Honouring Hearts that Serve
It was a night of celebration and heartfelt gratitude as the MWS Empowering Life Awards 2026 honoured 201 volunteers who have gone the extra mile to uplift and empower others.
Held on 30 January at HomeTeamNS Khatib, the biennial volunteer appreciation event – now in its third edition since 2021 – recognised volunteers whose service has made a meaningful difference in the lives of MWS’ beneficiaries and clients. Among them were 134 volunteers honoured for five to 20 years of service, as well as three Lifetime Award recipients: Rev Dr Daniel Koh, Stanley Lee, and Chan Kum Kit. This year’s theme, Flourishing Together, celebrates how volunteers and beneficiaries grow and thrive through service.
Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Law & Ministry of Social and Family Development, graced the event as Guest-of-Honour and delivered the opening address.
Describing MWS’ dedicated volunteers as “the lifeline of the organisation”, he said, “You are the bridge between systems and people – connecting individuals to resources, support, and opportunities to truly empower lives. Your contributions remind us that real, meaningful change often happens through quiet, consistent acts of service.”
During the event, MWS also launched the Befriender’s Toolkit: Engaging Couples in Marital Conflict, a practical resource designed to equip volunteers to support couples navigating marital challenges and offer help early.
Developed by experienced MWS social workers and counsellors, the Toolkit helps volunteers understand sources of marital tension, recognise common interaction and stress-response patterns, and steer conversations towards healthier ways of resolving conflict.
Volunteers can also sign up for specialised workshops conducted by counsellors and social workers from MWS’ Strengthening Families Programme (FAM), which focus on building practical relational skills.
The MWS Befriender’s Toolkit: Engaging Couples in Marital Conflict can be downloaded from here, and registration for the workshop is available here.
Interested in making a difference as an MWS volunteer? Learn more on our Volunteer page, or email volunteer@mws.sg.
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