Meet Chng Rui Jie, a 12-year-old Singaporean student whose efforts have raised over $1.2 million for charity since 2020.
Rui Jie’s journey to philanthropy was spurred by the discomfort of hunger when she forgot to bring her wallet to school for recess time and had to go without food. In her own words, she related, “That was an unpleasant experience for me…And to know that there are people who don’t get to eat three meals a day, I feel really sad about it. That’s why I decided to help.” This experience started her first fund-raiser in the online platform Giving.sg which brought in over $56,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF).
To-date, Rui Jie has managed to raise $285,717 in donations in 2023 by carefully planning, organizing, and executing 60 online campaigns. Balancing her studies with her passion for charity, she coordinated her efforts with her father, Mr Anthony Chng, who has helped her start her first online fund-raising campaign for STSPMF. Mr Chng is director of the enterprise division at Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association, a charity that focuses on helping at-risk youth. He told her she would be able to help more people by raising funds for the causes she cares about, instead of just donating her pocket money to these causes.
Rui Jie’s innovative charity fundraising strategy aimed at causes close to her heart. As a young charity fundraiser, she raised $332,000 for the STSPMF, and successfully ran online campaigns for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Assisi Hospice. Her father, Mr. Chng, encouraged her dedication to helping different causes, reckoned that contributing time and efforts to raise funds was more beneficial than merely donating from her own savings.
Her unique approach, driven by sheer determination, has gained recognition not only as the youngest fundraiser for the STSPMF but also as an insightful speaker at events. This allowed her to shared her expertise in charity fundraising with professional fundraisers at the Fundraising Online 2022 event. On discussing her commitment to social causes, she mentioned, “I am the youngest in my family and an only child, so I never had the chance of being a big sister. So I want to help those younger than me and to look out for them like a big sister.” These were her words, revealing her sincere desire to take care of those in need, whether human or animal.
Apart from online fund raising, she volunteered for Tampines Changkat Community Fridge, an initiative where residents can share surplus food with their neighbours. She has also volunteered as a part-time photographer and media talent at the SG Cares volunteer centre in Pasir Ris.
Chng Rui Jie, an inspiring example of a youth activist taking significant strides to change lives and make the world a better place.
