The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards continues to celebrate inclusivity with 15 Awardees in its fourth edition

Singapore, 1 December 2022 – The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA) recognised the achievements and promise of 15 exceptional persons with disabilities today at the awards ceremony held at the Istana. Graced by Guest of Honour President Halimah Yacob, the ceremony was also attended by Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth and for Social and Family Development.

Launched in 2019, the Awards has lauded the outstanding accomplishments and potential of 57 Awardees over its four editions. It provides a platform for these remarkable persons with disabilities to not only showcase their achievements, but also champion greater inclusivity across Singapore. An initiative of the Mediacorp Enable Fund (MEF), a community fund administered by SG Enable, with Mediacorp as the official media partner, the Awards is supported by Tote Board as the Founding Sponsor and UBS Singapore as the Principal Sponsor.

The GCTEA comprises two categories:

• The GCTEA (UBS Achievement) to celebrate persons with disabilities who have made significant achievements in their own fields and serve as an inspiration to others; and
• The GCTEA (UBS Promise) to encourage persons with disabilities who have shown promise to pursue greater heights in their areas of talent and the willingness to serve the community.

President Halimah Yacob said, “Today’s Awardees prove to us that there are no boundaries to what persons with disabilities can achieve, when given the opportunity. As a society, we must strengthen our collective efforts to build a more caring and inclusive Singapore – one where persons with disabilities are enabled to pursue their aspirations, achieve their fullest potential, and participate as integral and contributing members of society.”

ESM Goh Chok Tong, who is also the patron of the MEF, said, “The Awards matter because they give meaning to an inclusive society. We are happy to help our persons with disabilities fulfil their aspirations, as well as integrate them in the community and in the workplace. They are part of our social fabric and can contribute to society.”

List of Awardees 2022

GCTEA (UBS Achievement) – Celebrating persons with extraordinary achievements

In recognition of their noteworthy accomplishments in their respective fields, three inspiring individuals were awarded the GCTEA (UBS Achievement). They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

• Palani Samy Avaday, 72

Palani Samy is the co-founder of the Handicaps Welfare Association, a passionate sportsman and an active grassroots leader serving the disadvantaged in the community. With an acquired disability due to contracting polio at a young age, he has also represented Singapore at the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (now known as the ASEAN Para Games) and won gold for Wheelchair Tennis in 1999.

• Theresa Goh, 35

Born with congenital spina bifida and a deaf left ear, Theresa is a Paralympic bronze medallist and the first Paralympian to be elected to the Singapore National Olympic Council’s Athletes Commission. She has introduced the world of para sports to Singaporeans through her journey of close to 20 years representing the country in Para Swimming.

• Lim Lee Lee, 55

Lee Lee is a theatre and film producer, writer, and actor; a dedicated inclusivity champion in the arts sector; and the first blind Advance Certificate in Learning and Performance trainer/facilitator under the Workforce Service Quality framework. Born prematurely with congenital cataracts which led to total blindness, she is also a strong advocate for the use of guide dogs as a mobility aid for the visually impaired in Singapore.

The above Awardees will each receive $10,000. Bizlink Centre Singapore Ltd, Singapore Disability Sports Council and ART:DIS Singapore, which nominated Palani Samy, Theresa and Lee Lee respectively, will also receive $5,000 each in recognition of the contributing role of nominating organisations in the success journeys of persons with disabilities.

GCTEA (UBS Promise) – Motivating talented individuals with a bright potential

These 12 promising individuals were presented with the GCTEA (UBS Promise) in recognition of their bright potential and commitment to serve the community, and they will each receive S$5,000. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

• Dr Darren Chua, 46

An empowerment coach with an acquired disability due to a stroke.

• Hay Qing Hui, 30

The co-chairperson of the Regional Athlete Leadership Council at Special Olympics Asia Pacific with an intellectual disability.

• Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon, 42

A disability inclusion advocate and performing artist born with Down syndrome.

