About Yoong Kheong



Who?
Grassroots Volunteer  Healthcare HR • Father  Ex-NTUC Industrial Relations Officer • Political Activist  Blood Donor • ACYPL YSEALI Profesional Fellow (Spring 2019) • Goodwill Ambassador of the 37th SSEAYP  Singaporean

Fong Yoong Kheong
MCLSD, Singapore University of Social Sciences | BA, National University of Singapore | Professional Diploma in Employment Relations, OTCi-NUS Extension | Level 7 Diploma in TESOL | IHRP-CA

Yoong Kheong's first foray in volunteering began at Damai Secondary School Audio Visual Club. A Humanities and community service school expedition to Vietnam, where he visited a street children's school, also widened his perspectives to community work.

After National Service, Yoong Kheong joined the Eunos Community Club Youth Executive Committee and developed a keen interest in grassroots activism. His interest in getting to know more about his community led him to join the Eunos Zone '3' Residents' Committee (RC), the Eunos Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) and Eunos Community Club Management Committee (CCMC).

In 2009, Yoong Kheong participated in the PAYM Singapore-Hong Kong Youth Exchange Programme and the Asian Youth Council's One Asia Forum 2009. He was a Singapore Participating Youth (SPY) for the 37th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) 2010. He received the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Scholarship to attend the IAVE Youth Conference 2011 & 21st IAVE World Youth Conference.

Yoong Kheong received the PAYM Meritorious Youth Award in 2012 and shared a Slice of Life Hour. In 2018, he was conferred the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat) by the President of the Republic of Singapore.

In 2017, Yoong Kheong became a licenced solemniser and shared about his role at a radio talkshow at CNA938.

Yoong Kheong participated in the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program, a programme funded by the US State Department, at the United States in Spring 2019. He spent 2 weeks in Washington DC and was attached to the Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, Illinois for a 4-week exposure.

Yoong Kheong occasionally writes for Insight ASEAN, a platform which aims to inspire and foster collaboration among citizens of ASEAN.

Toastmasters
In 2008, Yoong Kheong joined the Kg Chai Chee Toastmasters Club, which was later renamed Eunos Heights Bilingual Toastmasters Club.

Politics
Yoong Kheong's interest in politics started when he was performing security duties during the General Elections 2006. He read books on local politics at the NUS Library while waiting for enrolment. His interest led him to participate as Secretary of NUS Students’ Political Association (NUSPA) Membership Relations Committee 2009 and Publicity Director of the Policy Studies Committee 2009.

In 2008, after volunteering for some time at the weekly Meet-the-People Session at PAP Eunos Branch, Yoong Kheong decided to join the Young PAP. In 2009, he took part in the YP Bonding Trip to Chengdu. He believes in the values upheld by the party and hopes to serve the country and its people as a party activist. He received the PAP Youth Medal in 2013.

Labour Movement
Yoong Kheong started his career as an Industrial Relations Officer with the Chemical Industries Employees' Union from 2011 to 2015. He was then seconded to the Singapore Teachers' Union from 2015 to 2020. He was then posted to NTUC's Workforce Group Secretariat and the NTUC Aerospace & Aviation Cluster and ScooT Staff Union (STSU). He was elected as its Executive Secretary in April 2021.

Healthcare
Yoong Kheong joined SingHealth as a Senior Manager, Policy and Planning, Strategic HR on 19 July 2021.

Father
Yoong Kheong enjoys eating hotpot, playing Jurassic World and laughing about funny sounding words with his son. Yoong Kheong used to enjoy telling bedtime stores to son but now he finds pleasure in listening to him rattling about 

Purpose of Blog
Yoong Kheong hopes that through sharing his experience and insights via his writings, he could inspire others to share, step forward and contribute to society. It's never too late!

If you find any possibility of collaboration, you can contact him via yoongkheong[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Connect with Yoong Kheong via LinkedIn.


Why FurY_Kid?
I finished an examination paper ahead of time and used the spare time to come up with a handle, in those days we call it a "nick", using the initials of my name. There's not too many words that would made sense. FurrY_Kid certainly is out. I finally settled for FurY_Kid.

Disclaimer: The views of the Blogger expressed in this blog are of his own and do not represent those of his employer, volunteering organisations or political party.

Last updated: 4 August 2021