SERVICE has become a defining thread in Malika Singh’s life, shaping both her career and her connection to the community.
By profession, she is a nurse, caring for patients through some of their most difficult moments.
Beyond the hospital walls, she is a dedicated volunteer and executive member of Vision Fiji, helping shape initiatives that strengthen communities and empower young people.
Her journey with the organisation began unexpectedly in 2020 when she was named a recipient of the Fiji Children’s Award.
At the time, she had never even heard of Vision Fiji.
“To be completely honest, I had not heard of Vision Fiji before that,” Malika said.
What began as a recognition of her community work would eventually become a lifelong connection, one that transformed her from an award recipient into a leader helping inspire the next generation of changemakers.
A passion for helping others
Long before she joined Vision Fiji, Malika had already discovered the value of service.
As a high school student, she and a group of friends established a youth organisation called Inari Fiji.
The group emerged from a simple but powerful desire – to help families struggling financially.
During a period marked by uncertainty and hardship, the young volunteers organised fundraising activities at flea markets, selling baked goods and second-hand clothing.
The proceeds were used to purchase groceries for vulnerable families identified through newspaper reports.
“We wanted to help families who were struggling financially,” she said.
“Whatever profit we made went towards purchasing groceries, which we packed into grocery packs and delivered to vulnerable families.”
Their work soon expanded beyond fundraising.
Recognising their own financial limitations as students, the group shifted towards projects that relied more on effort than money.
They established gardening initiatives at orphanages and hospitals, contributed school uniforms and bags to children in need, participated in beach clean-up campaigns and volunteered with animal shelters.
For Malika, these experiences became life-changing lessons in empathy and community responsibility.
Overcoming criticism
Not everyone supported their efforts.
At a time when many students were focused solely on academic success, some adults questioned why the young volunteers were investing so much time in community service.
“There was quite a bit of criticism from some adults who felt that we should be focusing solely on our studies,” Malika said.
Yet she refused to be discouraged.
Supported by a close-knit group of friends and parents who believed in their vision, she continued pursuing projects that brought practical assistance to those who needed it most.
Looking back, she credits those experiences with teaching her resilience and strengthening her commitment to service.
“If you have the heart to serve and make a difference, don’t let the opinions of others hold you back,” she said.
A moment that changed everything
When Malika learned she had been selected for the Fiji Children’s Award, the news came as a complete surprise.
“I was completely shocked,” she said.
The award recognised her dedication to community service and the impact of the projects she had helped lead through Inari Fiji.
But for Malika, the recognition was about more than personal achievement.
“Although I had initiated many of the projects, none of it would have been possible without the support and dedication of my friends,” she said.
Receiving the award became a defining moment in her life.
“To be recognised as a child for trying to make a difference in your community is incredibly empowering.”
The experience left a lasting impression, planting what she describes as a “spark” that continues to guide her today.
“I think receiving the award ignited something within me, a spark that I have carried throughout my life.”
Finding a home at Vision Fiji
After travelling to Suva to receive the award, Malika met Vision Fiji’s leadership team, committee members and former award recipients.
The encounter introduced her to a network of people who shared her commitment to community service.
Later, when she moved to Suva for her studies, she found herself searching for ways to continue volunteering.
The answer was clear.
“I wanted to continue serving the community, and I decided to come under the Vision Fiji umbrella and become actively involved with the organisation,” she said.
Today, as an executive member, she contributes to organisational planning, financial discussions, project development and community initiatives designed to improve lives across Fiji.
Her role allows her to help shape programs that support literacy, youth development and community engagement.
Among Vision Fiji’s initiatives are the “Do You Know Where Your Children Are After 10 p.m.?” awareness campaign, the Read to Lead Fiji program, the English Microscholarship Program and the Fiji Children’s Award itself. For Malika, these programs demonstrate how community organisations can create meaningful and lasting change.
Balancing two worlds
Life as a nurse is quite demanding, yet despite the pressures of her profession, Malika remains committed to volunteering.
“I won’t pretend that it’s always easy,” she said.
She contributes where she can, attending meetings on days off, joining discussions before or after work and assisting with planning behind the scenes.
“For me, it’s about doing what I can with the time I have available.”
The connection between nursing and volunteerism is not accidental.
Both are rooted in the same values.
“Compassion and empathy are at the centre of everything I do,” she said.
Working in healthcare has taught her that every person carries a story, often hidden beneath the surface.
“People may be carrying physical pain, emotional burdens, grief, fear, or uncertainty that isn’t immediately visible to others.”
Those lessons have reinforced her belief in treating people with dignity and understanding.
Coming full circle
Perhaps the most rewarding part of Malika’s journey has been transitioning from award recipient to committee member.
Today, she helps identify and encourage young people who remind her of herself years ago.
“It has been a full-circle moment for me,” she said.
She understands what it feels like to be a young person with ambitious ideas and a desire to make a difference.
“I remember what it felt like to be a young person with big ideas, hoping that someone would believe in what I was trying to achieve.”
Now she has the opportunity to offer that same encouragement to others.
“The award is not simply about celebrating achievements. It is about providing a platform for these stories to be heard.”
Through her work with Vision Fiji, she has witnessed countless examples of courage and compassion among young people throughout the country. Their stories continue to inspire her.
Defining success
Despite her professional accomplishments and community recognition, Malika measures success differently.
It is reflected in the lives she has touched and the relationships she has built.
“While I am grateful for my academic and professional achievements, I think the thing I am most proud of is the person I have become and the relationships I have built along the way,” she said.
The friendships, mentors, colleagues, patients and community members she has encountered have shaped her understanding of compassion.
“The qualifications and accomplishments are important, but ultimately, I believe that the lives we touch and the connections we create are what truly define our success,” she said.
It is a philosophy that guides her nursing career and her volunteer work.
For Malika Singh, making a difference is not about grand gestures or public recognition.
It is about showing up, caring for others and finding ways, whether big or small – to leave the world better than she found it.
And that is the true power of service.
Malika with her friends did gardening projects as part of volunteerism. Picture: SUPPLIED
Groceries that Malika and her friends had bought for families. Picture: SUPPLIED
Malika’s friends also volunteered at an animal shelter in Nadi. Picture:
SUPPLIED
During a period marked by uncertainty and hardship, the young volunteers organised fundraising activities at flea markets, selling baked goods, items and second-hand clothing. Picture: SUPPLIED
The group also did beach cleanup. Picture: SUPPLIED
