Singapore Silent Heroes Student Award 2026

Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) celebrates the civic contributions of two of its students, Qi Jiachuan (26S6K) and Zhou Junbo (26S67), following their recognition as recipients of the prestigious Singapore Silent Heroes (Student) Award 2026. The Silent Heroes Award Presentation is an annual ceremony organised by CAS – Civilians Association (Singapore). The aim of the award is to recognise ordinary, everyday Singaporeans and Permanent Residents for their extraordinary humanity and compassion towards people, causes, and missions. They received their awards from Ms Jasmin Lau (Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Education).

Both students have driven transformative, year-long service-learning initiatives that successfully bridged gaps across various communities in Singapore. Jiachuan spearheaded Project Vision, an initiative that partnered with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). Jiachuan and his team empowered visually impaired individuals through voice-powered technology and developed a specialised mobile application to facilitate grocery shopping by assessing product quality. Simultaneously, Junbo contributed extensively to Project Bond during the same period, collaborating closely with Dr. Janil Puthucheary to foster inter-generational and inter-cultural integration among new residents at One Punggol through cultural festivals and targeted reading events. 

Beyond the immediate success of their primary projects, both young men have compiled exemplary long-term records of volunteerism. Over his four years in high school, Junbo amassed a total of 426 hours of community service, while Jiachuan dedicated 297 hours to the betterment of society, including 130 hours directly poured into his service-learning project.

The awardees have also left a profound imprint on the internal HCI school culture through diverse leadership roles. Operating as Values in Action (VIA) Councillors and Peer Support Leaders, both students actively advocated for volunteerism and played instrumental roles in safeguarding the mental well-being of their peers. 

Congratulations again, Jiachuan and Junbo!