Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development at MSF Volunteer and Partner Awards 2026

INTRODUCTION

1.             Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. 

I am delighted to host you at the MSF Volunteer and Partner Awards 2026.

2.             Because tonight, we celebrate the volunteers, agencies and partners 

who have made a difference in the lives of Singaporeans.

a.             Some give their time and expertise; others contribute resources, networks and opportunities.

b.             Together, they remind us of a simple but powerful idea: Better Starts With Us.

c.             Better begins when someone sees a need and acts, grows when people bring together their strengths in service of others, and endures when we stand together through life’s challenges.

3.             The people and organisations we honour tonight bring this idea to life. Among them is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Mrs Mildred Tan.

a.              Over more than two decades, Mildred has helped shape Singapore’s social service landscape by mobilising support across sectors.

b.              Through her leadership in advancing women’s development, promoting family-friendly workplaces, and addressing problem gambling, she has helped Singaporeans and their families lead better lives.

c.              Her lifelong commitment reminds us that lasting change requires sustained effort.

d.             So, again, congratulations, Mildred, and thank you for demonstrating how one person’s commitment can make a lasting difference. 

4.             At MSF, our work is guided by several key principles:

a.             First, we seek to be family-centred, recognising the profound role families play in shaping individual outcomes.

b.             We take a strengths-based approach, building on families’ existing strengths, rather than focusing only on their needs.

c.             We provide proactive support, helping families build strong foundations early.

d.             And we work along professionals and communities through a whole-of-society approach, with our partners and volunteers at the heart of these efforts.

5.             Tonight, I want to spend more time speaking on this last principle.

THE NEXT CHAPTER OF VOLUNTEERISM

6.             MSF offers many ways for volunteers to support families, youth and children-in-care.

a.             Across the MSFCare Network, volunteers tell us they find meaning

in giving back. Many want to contribute more deeply and see the impact of their efforts.

b.             The next chapter of volunteerism will support this through three key shifts:

from activities to outcomes;

from acts of service to trusted relationships;

and from individual contribution to volunteer leadership.

7.             First, we want to shift from activities to outcomes.

a.             Volunteer roles should be designed around the outcomes we seek –

whether helping a family towards stability, supporting sustained employment, or guiding a young person towards a better future.

8.             At our Youth Homes, volunteers have long served as befrienders. 

Building on this, our Homes worked with experienced volunteers and community partners on a mentoring model. This gives volunteers a larger role in youths’ rehabilitation and reintegration.

a.              Mentors will work with Youth Homes staff to understand each youth’s goals and provide structured guidance throughout the rehabilitation journey.

b.              This is what we mean by moving from activities to outcomes:

starting with the difference we want to make and designing the volunteer role around it.

9.             Second, we want to shift from individual acts of service to building trusted relationships.

a.             Meaningful change takes time and is rarely linear. We are creating more opportunities for volunteers to journey with children and families over time. These trusted relationships provide the encouragement and stability needed to navigate setbacks and keep moving forward.

10.          We see this in foster parents such as Madam Siti Rahmah and Mr Abdul Jalil, who are among our Outstanding Volunteer award recipients today.

a.              Over 20 years, they have cared for five foster children, including several with special needs. Their consistent support has helped the children persevere in their education and therapy and make important developmental gains.

b.              Thank you, Madam Siti, and Mr Abdul Jalil for showing us that lasting change begins with someone who chooses to stay.

11.          In child protection, a new pilot called Transition Support Companions connects children and young persons in Out-of-Home Care with stable and trusted adults who provide continuity and reassurance, as the children move between care settings.

12.          Third, we want to shift from individual contribution to volunteer leadership.

a.             As volunteers gain experience, many want to take ownership, contribute ideas and help others grow.

b.             We welcome that aspiration. When they step forward to lead, they multiply their impact.

13.          We already see this in action among our 60 Families for Life Volunteer Leaders. Many began by volunteering in their communities. Today, they are helping to shape and lead the movement.

a.              They have initiated and co-created programmes such as the volunteer-led Marriage Support Group and taken on leadership roles in initiatives such as the National Family Festival.

b.             Their perspectives ensure that conversations about family life are informed not only by policy, but also by the voices and experiences of families in Singapore. 

14.          We see this in other parts of our work as well. Under ComLink+, our volunteer befrienders develop an understanding of families’ needs and gain experience in supporting them.

a.             We want experienced befrienders to grow into Lead Befrienders, who can take on greater responsibility in supporting families, while Family Coaches focus on those with more complex needs. 

b.             This will enable us to extend support to even more families.

15.          As leadership opportunities grow, volunteerism is no longer only about what each person can contribute directly. It is also about the people they influence, support and inspire.

16.          The three shifts I have shared reinforce one another.

a.             Outcomes define the difference we hope to make. Trusted relationships sustain progress, and volunteer leadership allows each contribution to reach further.

WHOLE-OF-SOCIETY ACTION

17.          Volunteers do not make this difference alone. Progress on complex social issues requires a whole-of-society effort. 

18.          Government, SSAs, corporates, community partners and volunteers, even Institutes of Higher Learning, each have an important role to play.

a.             Our partners contribute funding, expertise, networks and opportunities, often finding new ways to apply these resources for the community.  

Let me share an example from our Outstanding Partner recipients today.

19.          The National University of Singapore worked with MSF to co-create a ComLink+ Befrienders course for university students.

a.             More than 1,100 students have since stepped forward, contributing 20,000 volunteer hours to support these families.

b.             More importantly, the programme is nurturing young people who understand complex family issues and are prepared to help address them.

20.          Moving forward, whole-of-society action can go even further when partners come together to understand challenges, develop solutions and test new approaches.

21.          The inaugural Families for Life Build for Families initiative shows this in action.  Eleven teams of social service agencies, community organisations and social enterprises researched families’ needs and prototyped solutions over six months, culminating in a Pitch Day in September.

a.             One example is Fei Yue Community Services’ Marriage Fitness Gym, which uses fun activities in community spaces to help couples strengthen their relationships. MSF will support this through funding and partnerships to reach more couples.

22.          These are just a few ways our partners are strengthening families and communities. By bringing our strengths together, we can develop better solutions and reach more people than any one organisation could alone.

CONCLUSION – BETTER STARTS WITH US

23.          To everyone here tonight, I hope you will continue building this future with us.

24.          I encourage you to deepen your contribution – by journeying with an individual or family, guiding volunteers or shaping solutions.

a.             And if you have not yet begun, we welcome you to step forward.  

Across MSF, we expect to need around 3,000 more regular volunteers by 2030 in areas such as befriending, fostering and mentoring. 

25.          Every strong family, child who finds hope, and individual who overcomes adversity begins with someone who chooses to care. When joined by others, that commitment reaches further. Volunteers, partners, agencies, and Government each have a part to play. That is how Better Starts With Us.

26.          Once again, congratulations to all our award recipients. Thank you and have an enjoyable evening ahead.