
Nothing shines brighter in the midst of adversity than light born of hope, courage, perseverance and generosity. These beacons guide us forward, as we put one foot in front of another, toward a better future. Here we share these portraits of purpose –
of people whose light shine even brighter in the face of challenges.







































Here are the winning portraits from Instagram as voted by you.

This is the story of a man and his wife who came to Singapore in 1969. Packirisamy, 77, and Lalithambal, 69, started a restaurant with the sole intention of making sure everyone leaves well fed. The meals were (and still are) offered at very affordable rates and soon enough, the restaurant became a place to frequent.
Everything Packirisamy cooks in the kitchen has a hint of love. Nothing compromises the immutable standards of his dishes. For our migrant workers in Singapore, the food brings them a little closer to feeling at home.
Lalithambal, lovingly addressed as “Amma” by customers, has been the woman behind Packirisamy’s success as his better half. She plugs any gap in the restaurant’s operations by helping out in the restaurant to the best of her capacity. One would most often spot her packing food for takeaway orders or behind the cash counter.
They have crazy working hours but have not complained one bit all these years.
Packirisamy rides back home on his trusty bicycle, which has aged with him, while Lalithambal dodders back home after a tiring day at the restaurant.
Their work ethics and altruism are aspects I deeply admire. I hope to possess at least a sliver of their humility, wherever life takes me.
They are my grandparents. This fact makes me the happiest not just because of all the things that they’ve done for my family and I, but also for everyone else through their food.
Meet Packirisamy and Lalithambal, the founders of Gandhi Restaurant at Chander Road.
#portraitsofpurpose


Uncle Shi, aka Uncle in Pajamas, is keeping the butter coffee and other Singapore traditions alive despite the challenging time. 83-year old uncle sat in a class for certification when the shop had to close for few weeks during the circuit breaker implementation. Most of us might choose to complain about inconvenience, lost of business opportunities and demand for government helps - while this uncle chose to be out of his comfort zone in order to continue reminding us of Singapore values when we start picking up the new normal.
Safe entry barcode is there, remember to scan when you get there for a chat with old friend over kopi and kaya toast, or even if you are going to be there for few minutes only to tabao your daily dose of kopi.
For #portraitsofpurpose of @dbsbank.
#ThisIsSG
#singapore #instasg #madaboutsingapore2020c #communityfirst #oursingapore #SGunited #SingaporeTogether #HeapSengLeong


COVID-19 has deeply impacted our lives and livelihoods, especially so for needy families. This ground-up initiative was done to help the most vulnerable in our community.
With the help of MINDS and their social worker, the needy families were carefully picked. These needy families were able to choose what NTUC groceries they wanted and personalise it to fit their needs.
In June 2020, we delivered the groceries to the needy students and their families. Upon delivery, they were most grateful for the much needed groceries.
I hope to win the DBS Portraits of Purpose on Instagram Contest, so that I can do more deliveries to needy families in December. Especially during Christmas time, it would be nice to bring a very special Christmas present to the children from MINDS. It will be so wonderful to see their happy faces when they receive their Christmas present!
☺️🧡
@dbsbank
#portraitsofpurpose
#sgunited


Care to go beyond 💖
Being deployed to the foreign worker dormitory has been the best thing that ever happened in my career.
My purpose of life is to give without expecting anything in return. How about you?
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#PortraitsofPurpose
@dbsbank
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@valerieysabelle #nurse #lifeofanurse
#nursing #healthcare #healthcareworkers
#covid #singapore #caretogobeyond


I was diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy since birth.
It is a genetic disorder which causes the muscles to debilitate over the years, leading to a slew of complications, such as the curving of the spine sideways, difficulty in swallowing and articulation of speech, as well as weakening of the lungs and heart muscles.
My sister Sharon who is my main caregiver for over 2 decades has been through a lot of hardships which no one else could undertake.
She is courageous , mentally she is indestructible.
She is the one who inspires me to be positive and compassion.
To be honest, i wouldn't have been able to thrive & come so far without her unconditional & sacrificial love.
Although my sister and I are 14 years apart, we share a very close bond, so close that many people would mistake her for being my mum.
We are inseparable as we spend most of the time together while our parents are out for work.
Even when i am hospitalised, my sister would stay overnight to accompany me, sleeping on the cold hard floor.
It is really tough on her as a full time caregiver and i believe it has taken a toll on her physically and mentally.
She is an extraordinary caregiver, a caregiver who not only provides quality holistic care but also brings out the fullest potential in me.
Defying against all odds, I had managed to pass my "O" level with flying colours and proceeded to pursue my dream course in Polytechnic.
However, due to ailing health i had to put everything on hold at the moment but that doesn't hinder my passion in giving back to the society.
I spend most of the time at home crocheting baskets for a charity event & helping students who are taking their PSLE this year by providing complimentary math lessons online.
Despite struggling to breathe every moment, i feel that every moment spent is filled with purpose.
This photo was taken back in 2015 during an interview with artiste Joanna Dong @j_o_a_n_n_a_d_o_n_g for a documentary show.
This photo perfectly dictates the meaning of a sentence every radiant smile, there is an untold story.
Sharon is truly an inspiration.
@dbsbank #PortraitsOfPurpose
