Most Saturday afternoons, Ong Sock Hwee can be found at the Singapore Leprosy Relief Association (SILRA*), a nursing home in Buangkok View, where she sings, cooks, makes Milo, or catches up with a group of former leprosy sufferers.

In the 17 years she has volunteered at the home, the number of its elderly residents has dwindled from almost 70 to just six now, says Temasek’s Vice President of Administration. They are among the last in Singapore to bear the physical ravages – and stigma – of the now-curable disease.

“Many of them have lived in the home for years, even decades, and are now in their 90s,” she says. “Our main role as volunteers is to be with them in their final days, and help them live with dignity, care, love and concern.”

Sock Hwee began making the weekly trips to SILRA in her personal capacity in 2006, and since joining Temasek two years ago, with the support of the company. The nursing home was the first to be adopted by Temasek under its T-Touch volunteer initiative in 2002. Through this initiative, Temasek lends its weight to staff-led projects and ideas that benefit communities and uplift lives. 

She admits that Temasek's work at the home was a factor in her decision to interview for her current job. "As a volunteer, I saw what Temasek did at the home. This aligned with my personal values, and I knew that this was the kind of company I wanted to work with."

With Temasek’s support and resources, she has been able to bring on more volunteers and do more, she says. “I want to have a positive impact on others, and with Temasek, that impact is much bigger.”

Making a lasting impact

It is also what she likes most about her work - creating a workplace that not only runs smoothly, but that has a positive impact on people and the planet.

 She jokes that many of her friends don’t quite know what she actually does. “Some see the admin team as a support service, but there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. We are very involved in making the office a more sustainable space, which is a priority for Temasek.”

 Since she joined, she has been heavily involved in greening and creating a better work environment at Temasek, from determining optimal temperature settings using indoor sensors, purchasing green energy and installing smart meters to measure and improve electricity use. In September this year, Temasek’s Singapore headquarters received the Green Mark for Healthier Workplaces (Platinum Award) for its efforts, and now shares best practices with its international offices.

 To Sock Hwee, the award was not the end goal, but an acknowledgement of the more sustainable path the company is on – one in which she has had a hand in.

 “We are happy, of course, to have the award, but it was more about the process, and making real changes rather than just ticking the right boxes. I have always been a green champion – at work and at home. What’s different about Temasek is that we are constantly looking for more things we can be better at,” Sock Hwee says.

 It means being at work always feels like an extension of herself.

 “I want to help people and make a difference. At Temasek, I have found a place where doing the right thing isn’t just Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a place where people have the heart to serve. It’s a privilege to work with them.”

*In 2018, the residents of Singapore Leprosy Relief Association (SILRA) Home were moved to Surya Nursing Home at Buangkok View, which is managed by Sunlove Home.