Leong Kang Jin, 16

School: Nan Chiau High School

Topic: An email on a VIA project to honour deceased donors

Award: High Distinction, Senior Category, 2024

Dear Mr Lim,

I am Leong Kang Jin from the Executive Committee of the Student Council, and I am writing to you regarding the topic of organ donation. I will also share more information about my Values-in-Action (VIA) project proposal that the school population can take on.

First, I would like to share what inspired me to start thinking. When I was at my aunt’s place for a family gathering, I noticed that there were jars of folded paper stars, each jar containing many different coloured ones, accompanied by small, handwritten notes and beautiful ribbons. I naturally became curious about it, and asked my aunt about its origins. She shared about how my grandmother selflessly engaged in the act of organ donation, essentially giving strangers a chance to live on upon experiencing organ failure. The beautiful jars of stars were meaningfully folded by students my age to honour deceased organ donors, like my grandmother. She also shared how the students came forward to her with those handwritten notes to show their appreciation towards grandmother’s altruism. Hearing about the students’ efforts to fold and coordinate the colours of stars, my aunt viewed each star as a symbol of each of the youths supporting my grandmother’s actions. This led me to think that many batchmates around me rarely ever get the chance to be exposed to the topic of organ donation. Therefore, I would like to outline my proposal for a VIA project that the school population can take part in to honour deceased organ donors and remember the legacy they left behind.

My proposal consists of two parts - the fund-raising activity, and the actual activity itself. The student population can be divided into two groups so that each group will take charge of each part, with the relevant leaders heading their own sub-committees. Firstly, for the fund-raising activity, the idea is to set up booths in public areas from hospitals to bus interchanges, with the purpose of educating people about the impact that organ transplantation can have on others, and encouraging them to be an organ donor themselves. We are hoping to garner the support of the National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU), as well as obtain the relevant authorities’ permission for such booths to be placed. Each booth will have games planned out by the sub-committees, such as interactive online quizzes, in order to allow more to learn about the facts pertaining to organ donation, and gain insight on personal experiences of Singaporean organ donors as well. Small incentives such as sweets can be given out to attract crowds, and a donation box can be placed at the booths to collect donations.

These funds will then be directed to the other half of the student population planning the activity itself, a face-to-face event in the school auditorium. The plan is to invite families of deceased organ donors, recipients of the organs, as well as families of persons who received the transplant down to the auditorium. Families of those who received organs can go up on stage to share about how their lives have changed for the better after the successful operation, and take the opportunity to formally thank the families of the deceased organ donors. Sharings can be recorded and posted on the school’s official social media pages, for publicity and to allow the public to gain more insight on the topic. If they are uncomfortable with sharing on stage, they can also express their appreciation privately, during the tea session afterwards. As a school, we can also use the funds raised to prepare gifts for families of deceased organ donors. We can include handwritten notes from students and other handmade decorative items to accompany the notes. These notes will have the same impact on the donors’ families, just like how the folded stars from students impacted my aunt. Students willing to showcase their talents through performances can do so too. If possible, people who donated can also be invited to attend the event. If this plan comes to fruition, we would require minimal to no funds from the school. Families of deceased organ donors will be celebrated and will get the chance to connect with the people who benefitted from their organs, the public will become more educated on the topic of organ donation through the booths and recorded sharings, effectively honouring the legacy of selfless donors.

Besides achieving the main objectives above, students will also be able to hone their skills in many ways. Manning public booths, and engaging and performing for families would require courage. Brainstorming for booth activities, hamper and refreshment arrangements would require teamwork and effective communication. These skills would greatly benefit us in the future. There is a need for such qualities in the workforce, so learning it from young would help us blend into the work environment more effectively.

The importance of honouring deceased organ donors should not be underestimated. They have, out of their will, given up a part of their body in order for someone else to live on. In Singapore, for the 500 patients waiting to receive a transplant every year as a last resort to save their lives, organ donors mean the world to them, and they deserve the appreciation and honour bestowed upon them. Honouring such donors can also inspire people around them to donate their organs too, helping to reduce the agonisingly long wait time of 5 to 17 years currently for a suitable transplant to reach a patient.

With that, I am confident that this project will allow students to take part in honouring and remembering deceased organ donors for their contributions, and I hope that my proposal could be considered for the next VIA project. Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Leong Kang Jin

References

^[1] https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/resources-statistics/educational-resources/moh-026-09_8pp-english.pdf

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2024 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health).

To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg