What Choo Choy Lian’s 15‑Year Prison Volunteering Teaches Us About Compassion and Community

Choo Choy Lian, a 74‑year‑old volunteer with the Singapore Buddhist Federation, travels two hours each Sunday to Changi Prison to run counselling sessions. She has kept this routine for 15 years, showing remarkable consistency.

Her involvement began when she worked at a traditional Chinese medicine hall and noticed a regular customer buying an unusually large number of syringes. Suspecting drug addiction, she confronted him and realised many people stray onto harmful paths.

Motivated by that encounter, Choo decided after retirement to give back by helping inmates. Each weekly session lasts about two hours and combines meditation, breathing exercises, and Buddhist teachings to encourage self‑reflection.

Beyond the Sunday meetings, Choo and other SBF volunteers stay connected with released inmates through a chat group. This ongoing support has even inspired some former prisoners to become volunteers themselves.

In recognition of her dedication, Choo received the Long Service Award at the Singapore Prison Service Volunteer Awards 2026, highlighting the impact of long‑term volunteer work on rehabilitation.

From her story we can learn three practical lessons: compassion can start with a single observation, consistency builds trust over years, and a supportive community helps former offenders reintegrate and even give back.

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