My son, who is in university now, was a student of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP). Although he has yet to achieve academic or professional success, he has been actively involved in volunteer work for more than 10 years now.

He was very active in the National University of Singapore (NUS) Community Service Club where he was a committee member until he went away to the United States on a student exchange programme.

I have seen him preparing lessons for kids from disadvantaged homes (even in the middle of his own exams) and spending time with them in weekly reading sessions, outings and annual camps.

Last year, he was deputy director of an annual project to paint a welfare home. His duties comprised identifying the most needy home, raising funds, recruiting volunteers and physically doing the painting, including stencils and murals.

And as a member of the club's publications and publicity team, he edited and published its magazine last year, spending many late nights and foregoing vacations.

The NUS Community Service Club is large, and over the years, there would have been other members who were GEP students.

Jacqueline Leong Kit May (Ms)