Celebrating inclusivity – The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards confers recognition to 14 Awardees in its fifth edition

Singapore, 11 December 2023 – The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA) celebrated the achievements of 14 outstanding persons with disabilities today at the awards ceremony held at the Istana. Graced by Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the ceremony was also attended by Ms Jane Ittogi, Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Mr Goh Chok Tong and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Social and Family Development, Mr Eric Chua.

Launched in 2019, the Awards is a key initiative of the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF), a community fund administered by SG Enable and supported by Mediacorp, that provides persons with disabilities the opportunities to actively contribute to society and lead socially integrated lives. In championing inclusivity, the Awards serve as a platform to celebrate the achievements, promise and contributions of exceptional individuals.

Supported by Tote Board as the Founding Sponsor, the GCTEA comprises two categories:

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

List of GCTEA 2023 Awardees

GCTEA (Achievement) – Celebrating individuals with extraordinary accomplishments
In recognition of their noteworthy achievements in their respective fields, three inspiring individuals were awarded the GCTEA (Achievement) and $10,000. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

1.Aisah Binte Ibrahim
Aisah, 76 years old, is the President of the Bedok Youth Society for the Disabled (BYSD), an Inclusion Ambassador with the Disabled People’s Association, a Team Singapore para-bowler and a vocalist cum musician. She has poliomyelitis and relies on a wheelchair to get around after undergoing hip replacement surgery in 2014. Aisah was nominated by BYSD and Faith Music Centre.

2. Laurentia Tan Yen-Yi
Laurentia, 44 years old, is an accomplished Team Singapore para-equestrienne who has won medals for the nation at major international sporting events such as the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She has profound deafness and athetoid cerebral palsy. Laurentia was nominated by the Singapore Disability Sports Council.

3. Judy Anne Wee
Judy, 62 years old, is the founder and principal consultant of LevelField Consultants, a consultancy firm promoting the inclusion of everyone in all activities, and Executive Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore). She was born with congenital deformity that affects all her limbs, and currently relies on a wheelchair to aid her mobility. Judy was nominated by Mr Akash Mohapatra.

The above Achievement Awardees will each receive $10,000. Singapore Disability Sports Council, as an Institution of Public Character, will also receive $5,000 in recognition of the contributing role of nominating organisation in Laurentia’s success journey.

GCTEA (Promise) – Motivating talented individuals with bright potential
These 11 promising individuals were presented with the GCTEA (Promise) and $5,000, in recognition of their potential and commitment to serve the community. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

1. Aloysius Gan Kai Hong
Aloysius, 17 years old, is a Team Singapore boccia youth para-athlete who has won medals for the nation at international tournaments such as the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games and the inaugural World Boccia Youth Championship. Born with cerebral palsy, he is non-verbal and relies on his wheelchair to facilitate his movements. Aloysius was nominated by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore.

2. Nicolette Koh Shi Jing
Nicolette, 22 years old, is the co-founder of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s co-curricular club NP Supportify, which is dedicated to raising awareness and providing social-emotional support to students with disabilities. She has severe hearing loss and has undergone procedures for cochlear implants. Nicolette was nominated by Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

3.Shalom Lim Ern Rong
Shalom, 28 years old, is a disability rights and social inclusion advocate who firmly believes that disability awareness should be taught to children in schools. He was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and his condition quickly deteriorated in his teenage years, leading to the loss of his writing and painting abilities. Shalom was nominated by Ms Priscilla Koh Siew Im.

4. Mohamed Ismail Bin Hussain
Ismail, 40 years old, is the captain of Team Singapore’s para-tenpin bowling and a member of the Bowling Association of the Disabled (Singapore), who has amassed a total of 29 medals – seven Golds, 12 Silves and 10 Bronzes. He has congenital nystagmus. Ismail was nominated by the Bowling Association of the Disabled (Singapore).

