I come from a family of seven, where I carry the responsibility of being the eldest among five siblings. Growing up, we faced the challenge of managing living costs, which led us to reside in Johor Bahru (JB) while commuting daily to Singapore for work and studies. Despite the financial strain, our family remained close-knit, although this wasn't always the case. 

As the eldest son, I felt the weight of unspoken expectations, particularly from my father, whom I thought of as distant. His long hours of work and limited communication exacerbated the disconnect, compounded by the strain in my parents' relationship during my younger siblings' formative years. 

However, when I joined the inaugural FamChamps camp in 2014, I was introduced to the concept of love languages, shedding light on my father's mode of expressing affection through acts of service. Understanding this helped me appreciate his sacrifices and motivated me to bridge the gap by initiating conversations during our daily commutes from JB to Singapore. 

The Covid-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, leaving my family without a permanent home. We shifted multiple times, finding refuge even in my grandparents' cramped living room. During that period, I witnessed firsthand the extent of estrangement between my father and my paternal grandparents.

Through this crisis, I realised that a house does not make a home. It made me realise the importance of a stable and safe home environment.

Despite the adversity, this period strengthened the bonds within my family as we learnt to open up about our struggles. I also became more involved and mindful in alleviating my parents' load in whatever ways I could.

Inspired by my experiences, I joined the FamChamps Council to be a voice for Family. Through leadership development and community service opportunities, I witnessed firsthand the power of nurturing family relationships.

When I served as a Mentor Assistant in the FamChamps Camp Experience, one of the boys confided in me that Honour Night made a difference for his family as he had never felt so close to his parents in a long time. Till today, I still stay in touch with a few of them and I value the opportunity to inspire other youths in their family life journey.

FamChamps not only influenced and steered positive change in my family and I, but also provided opportunities for me to impact the lives of others in my generation. 

With your support, I hope that we can empower more young family champions who will impact their own family and others through community outreach!

Elliot Goh
FamChamps 2014,
FamChamps Council 2019-21