Introduction
NUS Students’ Union Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC) is a wholly student-driven volunteer organisation under the umbrella of the National University of Singapore. Established in 1990 with the initial aim of providing an avenue for undergraduates to volunteer their time to help the less fortunate in society, NVAC has since grown to become a leading student volunteer organisation in Singapore. Today, NVAC has more than 350 dedicated and committed volunteers who carry out a range of regular volunteering programmes, special community events as well as overseas humanitarian missions.
Over the years, the focus of our activities has broadened beyond just serving the community through direct volunteering, to the empowerment of youths and the encouragement of community & student initiatives, to address social service issues facing our society. Together with our annual activities such as Con Amore and Charity Fiesta, we strive to expand and promote volunteerism in NUS, while enriching and making a difference in the lives of both volunteers and beneficiaries.
Milestones
| 1990 |
| - NVAC was formed. |
| 1991 |
| - Organised the Volunteer Connection Exposition together with Singapore Council of Social Service (SCSS). |
| - First Direct Service Volunteering programme started - MINDS Towner Garden School. |
| 1992 |
| - Organised the inaugural Charity Fiesta. |
| 1993 |
| - Organised first Volunteer Training Camp. |
| - Second Direct Service Volunteering programme initiated - Havens Children's Home. |
| 1994 |
| - Boys' Town Tutors programme replaced Havens Children's Home. |
| 1995 |
| - Three new Direct Service Volunteering programmes launched at MINDS Guillemard Gardens School, Institute of Mental Health and Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre. |
| - Jointly organised Red Nose Day with NTU Students' Union in conjunction with Charity Fiesta. |
| 1997 |
| - Organised the first annual MINDS Camp for trainees from MINDS Guillemard Gardens School and MINDS Yio Chu Kang Gardens School. |
| 1998 |
| - New Direct Service Volunteering programme started at Moral Welfare Home. |
| 1999 |
| - Organised the inaugural Freshmen Volunteer Orientation Camp. |
| 2002 |
| - New Direct Service Volunteering programme launched at National University Hospital. |
| - Overseas Service Division formed with first overseas project to Myammar. |
| 2003 |
| - Charity Fiesta moved out into the public for the first time. |
| - Second Overseas Service project to Cambodia started. |
| - Jointly organised "Realise-Volunteer Fair 2003" with NTU Welfare Service Club. |
| 2005 |
| - Coordinated efforts within NUS for Project Quake Relief to raise funds for victims of the earthquake in India and Pakistan. |
| 2006 |
| - Organised the inaugural National Student Action Conference. |
Vision & Mission
Our vision is to reach out as a leading student volunteer host organisation.
Our mission is to promote the active participation in volunteerism and social service in NUS, to develop volunteers to enable them to discover and realise their full potential, and to reach out the community and benefit the less fortunate in society.
Awards
NVAC’s excellence and outstanding voluntary contributions to society was nationally recognised recently when NVAC became the first student group to be conferred the prestigious President’s Social Service Award in 2006 for its numerous social service contributions; and again, it became the first student/youth group to be conferred the prestigious Singapore International Foundation (SIF) Award in 2006 for its Overseas Humanitarian contributions in Myanmar and Cambodia. |
| - NUS Student Achievements Award 2009 (Community Projects - Group) |
| - Singapore Youth Award 2009 (Medal of Commendation) |
| - Commonwealth Youth Silver Award 2008 |
| - Singapore International Foundation Award 2006 (Group Category) |
| - President's Social Service Award 2006 (Informal Group Category) |
| - NUS Students' Union Best Standing Committee 2003, 2004 & 2006 |
| - Singapore Youth Award (Team) 2002 (Community and Youth Services) |
| - Students' Community Service Award 2002 (First Prize) |
| - LIA Volunteer Awards 2000 (Merit - Team) |
NVAC Chairpersons
In our service to the community, NVAC is fortunate to have been led by the following Chairpersons:
| 1st Management Committee | 1990/1991 | Valerie Tay |
| 2nd Management Committee | 1991/1992 | - |
| 3rd Management Committee | 1992/1993 | Tang Peng Peng |
| 4th Management Committee | 1993/1994 | Lai Sheau Wen |
| 5th Management Committee | 1994/1995 | Jow Lee Ying |
| 6th Management Committee | 1995/1996 | Yap Tee Meng, Terence |
| 7th Management Committee | 1996/1997 | Jan Tan Jit Seng |
| 8th Management Committee | 1997/1998 | Tan Sok Siang |
| 9th Management Committee | 1998/1999 | Poh Mei Yi, Maureen |
| 10th Management Committee | 1999/2000 | Tan Eng Theng |
| 11th Management Committee | 2000/2001 | Mervyn Sek Kok Chuan |
| 12th Management Committee | 2001/2002 | Teo Chun Yong |
| 13th Management Committee | 2002/2003 | Teo Chun Yong |
| 14th Management Committee | 2003/2004 | Leng Ying Jun |
| 15th Management Committee | 2004/2005 | Nimalesvaran Swaminathan |
| 16th Management Committee | 2005/2006 | Nimalesvaran Swaminathan |
| 17th Management Committee | 2006/2007 | Lin Zhiliang, Timothy |
| 18th Management Committee | 2007/2008 | Amelia Ong |
| 19th Management Committee | 2008/2009 | Lee Kok Leong |
| 20th Management Committee | 2009/2010 | Tan Jian Xiong |
20th Management Committee
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EXCO) |
|
| Chairperson | Tan Jian Xiong |
| Vice Chairpersons | Chua Aik Xin |
| Chew Tyng Feng | |
| Secretary | Alicia You |
| Treasurer | Grace Lee Si Hui |
| Assistant Treasurer | Alicia You |
| Publicity & Multimedia Director | Fabian Kong |
| Assistant Publicity & Multimedia Director | Mafer Seow Vui Yin |
| Marketing Director | to be filled |
| Assistant Marketing Director | Joyce Ong |
| Volunteer Welfare Director | Lydia Salim |
| Volunteer Development Director | Tracy Thng |
| Logistics Director | to be filled |
REGULAR PROJECTS |
|
| Moral Welfare Home | Zeng Zhanpeng |
| National University Hospital | Tang Kar Wai |
| Institute of Mental Health | Karthika Ramanathan |
| Boys' Town Tutors | S Ghanaprakasam |
| MINDS Fernvale | Ching Kuan Chieh |
| Youth Counselling | Ang Yi Jia |
| Palliative Care | Clarence Tan |
| SANA | tentative |
| Sports CCA | tentative |
OVERSEAS PROJECTS |
|
| Myammar - Pinnaya Tazaung | Leung Yong Kang |
| Vietnam - Mam Xanh | Tan Hui Huang |
| Philippines - Big Hands, Bigger Hearts | Tay Chin Kang, Johan |
| Cambodia - Sang Khem | Celeste |
| Laos | Joh Kia Boon |
SPECIAL PROJECTS |
|
| Youth Vibes | to be filled |
| Juxtapose | Ou Yang Xiuling |
| Con Amore | Joyce Ong & Yi Su |
| Charity Fiesta | Wang Kaiye |
| MINDS Camp | to be filled |
| Social Enterprise | Gerald Pwee |
| Book Project | Xiao Qi |