Since its establishment in 1960, the People’s Association (PA) has been instrumental in fostering social cohesion and racial harmony. Throughout Singapore’s journey of rapid devleopment and economic progress, as well as during national crises, PA has consistently worked to strengthen community ties as well as spark and nurture community participation, all to build a caring and united Singapore.

Bringing this mission to life are passionate individuals like scholars Rachel Cheang and Darshan S/O Ganesa Moorthy. Rachel, Senior Manager (Communications Capabilities) in PA’s People & Government Engagement Division, is already spearheading impactful initiatives and driving change within the organisation and beyond. Meanwhile, Darshan is pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Singapore Management University (SMU) and is poised to begin an exciting and fulfilling career with PA upon graduation.

We sat down with Rachel and Darshan to learn about their journeys and discover how they are contributing to PA’s mission in their own unique ways.

What inspired you to take the leap and apply for the PA Scholarship?

Rachel: The reason I applied for the PA Scholarship ties back to my dad. He has been a Grassroots Leader for almost ten years, dedicating much of his free time to volunteering with the estate’s Neighbourhood Committee (NC). He leads the weekly Community Patrol with my mum together with a dedicated team.

I remember coming home during a summer break and joining my father and my three-year-old nephew to put up the National Day flags. As we went from house to house, I realised I hardly knew my neighbours. It provided me with a wonderful opportunity to introduce myself, ask how they were doing, and put a smile on everyone’s faces. This experience constantly reminds me of the value of PA’s work in fostering community spirit and building social cohesion.

Since applying for the scholarship, my time at PA has deepened my understanding of the community and policy implementation at the grassroots level.

Darshan: From a young age, my mother instilled in me the desire and virtue of giving back to others. I aspire to follow in her footsteps to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and leave a tangible impact.

After volunteering with the grassroots following my application for the PA Scholarship, I gained a deeper understanding of the organisation’s mission and its impact at the community level. Whether it was organising community programmes and events, facilitating dialogues or implementing divisional and nationwide initiatives, I witnessed firsthand how PA brings communities together, fostering common ground and building relationships across different segments of society.

Darshan, how has the PA Scholarship supported your studies and personal growth?

The scholarship has been instrumental in aligning my academic pursuits with my career aspirations in public service. It has not only provided me with the support to fully immerse myself in studies directly relevant to PA’s mission, such as community engagement and social policy, but also enabled me to pursue enriching co-curricular activities that complement both my coursework and PA’s objectives.

For instance, I’ve attended seminars on community leadership and social innovation, featuring speakers from diverse backgrounds who have shared valuable insights on fostering social cohesion and active citizenship.

Through the PA Scholarship Mentoring Programme, I’ve been paired with a mentor whose guidance has been invaluable.

They’ve helped me understand how my academic knowledge can be applied practically within PA, and how I can contribute to the organisation’s goals of strengthening community bonds. This mentorship has not only shaped my academic focus but also reinforced my commitment to a career in public service, specifically within PA.

Rachel, could you walk us through your role as a Senior Manager (Communications Capabilities)?

In my role, I develop and organise training programmes to enhance PA’s Communications officers’ social media and marketing capabilities, facilitate Communities of Practice for knowledge sharing, and create evaluation frameworks for these initiatives. I also implement tools like post-training follow-ups to ensure effective skill application in day-to-day work.

As part of the Communications Capabilities team, I aim to refine and expand our training programmes for more PA officers, ensuring PA’s work reaches wider and younger audiences across Singapore. I am also eager to innovate our engagement approaches, particularly through tech- driven solutions that improve service efficiency and public communication.

Tell us about some of the exciting opportunities you’ve had at PA, Rachel.

I have had many opportunities to explore different areas of PA’s work since joining. Most recently, I participated in PA’s Inno Challenge, where my team ranked in the top ten out of over 100 teams. We explored the use of Empathy AI as a training solution to help grassroots leaders communicate government policies to the public. In the lead-up to the challenge, I had the opportunity to conduct a workshop on using generative AI to develop creative assets to share with my colleagues on the potential challenges and ethical considerations of using AI in their content creation efforts. I continue to explore how we can better leverage and incorporate tech to improve processes in my daily work.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying for the PA Scholarship, Darshan?

My volunteering experience has been incredibly rewarding, offering invaluable insights and a sense of purpose. The warmth and dedication of grassroots members, who are deeply passionate about building cohesive communities, have been truly inspiring. As I look ahead to a fulfilling career with PA, I am confident that others with similar aspirations will find a wealth of meaningful opportunities here to make a real difference in the lives of every Singaporean.

If you have a heart for service and a genuine interest in community development, PA would be the perfect fit for you!