It’s an honour to give back to society

02月 16th, 2010 Posted in 特写

It’s an honour to give back to society

Interview by Ben Tan
2010/02/11

GIVING back to society has always been an integral part of my life and on many occasions it need not be in the form of just money from our own pocket.

Volunteers, led by Stanley Seng (holding tapestry), selling traditional Teochew tapestries and miniature rattan baskets to raise funds during the cultural night last month. — Picture by Hairul Anuar Rahim

Personally, it must come from a willing heart and can be in the form of volunteering at a fund-raising event or even helping out with the less fortunate.

I believe that once you do anything with sincerity, the results would be satisfying.

To me, giving back to society is important, more so if we have achieved something in life and can contribute to others who are less fortunate than us.

For the past 12 years, I have been a member of the Johor Baru Teochew Eight Districts Association where we regularly organise charity and social events.

What drew me to join the association is that it focuses on promoting the Teochew dialect, culture and history.

As a fellow Teochew, I appreciate the fact that the youth wing of the association is very pro-active when it comes to social and charity causes.

As head of the association’s youth wing, it is my duty to reach out to a larger audience.

Through our website and blog, we find it easier to promote an upcoming charity event among the younger generation.

Last year, we managed to complete several charitable projects where the funds generated were donated to a few old folk homes and orphanages in Johor.

Besides that, we assist in organising social events.

Among the recent project undertaken by the association is the Teochew Cultural Night held in Jalan Tan Hiok Nee last month.

To promote the event, members of the youth wing were tasked with disseminating information about it.

Members were encouraged to use e-mails, blogs, and social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to reach out to family and friends for the event.

The event turned out to be a huge success with many youths attending it.

I also run an educational product services where I publish books and academic paraphernalia.

I spend most of my free time with my family at home in Melodies Garden.

I have three children — two boys aged 10 and 4, and an 8-year-old girl.

Despite my busy schedule running my business and also the association’s activities, I believe in spending quality time with my family at home.

Stanley Seng, 42, is a businessman. He is the youth chief of the Johor Baru Teochew Eight Districts Association.