19 Guides and Scouts receive Singapore’s top awards

SINGAPORE – Cheam Kai Qi has many fond memories of growing up with her cousin, who has special needs. They often had sleepover sessions and play dates.

As an only child, Kai Qi treats her cousin, who is three years older, like a brother. “He has always been a big part of my life,” said the 16-year-old assistant company leader of River Valley High School Girl Guides, a recipient of the President’s Guide Award this year.

Inspired by their close bond, Kai Qi jumped at the chance to start a Values In Action (VIA) project for primary school pupils with special needs through the Girl Guides.

The aim is to help the pupils find their passion, develop valuable skills and learn to take care of themselves. 

Kai Qi and her teammates designed a range of activities – from those in the creative arts to experiments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as physical activities. The programme was conducted over four sessions, each attended by about 30 to 40 West Grove Primary School pupils with special needs.

“We hope that they could express themselves through art... (and) learn how to take care of themselves and be healthier through our physical fitness sessions,” Kai Qi said.

The sessions are also designed to help participants build soft skills such as teamwork and communication skills.

“When we interact with these students with special needs, we need to treat them as normal people as well, but with just a little bit more patience and a little more understanding,” said Kai Qi, on learning from her experiences with her cousin. “Oftentimes, I observed that people treat him differently, be it in society or in our family... People would treat him as though he needs a lot more help.”

Kai Qi was one of five Girl Guides who received the President’s Guide Award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Nov 13 at the Istana.

Eleven Venture and three Rover Scouts received the President’s Scout Award (PSA).

The awards are Singapore’s top honours for Guides and Scouts, recognising outstanding contributions to the guiding and scouting movements through leadership and service.

This is the first time that the PSA has been extended to Rover Scouts, who are aged 18 to 26. Previously, it was awarded to only Venture Scouts, or pre-university students aged 17 to 20.

Singapore Scout Association chief commissioner Desmond Chong told ST: “This will increase access to the pinnacle awards where deserving Ventures and Rovers can be recognised at the highest level and, hopefully, inspire more young people to follow in their footsteps.”

The Distinguished Service Award and Chief Scout’s Commendation were presented to 38 adult leaders in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Scout movement.

PSA recipient Leoh Khai Ken, 26, joined the Scouts when he was in Primary 3, and is now an adult leader in the Woodlands Manta Ray Scout Group. 

He was involved in international events – both as an organiser and a participant – where he met like-minded youth with the same drive to do good.

One of them was a Scout from Egypt, who helped pioneer the Better World Framework, designed to encourage youth involvement in issues related to sustainable development in scouting.

“He was so inspirational, in the sense that he came up with a whole framework and managed to push it out globally,” said Mr Leoh, an earth and environmental science doctorate student at Nanyang Technological University.

“I realised that I can actually do some kind of action locally within my own capacity. Previously, even if I had a thought in my mind, I would likely not have pushed ahead by myself.”

Drawing on his knowledge of environmental science, Mr Leoh organised a workshop called Scouts Go Solar, which educates the young – from primary school pupils to tertiary students – on the importance of solar energy. Participants learn how to build a mini-greenhouse in their homes, do solar cooking and build simple sundials, among other things.

The workshop, which started in 2021 with just one primary school, has slowly expanded in scope and operation. It was conducted for over 20 teachers and Scout leaders across Singapore in 2021 and 2022, and over 105 Scouts from eight units have participated in 2025.

“Hopefully, the programme will encourage students to be more conscious about the environment and sustainability,” Mr Leoh said.

Kai Qi, who joined the Girl Guides because she thought the uniform was cute, has since broadened her perspective on organising volunteer projects.

“I didn’t realise before that we could plan our own VIA sessions, pursue the activities we were passionate about, and step out of our comfort zone to create a lasting impact on others.”