In 2003, a group of volunteers bore the vision of Mercy Relief as a local platform of humanitarian activism and advocacy. Since then, there have been various highlights in time which have shaped what the organisation is today.
Click on the markers to view briefs on these poignant moments.
- The Small Bang
MR was officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Raffles Town Club as a charitable humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
- A Humble Abode
MR set up office at a small and simple shop-house along Purvis Street.
- Maiden Mission
The first 4-man response team deployed to the devastating flash floods in Bahorok, North Sumatra.
- Institution of Public Character (IPC)
MR was officially conferred the Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status.
- Youths Take Off
MR deployed its first youth expedition to Takeo, Cambodia, in collaboration with the Singapore Soka Association (SSA) to serve at the Aspica Orphanage.
- Mediacorp Adoption
Singapore’s Mediacorp TV12 adopted MR as its official charity for a year.
- Cambodian Prime Minister Award
MR was conferred the Cambodian Prime Minister’s Gold Community Service Award for the establishment of two schools.
- Social Enterprise - Mercy Exchange (MX)
MR officially embarked on its social enterprise with the support from MCYS. The MX store was housed at the Gallery Hotel.
- Appointment of 1st Goodwill Ambassador
Homegrown pop singer Stefanie Sun joined the ranks as MR’s first Goodwill Ambassador to help spread the humanitarian message.
- SIF Award
President of Singapore, His Excellency S R Nathan, presented the Singapore International Foundation Award to MR for its efforts in enhancing the Singaporean goodwill overseas.
- Prime Minister’s National Day Rally Mention
PM Lee Hsien Loong mentioned, “We have a social conscience. There are many young groups which are organised and do social work. Last year, I went to one function organised by Mercy Relief, which I was impressed with. They were started off by a Malay group, by Perdaus and they have gone beyond being a Malay group to stand on their own as a multi-racial, secular group doing international work, 700 young volunteers of all races, students, professionals, organising themselves, raising funds and they're doing humanitarian work for refugees in Cambodia and Afghanistan, and flood victims. So, I asked them, "Are you going to Iraq?" They said, "Maybe later on". But they have the spirit and they have the goal and they will do it.”
- President’s Charity 2004
MR was included as one of the President’s charity beneficiaries for 2004.
- Expert Volunteer on Mission
Cultural Medallion winner, Master Potter Iskandar Jalil, participated in an expedition to Siem Reap, Cambodia,
and contributed his experience and expertise to the establishment of a handicraft centre.
- Stakeholders’ Session
MR held its inaugural Stakeholders’ Session at the SSA headquarters to share its works and financials to its
volunteers, donors and partners.
- Glimpses of Light
Held its first public exhibition on the Asian tsunami at the Atrium@Orchard.
- President's Challenge 2005
Participated in the President’s Challenge to help raise funds for the President’s charities.
Relocated to its second office at Riverside Piazza, Havelock Road.
- Stakeholders' Session
Organised its second Stakeholders’ Session at the Gallery Hotel to share its works and financials to its
volunteers, donors and partners. Incidentally, the Session coincided with the local government’s call for better corporate
governance, greater transparency and accountability in the civic sector.
- 'Heart of a Lion'
President of Singapore, H.E S R Nathan, launched the ‘Heart of a Lion’ book which documented
Singaporeans’ contributions and efforts for the Asian tsunami relief.
- Chairmanship Succession
T K Udairam took over the torch from Zulkifli Baharudin.
Relocated temporarily to Pasir Panjang.
- Chief Executive Appointment
Appointed its first Chief Executive to expand the Organisation’s mission and scale of operations.
- Sustainable Development Programme
MR’s international relief programme was expanded to include sustainable development and risk mitigation
projects centering on five focused sectors – water & sanitation, shelter, livelihood, healthcare and education. The first
projects were implemented in Indonesia and China.
Shifted its operations headquarters to the heartlands of Toa Payoh.
- 1 of 1: International Humanitarian Publication – Risk Wise
On invitation, MR contributed an article based on its ground experience and analyses entitled “Peacetime
Strategies for Disaster Risk Mitigation” for the UNIDRC publication.
- Cultivating a Grateful & Gracious Society (CGGS) Campaign
Launched its first local heartlands engagement to create awareness amongst Singaporeans on the blessings they
enjoy, being free from natural calamities, hence the need to be grateful and gracious.
