About Alan
Alan is hearing-challenged, due to viral infection in his left ear, so he wears a digital hearing aid in his left ear. He has an inborn right dead ear. He has just undergone a cochlear implant surgery on his right dead ear on 21 December 2011. Despite what he is going through, he remains positive.
He hopes to do something for the hearing-impaired community in Singapore one day – for example: setting up a social enterprise catering to the needs and aspirations of this community segment.
Employment Experience
Armed with a diploma in Mass Communications (Management Development Institute of Singapore, or MDIS), Alan is an education professional working at a private institution on part-time basis.
He has had worked in organisations previously such as Jay Gee Enterprise, Accenture, American Express International (S) Inc and Singapore Workforce Development Agency.
Expertise in community service projects, new media, marketing communications.
Community Experience
- Student volunteer with Student Volunteer Corporals (Singapore Children Society) – 1998 to 2000
- Member, Nee Soon Central CC Youth Executive Committee (YEC) – 2004 to 2011.
- Member, Organising Committees of National Youth Forum 2006, and SHINE Youth Festival (2008 to 2010)
- Member (Publicity & Marketing), Yishun Town Secondary Alumni Executive Committee (2008 – 2012)
- Head (Publicity & New Media), Nee Soon East CC Youth Executive Committee (2011 – 2013)
- Member, Air operations Team (Changi Airport), Youth Olympic Games 2010
Awards and Honour
- Nominee, Best Newcomer (PAYM Awards 2006)
- Handpicked to select Singapore in 9th Korea-ASEAN Future Oriented Youth Exchange Programme (Seoul, South Korea) in 2007
- Friends of Yishun Town Secondary School (YTSS) Awards 2010, a privilege award given to ex-students of who have had continuously and consistently making significant contributions to the school
Facilitator and Youth Mentorship
- Member, “Youth Action” workgroup promoting youth volunteerism, in the MCYS Youth Consultation Exercise 2004
Upon participation in the exercise, Alan became the first hearing-challenged youth to be selected and invited by National Youth Council (NYC) to join another 39 youths in the inaugural Young ChangeMakers (YCM*) Youth Panel in 2005, which assess and funds community projects initiated by informal youth groups or individuals. He was on the panel till 2007.
Through YCM, Alan has had mentored quite a number of mentees in secondary schools, junior colleges, and polytechnics in implementing community service projects.
- Member, “Give” Workgroup, “Be The Change” NYC-MCYS Youth Consultation Exercise 2012
- One of the 18 youth mentors invited to participate in YTSS mentoring programme (for Secondary 1 – 3 underperforming students) from April – Dec 2012. A trial project.
Areas of interest/hobbies
- strategic planning in public relations
- enrichment courses
- corporate branding customer services
- events management
- youth development & engagement
- social entrepreneurship
- youth mentorship
- volunteerism
- community services
Alan used to play erhu in the Chinese Orchestra when he was a student of ITE Bishan. Despite his hearing handicap, he hopes to re-master this Chinese musical stringed instrument one day.
In leisure time, he likes to read, goes to the movies, listens to pop/instrumental music, do volunteering, go sing KTV, and do sports such as bowling, swimming and jogging.
Alan’s favourite personal quote — “It is your disabled attitude that determines your disability and it is your disability that can or can’t close opportunities in life for you“
*YCM is among some of the youth grant schemes made available to youths and public by National Youth Council today. For more information on YCM, please check out YCM website -> http://www.changemakers.youth.sg/
Email: alansoh79@hotmail.com
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