5. Neoh Yew Kim
Yew Kim, better known as Yuki, 29 years old, is the founder of the independent Deaf film team Weirdoooo and a performing artist who is part of ART:DIS’ Beyond Dis:play programme. Born with bilateral profound hearing loss, she strongly advocates for a more inclusive arts scene. Yuki was nominated by The Singapore Association for the Deaf.

6. Quek Hwee, Kimberly
Kimberly, 23 years old, is a youth inclusion advocate who looks to raise awareness on the need for greater disability education and awareness. She is also a Deaf bowler who clinched a Silver in the women’s doubles event at the Deaflympics 2022.  Kimberly was nominated by Yale-NUS College.

7. Shariffah Faaiqah Binte Syed Abdullah Alkaff
Faaiqah, 22 years old, is a Singapore sign language performing artist and member of the fully Deaf dance crew Redeafination. Having profound hearing loss, she was also the first Deaf student pursuing a Diploma in Arts & Theatre Management in Republic Polytechnic. Faaiqah was nominated by Equal Dreams.

8. Sophie Soon Jin Wen
Sophie, 26 years old, is a Team Singapore para-swimmer, who has represented the nation at major sporting events such as the 2015 ASEAN Para Games and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and an advocate for Guide Dogs Singapore. Having cone rod dystrophy, which results in progressive vision loss, she is among the very few people in Singapore who relies on a guide dog as an assistance option. Sophie was nominated by Singapore Disability Sports Council.

9. Filmer Tan Chin Wei
​​​​Filmer, 22 years old, is the founder of local home-based business Filmer’s Chiffon Cakes and a performing artist-in-training with ART:DIS. He has pilocytic astrocytoma, a rare tumour that covered half his brain, and suffered a stroke after his first emergency procedure, which resulted in left-side paralysis. Filmer was nominated by Rainbow Centre, Singapore.

10. Weng Jiaying
Jiaying, 33 years old, is a co-founding member of Diverse Abilities Dance Crew and a performing artist with the Maya Dance Theatre. Born with down syndrome, her dance journey began as a student at Katong Special School and she has since performed extensively on both local and international stages. Jiaying was nominated by the Maya Dance Theatre.

A posthumous award was also presented to Rajpal Nirat Singh, who passed away in September.

Nirat, 23 years old, was the founder of a non-profit organisation, Hearing Vietnam, serving the needs of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. He had bilateral moderate profound hearing loss, and actively advocated for disability awareness. The late Nirat was nominated by the National University of Singapore.

The above Promise Awardees and Nirat’s family will each receive $5,000.

Michael Ngu, Chairman of the GCTEA Evaluation Panel, Board Member of SG Enable, and a GCTEA 2019 Achievement Award recipient himself, said: “We are all saddened by Nirat’s passing and decided we should still honour his contributions by presenting him with a posthumous award.”

Reflecting on the GCTEA 2023 evaluation process, Ngu added: “Reviewing the nominations this year was especially challenging as we received a sizeable number of deserving nominations. This is a strong testament to the impressive works, talents and potential exhibited by persons with disabilities.”

Ku Geok Boon, CEO of SG Enable, said: “With their personal journeys and stories, the Awardees have inspired us all. As they continue to excel in their respective fields, we call upon the wider community to join us in building an inclusive society with equitable opportunities for all.”

Tham Loke Kheng, CEO of Mediacorp, said: “We are honoured to celebrate our Awardees who have displayed unwavering levels of tenacity despite the challenges they face. We hope that their remarkable displays of strength and resilience will inspire all of us to rise above the odds, and to champion inclusivity as well.”

For more information about the Awards, and to support persons with disabilities through the GCTEF, please visit GCTEnableFund.sg.

-Ends-

Media contact
Nurul Atiqah
Communications Associate
Atiqah.MY@mediacorp.com.sg

About SG Enable
SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, enables persons with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in an inclusive society. It creates equitable opportunities for persons with disabilities through thought leadership, sustainable social innovation and impactful partnership. Guided by its core values of professionalism, innovation and empathy, SG Enable envisions a more inclusive Singapore and enabled 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, visit www.sgenable.sg

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