- Stakeholders’ Nite
PM Lee Hsien Loong graced MR’s Stakeholders’ Nite at the SSA headquarters where MR shared on its first five
years’ progress and challenges, and plans moving forward. PM Lee acknowledged, “In relief operations, the lives of
humanitarian workers are often put at risk when they enter a disaster site to help others. They may take some precautions,
but after-shocks, landslides and water-borne diseases are common. I applaud Mercy Relief’s staff and volunteers for your
courage, tenacity and compassion.”
- 2 of 2: International Humanitarian Publication – Risk Wise Epidemics
On invitation, MR contributed an article highlighting real issue of augmenting the defense capabilities of
rural communities against the onset of epidemics entitled “Thwarting the Secondary Enemy” for the World Health
Organisations (WHO) publication.
- ASEAN Leaders Summit
On invitation, MR Chairman T K Udairam represented Singapore’s Civic Society Organisations (CSO) at the ASEAN
Leaders Summit in Thailand.
- 1st World Humanitarian Day
Organised the first World Humanitarian Day (WHD) observance to commemorate the sacrifices of humanitarians
around the world, at the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan graced the inaugural event.
- Little Mercy Games
Launched the Little Mercy Games at the first WHD. Partnering the Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Interactive
and Digital Media, the games were developed to engage and educate the younger generation in a less serious tone, on the
humanitarian landscape and issues.
- MR Mourns
Lost Tribesman Shalahudin Johari in the course of official duty for Typhoon Morakot relief operations in the
- Appointment of 2nd Goodwill Ambassador
Singapore and Asian Idol Hady Mirza joined the ranks as MR’s goodwill ambassador to further spread the
- 3 Teams, 2 Hours, 3 Countries
Deployed three relief teams within the space of two hours to the Philippines and Vietnam which were hit by
Typhoon Ketsana, and quake-hit Padang.
- 3 of 3: International Humanitarian Publication – Tomorrow Today
On invitation, MR contributed an article on the role of education as an integral element in the development
process of disadvantaged communities entitled “Helping People Take Control of Their Destiny” for the UNESCO
- MOVE – It’s Good to Feel Bad
Launched its Mercy Overseas Volunteer Expeditions (MOVE) programme to provide an operative platform for
individuals and groups to exercise the spirit of active global citizenry and effective volunteerism, with its slogan
‘It’s Good to Feel Bad!”
- Sustainable Development Programme Extended
Extended its sustainable development programmes to four countries – Indonesia, China, Vietnam and the
- 6th East Asia NGO Forum
On invitation of the Taiwanese Overseas Aid (TOAID), MR Chairman T K Udairam presented MR’s working paper
“Moving Towards a Collective Action: Networking and Collaboration” in Taipei.
- 2nd World Humanitarian Day – One of Singapore’s Success Stories
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean graced the second WHD observance which highlighted the remembrance of MR’s
late Tribesman Shalahudin. DPM Teo lauds MR as ‘one of Singapore’s success stories’ and added, “You are respected
for the good work that you carry out, and have also established goodwill, confidence, trust and love between citizens of
our Asian neighbours and Singapore.”
- Diploma + Humanitarian Affairs
In collaboration with the Singapore Polytechnic (SP), MR Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad kick-started the first
lecture of the two-year Diploma Plus certificate programme in Humanitarian Affairs. The programme, which is hosted by SP,
provides an Asian-centered perspective on the scope and mechanics of humanitarian work in the current globalised era. To
acquaint and equip the students with the principles and philosophies of the humanitarian sector, the integrated programme
emphasises on emergency and disaster management, sustainable development works and the administrative rigour behind
- Stakeholders’ Golf & Dinner - Pitching for Mercy, Putting Asia Right
Gathered its key stakeholders for the Stakeholders’ Golf & Dinner 2010 to update on its continuing journey and
raise funds for its operations. Guest-of-Honour Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo deduced, “I believe this is the
reason why Mercy Relief has a growing following, because it is action-oriented. It is focused on being effective, which
means to be fast and practical, concentrate on the most essential things, so those who are involved really feel that, “Yes,
we are really helping somebody in need.” And that concentration is very transformative. So those who get involved, they
get repeatedly involved, and in more than one way, they get transformed.”
- Singapore Perspectives
Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad was paired with Minister Lim Boon Heng at the Special Session of the event organised by the Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore. He presented MR’s perspectives entitled ‘Adding Gloss to The Gifted Dot’. Chairman T K Udairam was the discussant for the discussion panel ‘Including the Disadvantaged in a Meritocratic Singapore: Past, Present and Future’.
