ACEI Member Honored

The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is pleased to announce that ACEI member Dr. Christine Chen has been named as Singapore’s 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

Chen, a long-time ACEI member and a current member of the ACEI Executive Board, was presented with this honor by his Excellency President S R Nathan at the Istana, the president’s official residence, on December 3, 2010.

The National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), a national body to promote volunteerism and philanthropy in Singapore, works in partnership with both the public and private sectors. NVPC selected Dr. Chen as the first recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, a category that was recently added to the awards program to recognize outstanding individuals in volunteerism.

The NVPC Awards are the highest honor to bestow upon individuals or organizations in Singapore that have set excellent benchmarks in encouraging the spirit of giving. Chen was recognized for her positive impact on the community through her leadership expertise in the field of early childhood education, for crafting the Code of Ethics for early education practitioners, and for setting standards for teacher education. Chen is the founder and president of the Association for Early Childhood Educators Singapore (AECES).

In addition to her work in Singapore, Chen supports the development of early childhood programs throughout Southeast Asia. Diane Whitehead, ACEI Executive Director, stated, “We are delighted that Dr. Chen has been recognized for her efforts in Singapore. She gives tirelessly to the causes of early childhood education and is a model for all of us to follow.”