Danny Soo Ee Hock
Punggol Park Community Club Management Committee
Sales Manager, Marine Industry
"Through my various grassroots experiences, I learnt that age should never be a deciding factor in what we can do or achieve. What matters is our willingness to accept challenges and be of service to others and to our community."
Energetic and enterprising, Danny started out as a member of the Youth Executive Committee (YEC). His commitment and passion saw him tackle countless challenges in spearheading innovative programmes for youths. Today, at the age of 34, he is the youngest Chairman of a Community Club Management Committees (CCMC). Danny leads a team of volunteers in planning and implementing programmes and activities at the Punggol Park Community Club (CC).
“I’m deeply honoured that so many people trust me to hold this responsibility. When I was first appointed, I felt I had a mammoth task ahead. But with the tremendous support I’ve been receiving from my team and residents, I’m really enjoying every moment managing events at the CC,” Danny shared.
Since his appointment in 2007, Danny has initiated a Healthy Lifestyle Carnival, blood donation drives, health screenings, a series of open air movie screenings, festive celebrations and launched the Punggol South constituency logo. He especially enjoyed putting together the Punggol Motorsport Carnival which introduced Go-Karting to the community and allowed families to try a sport few had experienced before. In total, more than 4,000 residents attended the event and gave it the thumbs-up.
“Very often, it is not the act of organising a successful event that motivates me, but the opportunity to work with people of similar interests, and the chance to experience the smiles and enjoyment of participants that spur me on,” Danny added. He credits such opportunities as priceless gifts that attracted him to grassroots work and made him stay committed to voluntary work.
In 2005, he pioneered the first N.E.X.T. Challenge (North East eXTreme Challenge). Working with other youth leaders, aged between 15 and 35 years old, he designed challenges that stretched youths to their limits and pitted them against tests of endurance, creativity and wits. Danny explained that the event was designed in “Amazing Race” style with various check-points around the island. The N.E.X.T. Challenge received such an overwhelming response that it is now organised as an annual event.
“Through my various grassroots experiences, I learnt that age should never be a deciding factor in what we can do or achieve. What matters is our willingness to accept challenges and be of service to others and to our community,” Danny concluded.
Do you have a passion like Danny? Whether you wish to work with children, youths, adults or the elderly, there are many opportunities for you in our grassroots organisations. Contact your Neighbourhood Committee or Residents’ Committee or Community Club today to find out how you can volunteer. You can also visit www.pa.gov.sg/volunteer.
