About Mendaki Club
Mendaki Club, or MClub, is a community of Malay/Muslim young professionals and students who are engaged in affairs concerning the community, Singapore and the world. We engage in strategic youth development initiatives and participate actively in discussions on current developments in the local and global arena. We also strive to build bridges within the Malay/Muslim community, and between our community and other communities, to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
MClub was launched in 2000 by then-DPM Lee Hsien Loong and constantly seeks new and interested individuals to be part of its community. As a registered society and affiliated to the Malay/Muslim Self-Help Group Yayasan Mendaki, the activities and programmes of MClub are largely organised and run by volunteers from a wide range of professions and backgrounds.
The Committee
Noor Atiqah Halim
Atiqah graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore in December 2003. Upon graduation, Atiqah was "jobless" for a year, choosing to be involved in the Training field as a freelance Adventure Facilitator for local adventure training companies. She participated in various corporate and youth programs, ranging from teambuilding sessions, workshops, Family Days, adventure races and school-based level camps and leadership camps.
Her first "real" job was with MENDAKI, where she saw through the birth of the Cahaya M Learning Centre right up to its second birthday. Currently, Atiqah is a Corporate Communications Manager at South East CDC, and handles all PR and media matters pertaining to the CDC, including the CDC's bi-monthly newsletter, Contact South East.
In her free time, Atiqah enjoys partaking in outdoor activities and meeting up with her friends. She also loves traveling as it allows her to immerse herself in a foreign culture and atmosphere. In each of her trips, Atiqah endeavours to try out something new in order to build on to her honour roll of life's experiences which includes diving, attempts at surfing, riding scooters and climbing Mount Kinabalu.
Nur Dian Rasid
Dian Rasid is a Lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology Studies Diploma Programme.
An alumnus of University of Western Australia, Dian graduated with a double degree (Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts) in Psychology and Human Movement. During her 4 years in Australia, Dian took the opportunity to travel around Australia, set up an Asian restaurant and tried to be an Australian surfer/skater girl by spending her time doing water sports such as surfing, catamaran sailing as well as sand-boarding.
Having had enough fun, Dian went on to complete a Masters degree (with distinction) in Social Sciences. Guided by her passion to interact with fellow youths from various backgrounds, she became a member of Mendaki Club. She is currently the advisor for Graduates' Tea 2010 committee in which she aims to inform graduates that they should always strive for their dreams and ambitions.
Apart from Mendaki Club, Dian was appointed as the Assistant Secretary for the Advisory Committee of the T-Net Club (People's Association) and the Secretary of the Mentors Support Circle in Mendaki's Youth-in-Action programme, in which she mentors primary/secondary school students. She was also recently awarded Outstanding Volunteer Award during Mendaki Appreciation Tea 2010.
Ilie Nia Dianniaty Sapari
She believes that success can never be measured merely in terms of lesson plans and academic credits.
There should be a healthy balance in all aspects. It is the feeling of satisfaction that puts you to sleep a happy person each night and the particular drive that pushes you to achieve more with each waking day.
She loves to explore the finer things in life. She dances to fight the pressure. She travels to gain new insights.
She beach-hops to experience the beauty of Mother Nature. She broaden her horizons with the world of music and arts.
"The roughest road that often leads to the top is to be somebody who is not like anybody else. Embrace the Extraordinary. - Christina Aguilera"
Suhaila Othman
With a degree in Communications and Media Management from University of South Australia, Suhaila is an Associate with MDA's Media Content and Standards division. At MDA, this young mother of two boys, looks into the content standards for Malay and English programmes for TV and Radio and ensuring that they are in accordance with the broadcast guidelines. As the Secretariat for the Malay Programmes Advisory Committee, she facilitates consultations sessions with the members to seek their views on the validity of complains affecting the Malay community. Prior to this, Suhaila had kicked off her career in the media industry at the age of 19 and spent 9 years with MediaCorp TV12's channel branding division. She left MediaCorp TV12 as an Asst Channel Promotions Manager and later joined the social service sector for a year as an Executive Officer,Community Development department managing family developmental programmes, in particular, the Family Excellence Circle.
