If Sharifah Nadirah Syed Ali was nervous being interviewed onstage at the President’s Challenge 2015 Appreciation Night at Istana, the feisty 19 year-old didn’t blink an eye.
Sharifah, a SportCares ChangeMaker, issued a poignant call to action to the audience. “Not everyone is as lucky as we are,” said the final-year student from Republic Polytechnic. “Everyone can do your part to make a difference, and you can start by donating your time,” Sharifah implored the sponsors, partners, charities and volunteers in the room.
Sharifah and Laura Reid, Deputy Director of the SportCares Foundation, were onstage to thank the President’s Challenge for selecting SportCares ChangeMakers programme as one of the beneficiaries of the Challenge this year. Sharifah has been a mentor in our ChangeMaker social integration programme, which deploys students from tertiary school to work with younger children from hardship backgrounds.
As a volunteer with the SportCares Love Singapore tennis programme for girls, Sharifah has seen first-hand the impact that a good volunteer can have on children and youth. “I try to inculcate good values to the youth and children I’m helping because they get discouraged easily, especially so when they are unable to complete a task well. I encourage and advise them to stay strong and never give up,” said Sharifah. She also highlights the importance of education. Sharifah has just completed a Diploma in Sports Coaching and is finishing her internship with ITE College East and applying for university.
During the post-ceremony cocktails, Sharifah and Laura spoke candidly with President and Mrs Mary Tan about the work being done with children, youth and their families, in partnership with great partners like Beyond Social Services. Although Sharifah easily demonstrated the composure of an older woman, she also had her moments of pure teen spirit. She didn’t hesitate to snap a we-fie with President and Mrs Mary Tan.
#LiveBetterThroughSport#SportWithoutBoundaries#FutureReadyThroughSport#PresidentsChallenge2015#ProudVolunteer#TeamNila#SoFun#SoProud#LoveSingapore#SportCaresChangeMaker#SportCaresSG
Source: SportCares
