\n<\/p>\n
But it would not be just changing diapers and supervising play time for Fam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Less than a month later, the same family friend roped her in as a volunteer to help children with physical disabilities integrate into mainstream schools. She became vice-chairperson of AWWA\u2019s Teach Me programme, which\u00a0<\/strong>provided therapy and education assistance, and introduced the students to sports.<\/span><\/p>\n A few months later, in September, heavily pregnant with her second child, Fam became chairperson\u00a0<\/strong>of the programme. Later, she also chaired\u00a0<\/span>TM Services, AWWA\u2019s umbrella for programmes supporting children and youth with physical disabilities and additional needs, and launched a job-readiness programme that offered\u00a0<\/span>vocational training and internships for youths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday, the pressure is to get five or six internships in the pocket. But in those days, internships (for students in institutes of higher learning) weren\u2019t a thing,\u201d she recalled. Fam knew this would give these youths an edge in the job market.<\/span><\/p>\n Many of today\u2019s most recognisable disability advocates passed through her programmes,\u00a0<\/strong>including Paralympians\u00a0<\/span>Yip Pin Xiu<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Theresa Goh<\/span> and\u00a0<\/span>Jovin Tan<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI watched them grow up. And they left their mark (on me) because of their drive, resilience and clarity (of purpose),\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n In part, this experience inspired Fam to devote herself to volunteering. By 2010, she was serving on more than 10 boards and committees, working across diverse social issues including healthcare, palliative care, disability and autism support \u2013 all unpaid.<\/span><\/p>\nFROM VOLUNTEER TO SECTOR LEADER<\/span><\/h2>\n