- 4 of 4: International Humanitarian Publication – Risk Returns
On invitation, MR shared its experiences on sustainable disaster risk reduction strategies as an essential element in human development programmes entitled “Risk Reduction and Adaptation: Good Concepts with Great Challenges” for the UNISDR publication.
- 5th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
On invitation of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the National Security Coordination Secretariat, Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad presented MR’s experiences and lessons learnt from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami for his panel topic “Individual Resilience in a Crisis: Is There a ‘Rescue Gene’?”.
- Further Extension of Sustainable Development programme
Laos and Cambodia were included to the earlier list of four countries – Indonesia, China, Vietnam and the Philippines - bringing the number of countries to six.
- Pacific Armies Chief Conference VII & Pacific Armies Management Seminar XXXV
On invitation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the United States Army, MR attended the 7th Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (PACC VII) and participated in the civil-military humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise at the 35th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS XXXV).
- 1st Youth Humanitarian Seminar & 3rd World Humanitarian Day
The first range of MR’s technological applications designed and developed for use in regional disaster relief and rural developments, were unveiled at the Applied Innovations for Development & Emergency Relief (AIDER) exhibition held at SP. The inaugural Youth Humanitarian Seminar (YHS) was held at the same venue a day earlier to encourage young Singaporeans to be more active and effective global citizens, through the humanitarian conduit.
- SCDF Attachment
The Memorandum of Intent inked by MR and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) led to the secondment of an SCDF officer to MR for immersion into the civilian humanitarian operations environment so as to better appreciate the mechanics, dynamics and challenges of the civilian aid sector.
- Exercise Bersama Lima
On invitation of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), MR participated in the civil-military humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) “Exercise Bersama Lima” organised by the FPDA. MR Chief Executive Hassan also presented MR’s principles and philosophies of regional relief engagements entitled “Civil-Military Cooperation in HADR – A civilian agency’s perspective” at the seminar.
- 5 of 5: International Humanitarian Publication – Future Perfect
On invitation, MR shared its experiences on the growing challenges to sustainable societies and the solutions enabling increased investments entitled “Mitigating Vulnerability for Sustainable Development” for the UNDESA publication.
- MR’s 47 March @ NDP
On invitation of the National Day Parade (NDP) Organising Committee, MR sent a marching
contingent comprising 47 strong volunteers to mark the Nation’s 47th birthday.
- 4th World Humanitarian Day – Pioneer Batch Diploma+ HA Graduates
Graduands from the first batch of Diploma+ Certificate in Humanitarian Affairs received their certificates from Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the fourth WHD held at the Tanah Merah Country Club. DPM Tharman highlighted “I must say, Mercy Relief is something for all of us to be really proud of, home-grown NGO, dedicated to the most noble of goals … You managed to bring together the best amongst Singaporeans, not just in resources but also in actual assistance and help. You are an exceptionally well-organised NGO as well. The way you work with your partners, on a systematic basis, real synergies, both formal and informal, so as to become an effective humanitarian organisation … So that’s all very good work … (it’s) about doing something meaningful with our lives and trying to do something much larger than ourselves. That’s what Mercy Relief is about and it helps all of us to be about.”
Later on, DPM Tharman posted on his Facebook, “I’ve given out many academic scrolls, but this group had something extra as they bounced onto the stage. They had idealism. They were doing something out of interest, not because it was required of them. More like them are coming up now, in a new generation. A real plus for Singapore.”
- Exercise Suman Protector
On invitation of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), MR participated in the expanded civil-military humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) “Exercise Suman Protector” organised by the FPDA.
- Presidential Visit
It was the first Singapore’s Head of State visit to any of MR’s overseas project site. MR hosted His Excellency Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam at its post-volcano reconstruction project site in Magelang, Indonesia.
- International Volunteers Day, Brunei
On invitation of the Bruneian Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports, in conjunction with the International Volunteers Day, MR Chief Executive Hassan delivered his keynote address entitled ‘If We could Care for Strangers, then Caring wouldn’t be Strange’ at the Indoor Stadium in Brunei.
- Public Lecture, Brunei
On invitation of the University Brunei Darussalam, MR Chief Executive delivered a public lecture entitled ‘Common Sense is Not always Common’ to emphasise on the need to be sensitive and adaptable in implementing cross-border aid and exchanges.