11/09/2026
Growing up in a troubled home, Shirlene faced instability from a young age. By her teenage years, she was moving between foster families and childrenβs homes, carrying the weight of uncertainty too heavy for a child to bear alone.
Along the way, she experienced what it meant to be cared for through her foster family. π‘
βThey showed me what genuine love is,β Shirlene reflects. βFamily is the people who choose to walk alongside you.β β€οΈ
That sense of belonging stayed with her and today, Shirlene walks alongside others in the same way. She volunteers with Owena, an alumni community for former residents of HCSA Dayspring supported by Presidentβs Challenge, helping fellow trauma survivors find their way through mentorship, career workshops and community gatherings.
Named after the Welsh word for βyoung warriorβ, Owena reflects the resilience Shirlene sees in every member - resilience she draws on herself, too, as a Presidentβs Challenge Springboard Fellow pursuing a degree in psychology alongside her volunteer work. β¨
Her story is proof that support given at the right moment uplifts more than one life.
Read it full here: https://www.presidentschallenge.gov.sg/who-we-support/our-stories/shirlene-ng/
