The 44-year-old project engineer, who moved here from Myanmar in 1991, was an active RC member years before he officially received his Singapore citizenship papers yesterday.

Like him, Madam Qu Lu, 32, also fronted her community as an RC member while still a foreigner in name, and has since taken up citizenship too.

For both Mr Win and Madam Qu, organising Lantern Festival celebrations and making the rounds to visit other residents were not mere activities, but ones which shaped their decisions to become Singaporeans.

Mr Win credits his community involvement with helping his family - his pregnant wife and six-year-old son - feel more rooted here.

'Talking to the Chinese, Malay and Indian residents in my block, I realised that everyone is treated equally,' he said. 'It's really one people, one nation, one Singapore.'

Madam Qu first heard of the RC when neighbours came knocking on her door to promote events. She started attending their seminars and celebrations, and was soon asked if she wanted to volunteer on the committee too.

She is now the 'Integration and Naturalisation champion' of her RC.

The insurance adviser came from China to be with her husband in 2001 and they now have two children.

Because of her distinct accent, people still assume she is a foreigner.

'They are pleasantly surprised when I say that I was from China but am now Singaporean,' said Madam Qu.