When Mr Ryan Vernados first began volunteering at an orphanage in his home town in Indonesia as part of a class activity, the experience was more like an obligation than a calling.

It felt like a “task”, he said.

Today, the 23-year-old engineering graduate of Temasek Polytechnic (TP) is a recipient of the school’s Community Service Excellence Award – which recognises students who have made meaningful contributions to the community over the past academic year.

Mr Vernados, who is from Tanjung Balai on Indonesia’s Karimun Island, began his studies in Singapore in 2022. During his first year at TP, his strong academic performance earned him a recommendation to join Engineering Peer Mentors (EPM), a co-curricular activity (CCA) where students tutor their peers and take part in outreach and community service projects.

He participated in community initiatives, such as grocery distribution in Tampines North and outreach events with voluntary welfare organisation Minds – mostly tagging along with friends.

Though initially hesitant, Mr Vernados gradually developed a genuine interest in volunteering. It became a meaningful way for him to unwind and connect with people from all walks of life in a country that was still unfamiliar to him then.

“I found it challenging at first as I was in a completely new environment. But through Engineer Peer Mentors, I was able to bond and communicate with my friends through our common interest in volunteering,” he said. 

One of his most memorable experiences was a grocery distribution project with charity Hao Ren Hao Shi – Mandarin for “good people, good deeds”. Every first Saturday of the month, volunteers hand out groceries and help carry them to residents’ rental flats, often striking up casual conversations along the way.

He recalled one resident in particular, a former teacher, who shared stories about her students and how much she missed being in the classroom.

“She was happy to see young people like us caring for the community. It made me feel warm inside, knowing that small actions can leave a big impact,” he added.

Through volunteering, Mr Vernados became more aware of the struggles faced by low-income families in Singapore, including the lack of reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food, and cramped living conditions, with entire families sometimes living in a single room.

“Before this, I didn’t even know rental flats existed in Singapore. I alway...