• Kueh Jinyan Justin, 24

A disability inclusion advocate and musician diagnosed with profound hearing loss.

• Jason Leong, 44

A ‘sport without boundaries’ advocate with an acquired disability due to a bacterial infection.

• Lin Yizhen June, 38

A disability inclusion advocate born with Down syndrome.

• Luo Mang, 21

A performing artist diagnosed with autism.

• Mok Hui Ying Amanda, 32

A National Para Cycling athlete born with spina bifida.

• Muhd Ammar Nasrulhaq Bin Abdul Karim, 30

A choreographer, performer and filmmaker who is deaf.

• Dr Navin Nair, 35

A champion for inclusivity who was born with cerebral palsy.

• Claire Teo, 23

A visually impaired artist and educator diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa.

• Wong Zi Heng, 31

A teacher with an acquired disability due to a spinal cord injury.

Please refer to Annex A for the profiles of the Awardees.

Quotes from the Evaluation Panel:

Chairman of the GCTEA Evaluation Panel and a Board Member of SG Enable Associate Professor Dr Wong Meng Ee said, "We continue to be impressed by the high calibre of nominations we receive year on year, which is testament to the exceptional talent and motivation of persons with disabilities. The nominees have all demonstrated significant achievements in their own right and it was definitely not an easy selection process. We hope to inspire more persons with disabilities through the Awards and look forward to more applications in the years to come."

CEO of SG Enable Ku Geok Boon said, “The winners are excellent role models who have made significant contributions in various aspects of society.  We look forward to having them as our iChamps (Inclusion Champions), and hope their wins inspire not only the disability community, but also call on everyone to join SG Enable in our mission to create equitable opportunities for persons with disabilities.”

CEO of Mediacorp Tham Loke Kheng said, "Every year, we are reminded of the incredible grit and determination of persons with disabilities who continue to overcome many challenges to accomplish outstanding personal achievements and positively impact our communities. Through the Awards, we hope to continue to inspire others to pursue greater heights and maximise their potential in their chosen fields."

For more information about the Awards, please visit www.mef.sg.

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Media contact

Tasneem Djabarali
Corporate Marketing & CSR Associate
Tasneem.MD@mediacorp.com.sg

About Mediacorp

Mediacorp is Singapore’s national media network and largest content creator. Its purpose is to create engaging and trusted content, as well as to connect communities and inspire people. Mediacorp engages over three million people in Singapore daily across four languages on its digital platforms including meWATCH, meLISTEN and CNA.asia, six TV channels and 11 radio stations. Beyond Singapore, Mediacorp also has a growing international audience through CNA and content distributed across markets.

With a focus on nurturing talent and growing the sector, the company is committed to investing in nation-wide initiatives like Star Search, Anugerah, Yaar Antha Star and SPOP, commissioning a wide variety of work from local content creators, and collaborating with institutes of higher learning. As Singapore’s first local Multi-Channel Network in partnership with YouTube, Mediacorp is also committed to developing a network of digital content creators.

For advertisers, Mediacorp has partnered industry-leading brands like ESPN, Mothership, Popcorn, Singapore Tatler, theAsianparent, VICE, YouTube and 99.co to form the Mediacorp Digital Network in offering more effective content-driven solutions.

Mediacorp is the recipient of industry accolades including New York Festivals, World Media Festivals, PromaxBDA (World and Asia) and Asian Academy Creative Awards.

For more information, please visit mediacorp.sg.

About SG Enable

SG Enable seeks to enable persons with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in an inclusive society. The focal agency for disability in Singapore, it raises awareness on disability issues and facilitates access to disability schemes and services. It brings partners together to share knowledge, collaborate and innovate, striving towards a common goal of building an inclusive Singapore and enabling lives. Set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2013, it is a registered charity and an Institution of a Public Character.

For more information, please visit www.sgenable.sg.

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