CHIJ 165th Anniversary Forum

Staff, students, members of the IJ Board of Management and members of the IJ Homes & Centres Management Committee had the privilege of being a part of the CHIJ 165th Anniversary Forum held on 9 March 2019 at the Catholic Junior College Performing Arts Centre. Based on the theme “Ever Seeking. Ever Serving”, participants were engaged with alumnae from the various CHIJ schools, and they were:

Keynote Speaker

Professor Lily Kong
President, Singapore Management University
Alumna of CHIJ Kellock & CHIJ Victoria Street

Panel Members

1) Ms Janet Ang
Chairman, Institute of Systems Science, NUS
Alumna of CHIJ Cooling Close & CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent

2) Ms Nichol Ng
President of ONE (SINGAPORE)
Co-Founder of The Food Bank Singapore
Alumna of CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School

3) Ms Lim Choi Ming
District Judge/Assistant Registrar of the Family Justice Courts 
Alumna of CHIJ Victoria Street & CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)

4) Ms Rachel Nadia Goh
Regional Relationship Manager (Southeast Asia), The Fred Hollows Foundation
Founder of Barre Group
Alumna of CHIJ Primary & Secondary (Toa Payoh)

Theme Weaver

Ms Vivienne Lim Hui Bian
Chairperson, IJ Board of Management
Director, Genesis Law Corporation Alumna of CHIJ Bukit Timah

Participants were greatly inspired by the sharing which included personal experiences, successes and challenges of the various presenters. The presenters had shown us the true meaning of “seeking” and “serving”, highlighting key learning points such as responsibility, purpose, sacrifice, diligence, resilience, adaptability, love, compassion, empathy, humility, gratitude and integrity. During the “Question and Answer” segment, students were eagerly waiting in line to ask questions, while each presenter patiently and lovingly answered them all.

The morning provided everyone with insights to how the IJ Education had played a key role in the life journey of the presenters, and reinforced the values which the CHIJ Schools had inculcated in their students over the past 165 years. The forum enabled our current generation of students to witness, through the lives of our presenters, the success and continuing efforts of our CHIJ schools in developing young ladies to be “Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty”.

It was indeed a blessing for all present, to be able to witness the call of our Founder, Blessed Nicolas Barre, and the great work of our IJ Sisters in Singapore. As we celebrate the 165th Anniversary of the Founding of our IJ Mission in Singapore, may we maintain the bonds of our IJ friendships, and together, find time to always seek and serve, so as to keep the IJ spirit burning bright!