs have ventured into the Middle East to carry out humanitarian work as extensively, so we’re glad to be the first to do so, albeit slowly. This taboo about the Middle East being unsafe persists, but we have to give Singaporeans time to adjust, as our country is just too safe and comfortable, unlike the Middle East.

From your experience leading grassroots aid for Palestine, what types of support from Singaporeans would genuinely help you scale your impact and meet the needs on the ground?
More volunteering. However, that would be much more geared towards people based in the region, as it’s not sustainable to run something substantial with just periodic, short-term volunteering. I’d also say that if people could volunteer on a longer-term basis — say, one or two months — it would most definitely help us with operational and logistical aspects. Many Singaporeans prefer to provide us with remote work assistance, which may only be of limited help.

What have you learnt about the importance of community when mobilising people around a cause?
People tend to have different opinions, especially when it comes to the Palestinian cause. However, while it’s good to accept their perspectives and differences, we should all try to work together toward a shared goal. Of course, it’s easier said than done.

Dipa, Founder of ItsRainingRaincoats

Briefly introduce your organisation to us on behalf of the younger Gen Z and Alpha generations, and how do the causes you stand for affect our country?
I’m the founder of the organisation called ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR). It’s a charity for our male migrant workers. These are men from countries such as India, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, and many others. Many of them work at a basic starting wage of $18 per day. That’s not $18 an hour, it’s $18 a day. That’s the basic wage for many migrant workers, because there are no minimum wage policies for them. Our migrant workers do all of the hard labour that goes on around Singapore, the backbreaking work of building our country, and very often, we don’t even notice them. Since they’re the ones we have to thank for keeping our country’s infrastructure in the state it’s in, we feel we owe them a debt of compassion. We have more than 1,500 volunteers and a small staff team. We provide various services to help these migrant workers because we feel it’s the least we can do for them.

IRR has been a local grassroots organisation that started 10 years ago. Have there been noticeable changes in Singaporeans’ attitudes towards the causes it stands for since it began?
There has been a change, and I believe we’ve been part of orchestrating that change. When I first started, I had to accept that this was not a glamorous cause. Previously, migrant worker awareness was not a thing. We’ve made it much more accessible to interact and assist our migrant workers through our longstanding work in this space. There’s more awareness about their living and working conditions. People from corporations to educational institutions, from preschools to universities, and entities of all backgrounds are much more willing to help. We created a movement to help migrant workers, and it has branched out in many positive directions.

If anyone were interested in backing your cause, how would they reach out to you?
They can reach out to me via LinkedIn or by leaving a message on our Instagram or Facebook platforms. We always need help. We always need more volunteers. We always need more funds. We always need more connections. A lot of our drives, like our Christmas drive, are underway now, and you can find the details on our social media platforms.

What are some of the major challenges that your organisation has addressed in the last 10 years, and which remain unresolved?
One of the key issues that we have been working on for a while is the issue of lorry transportation for migrant workers. It’s an issue not just for our organisation, but I think many members of the public would like to see a change in how migrant workers are transported between their dormitories and workplaces. [Writer’s note to provide background information: the use of lorry transportation for migrant workers is a widely contested issue by many, as there has been a long history of accidents and injuries associated with the practice. The issue has been debated in Parliament for active measures to protect the safety of migrant workers.]

Do you think Singaporeans are volunteering enough?
Anybody who decides to volunteer is enough. But of course, we alwaysneed volunteers. I can’t say for sure whether Singaporeans volunteer enough, but it’s substantial enough to make us such a large movement. It’s because of the amazing volunteers in Singapore that I was even able to grow this organisation. When I first started, it was just me doing my thing. It’s become an entire movement now. For the first eight years, we had zero paid staff; everything was done by volunteers.

What makes it all worth it at the end of the day?
All the gratitude we receive from the migrant workers and the changes that we can see. The migrant workers we’ve assisted send us good morning wishes and even send us birthday wishes. We know, and they know that we’re making a change. That is what keeps us going.

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our December/January 2026 issue.