Singapore International Volunteer, Alvan Yap, is showcasing pictures documentating his year in Timor Leste at the Arts House (6-11 February).

Alvan volunteered as a teacher with the Singapore International Foundation at the Agape School for the Deaf from 2010-2011.

Hearing-impaired himself, he taught International Sign Language and developed a standard curriculum to benefit local educators. Apart from working with schools and teachers, Alvan set up activities and programmes to aid communication between the hearing-impaired and their families and communities.

This one-year volunteering stint also gave Alvan the chance to take pictures of Southeast Asia’s newest country and her people. He continues to be involved with the Agape School for the Deaf. He has also written Dispatches, an eBook about his life in Timor Leste. The Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, mentioned Alvan during the National Day Rally speech in 2010 as an inspiration to the youths to rise up to challenges, discover their own abilities and make a difference.

Venue: The Arts House at the Old Parliament
Date: 6-20 February 2012 (second run)
Time: 11am-9pm daily
Admission is free

* Picture courtesy of Alvan Yap