Working in a charity organisation is often deeply meaningful, as it allows us to contribute to the community in ways that make a difference. It takes unwavering passion and dedication to remain in this field for a long time and those who do often leave a legacy on the lives they touch.
As we bid farewell to two long-serving and highly respected colleagues in Singapore Children’s Society, we reflect on their remarkable contributions and the lasting impact they have made.
Fang Xinwei, Head of Yishun Family Service @ Children’s Society posing for a photo with Wah Khoon,
Senior Social Worker at Yishun Family Service @ Children’s Society at her farewell party
Ms Koh Wah Khoon first joined the organisation as a social worker at the then-Toa Payoh Centre, where she practised integrated social work with children, youth and families. She went on to lead several service centres, including overseeing the first Student Care Centre at Blk 94 Henderson Rd. With her extensive experience, Wah Khoon has become a true veteran in the social service industry—an individual whom many, both within and beyond the Society, deeply respect and look up to.
Wah Khoon (second from the right) posing for a photo with colleagues at a staff bonding event in 2017
At the farewell party held at Yishun Family Service @ Children’s Society (YFC), past and present colleagues came together to share stories of Wah Khoon’s profound influence on their lives. She was a mentor, colleague, friend and family to many of those she worked with. Her unwavering passion and commitment to her clients were evident in every role she undertook.
“I had the privilege of working with Wah Khoon when I joined Children’s Society 11 years ago. She has been my supervisor, mentor and guide through my formative years in social work. I would miss her chatters and the sharing of her stories and wisdom with the team.”
“Wah Khoon is incredibly gracious and generous in her teaching. She always put herself first and shared her knowledge with an open heart. Having the opportunity to work alongside her is truly an honour. She has taught me to approach my work with enthusiasm and passion, encouraging me to embrace adversities positively and continually seek growth and improvement.”
Colleagues posing together for a photo to celebrate Wah Khoon’s retirement
When asked about her retirement life, Wah Khoon shared, “I face the reality that retirement has its own set of challenges, too, just different from what work-life throws up for me. Rely on my faith to guide me. My attitude is the key to maintaining tranquillity.”
Children’s Society extends its heartfelt gratitude to Wah Khoon for her invaluable contributions over the years and we wish her all the best as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.
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Children’s Society will be saying goodbye to another long-serving valued staff member in March 2025, who has dedicated 23 years of her time to advancing Children’s Society’s services and programmes.
Sue (far right) posing for a photo with colleagues at Children’s Society’s fundraising event, Walk for Our Children, in 2023.
Ms Sue Cheng joined us in 2002 as a Senior Counsellor and in 2003, took on the leadership of the newly established Research and Outreach Centre (RNO), spearheading the Society’s early research and advocacy initiatives. In 2017, Sue transitioned into the newly created role of Chief Service Officer (CSO), where she played a pivotal role in restructuring our centres into service groups, mentoring group leads and service centre heads and ensuring that our programmes and services were coordinated, evaluated and maintained at the highest standards.
Over the years, Sue has been instrumental in organising several flagship events, including the Singapore Children’s Society Lecture, the ISPCAN conference in 2005 and the Society’s 60th, 65th and 70th anniversary celebrations. She also represented the Society on numerous regional and international platforms.
A group photo with Sue (second from top left) for an international event – ‘Investing in Children Learning Session’ in 2017
One of Sue’s most cherished contributions was her involvement in the Book Committee for the Singapore Childhood books published by Children’s Society. She found it deeply rewarding to hear the childhood stories of the people interviewed and to search through archives for photographs to include. In Sue’s own words, “It was very hard work, but extremely rewarding when the books were delivered.”
“It's hard to miss Sue in a crowd, as she towers over many, especially me! But her height is not the only thing that stands out when you get to know Sue. She thinks fast and acts quickly, and you can trust her to speak up if she does not fully agree. You can say that she's a wordsmith at heart, as those of us whose reports have undergone her dissecting would attest to. For she is after all a mass comms student, who decided that social service is her call. We're lucky to have Sue as a mentor and as an advocate for children and youth. It's a tall order to summarise all her achievements and contributions for more than two decades, but it's certainly not a tall tale to say that we'll miss her. Thank you, dear Sue. Have your well-deserved rest and family time, and maybe, just maybe... we'll see you around soon? 🙂”
“I joined the organisation in 2019, knowing quite little about the social services sector and about what a management role entails. One of my first impressions of Sue is that she talks and thinks fast, and it was very difficult to keep up with her! Sue has always been very generous in sharing her personal experiences and advice, which helped me gain more confidence in my role. I felt that her candid nature was very refreshing, and she had also been open in sharing painful lessons learned in the past in hopes that I would not have to repeat them. I will miss the honest and open conversations, the passion, and of course, the fast-talking. Happy retirement, Sue!”
When asked about her thoughts on leaving the organisation, Sue shared, “As the d-day draws near, I started to feel anxious about a new chapter. While I look forward to a new routine, I also start to wonder with some trepidation what is it like not having affiliation to a place where I have spent a good part of my waking hours for the last two decades. I shall remember the laughter and the good times with the service users, colleagues and volunteers whom I have the fortune to cross paths with. Thank you to everyone who has made my time with Children’s Society meaningful and fulfilling.”
Sue and Wah Khoon’s unwavering dedication to the organisation has been a profound source of inspiration for the staff members at Children’s Society. Their commitment motivates us all to strive for excellence and to go above and beyond in our efforts to support children, youth and families in need, helping them reach their fullest potential.
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