Hazri Munawar
A bubbly character and colourful as a guppy, Hazri is a Communications Executive with Yayasan MENDAKI. Part of his responsibilities includes liaising with the media, events management and also covering stories of successful individuals in the education scene. These individuals include Miss Singapore Universe 2008, Faraliza Tan, who had achieved First Class Honours in Communications Studies and TV personality, Rita Zahara, who is currently pursuing her PhD with her thesis focusing on anti-terrorism issues and the role of media in reporting issues relating to terrorism.
Currently pursuing his Bachelors in Psychology with Sociology, Hazri always holds onto the philosophy: Setiap apa yang kita lakukan itu adalah suatu ibadah, which epitomises the focus in every task that we do and see it through till the end. Having to balance career and studies, Hazri finds time to do his bit as a volunteer mentor to students at the brink of success between the ages of 10 to 17, where he is that big brother and listening ear to these youths. Recognising the large youth-base society that we are, he feels that it is part of our responsibility to build on the strength of these youths so that they can be our leaders of tomorrow. An endearing SNAG, Hazri also appreciates the company of friends over supper and chill time as they top his priorities right after his family.
Siti Nurbiah Daud
Nurbiah has been a volunteer with Yayasan Mendaki since 2005. She is not a greenhorn in the mentoring programme under Youth-in-Action (YIA) as she has been a mentor since her Polytechnic days. She was awarded Outstanding Volunteer Award during Mendaki Appreciation Tea 2009, and she treasures the honor given.
In 2008, Nurbiah was nominated by Yayasan Mendaki and chosen by National Youth Council (NYC) to represent Singapore in the renowned The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP), 35th Batch. She traveled for 52 days onboard a ship, Nippon Maru, and visited five of the ten ASEAN countries namely Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Japan. It was an eye-opening experience where she 'rubs shoulders' with people from diverse culture and background.
One word to describe Nurbiah? Gregarious!
She lives her life by the quote by W. Clement Stone: "Be careful the Environment you choose for it will shape you. Be careful the Friends you choose for you will become them"
Mohd Noor Hadi
Graduated with a Bachelor of Media Arts from the University of South Australia, Hadi is currently working as a Front-End Developer in one of Singapore's top property firm. During his free time, he loves to engage in sports, especially football. He always believes that one has to be responsible in whatever one sets out to do and it is this simple belief that drives and motivates him. There is no doubt that Hadi is an asset to the organisation.
Nadiah Zahairi
Nadiah is one of the newest members on the GT team, having just recently joined in May 2010.
Just like those who will be attending the Grads Tea, she is also a fresh graduate herself as she has just graduated with a Degree in Statistics and Applied Probability from the National University of Singapore this year.
Currently a volunteer under the Youth Executive Committee, Grassroots, at the community centre near the place where she stays, she hopes to organise activities that can engage and help bring "people living within the community" together. Apart from being a 'self-confessed' extreme chocolate lover, she describes herself as a "situational extrovert"; which means having two sides of her. One as the crazy, loud extrovert as some of her friends would know her as while the other as the quiet, withdrawn person as she would have appeared to be.
As a fresh graduate, she hopes to benefit from the event by getting to learn more networking and other useful tips that can help her to overcome the tough job-hunting period ahead.
Nur Azizah
Nur Azizah is currently in Year Two in the National Institute of Education. She majors in English Literature with a minor in English.
For now, she is still undecided if she had made the right career path and whether she'll make a good teacher. However she is definitely eager to try her hands in moulding your minds. As it is, she is a volunteer for Mendaki Youth-in-Action Programme, and was introduced to this Grads' Tea Planning Committee by her star mentor, Dian.
During her free time, she enjoys doing sports, learning new things and playing catch-up with friends. Granted, she likes to keep herself busy, and had frequently used to immerse herself with school life. But now, she's ready to get involved in other challenges.
Azizah believes in affecting people as positively as she can and wants to see a more collaborative effort between the different self-helps groups and organisations for the betterment of our society.
