Latest news with #Karthik
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
15 receive social service honours, including founder of Singapore's first inclusive pre-school
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. SINGAPORE - When Awwa chief executive J.R. Karthikeyan first thought about starting Singapore's first inclusive pre-school, he was sceptical about whether it would last, as he thought it would be mistaken for an early intervention care programme. 'I wasn't sure we had the right playbook to set it up right,' he said. But he added: 'Because there are no existing rules to play by, you have more control over setting standards that are aspirational and possibly meaningful.' He went ahead to set up Kindle Garden Preschool in 2016, and nine years on, over 650 children have attended the pre-school, located at the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru. Mr Karthik received the President's Award for Social Service Professionals at the inaugural Social Service Professional Awards on July 2. This is the highest accolade conferred to social service professionals with more than 15 years of experience, who have made significant contributions to the sector. 'The award is incredibly valuable to me, because it affirms my contributions, and it's spurred me to do even better by my staff and the clients we support,' said Mr Karthik. In his 17 years with Awwa, he has also opened a therapy hub, set up a 300-bed adult disability home and started an initiative which engages seniors with dementia to take on volunteer work. The Social Service Professional Awards recognise the contributions of social service professionals in Singapore, including those in the fields of social work, youth work and counselling, among others. Held in conjunction with the Social Service Summit organised by the National Council of Social Service, it recognised 13 individuals and two teams at the ceremony held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has designated 2025 as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to honour their contributions. Singapore currently has more than 20,000 social service professionals. Guest of honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President's Award to three individuals: Mr Karthik; Ms Priscilla Lim, medical social work lead at the Singapore National Eye Centre; and Ms Chan Lay Lin, principal medical social worker at the Institute of Mental Health. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli presented the Excellence, Merit and Team Awards. One of those who received the Excellence Award was Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). She recalled how she was inspired to start the charity's Be-A-Samaritan programme, which equips participants with skills to respond to suicide distress, when she walked past a neighbour who was crying several years back. She realised many people could encounter a suicidal person but not approach them, as they do not know what to do or say, and are afraid to trigger the person. 'Sometimes a person just needs human companionship at that critical point,' she said, adding that neighbours, friends and colleagues could be trained to help those around them who are in distress. The Be-A-Samaritan programme has trained close to 6,000 participants since it was set up in 2022. Ms Charlene Heng, deputy director of SOS Academy at Samaritans of Singapore, was one of those who received the Excellence Award. PHOTO: SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE Ms Heng also developed SOS into a SkillsFuture-recognised Training Provider. The academy has trained over 2,000 social services, mental health and community healthcare professionals. Ms Heng said fund raising for new initiatives was a constant challenge in her 20 years in the social service sector, requiring 'painstaking' advocacy work. During the Covid-19 pandemic, her team started a 24-hour text-based helpline, CareText, after finding that young people preferred texting as a form of communication. There was no funding, and many risks around confidentiality and the worry that clients would screenshot and post their messages online, she said. But the team decided to start it anyway due to the urgent need during the 2020 circuit breaker, as people were confined to their homes and needed someone to text when they felt distressed. The service has since grown to respond to about 20,000 CareText messages every year. Ms Heng said some companies wish to donate to the Samaritans but are afraid to be associated with the suicide prevention cause. She hopes to break the stigma against suicide prevention, and work with more communities to tailor training to different contexts such as workplaces. 'If everyone is equipped with the skill set, I truly believe that is an answer to suicide prevention,' she said.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Karthik Shyamsunder Named to Bank of Clarke/EFSI Board of Directors
BERRYVILLE, Va., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Clarke and its holding company Eagle Financial Services, Inc. (EFSI) are pleased to announce the addition of Winchester resident Karthik Shyamsunder to their Board of Directors. "Karthik brings vast technological experience with him, which will help steer the Bank in the direction it needs to go in as we grow and continue to modernize our platforms," said Brandon Lorey, Bank of Clarke President and CEO. "His expertise in Artificial Intelligence, which by all indicators is the future of technology, will be especially crucial." Born in Singapore, Mr. Shyamsunder lived in various parts of the world before settling in the U.S. and becoming a citizen. Fluent in four languages, he holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science. Currently, he is a Distinguished Engineer/Fellow/VP at a leading internet technology company and serves as an adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University. His specialties include the Internet, Web, Cloud Computing, Security, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence. Mr. Shyamsunder was named the Sun Oracle JavaOne Technology Conference Rock Star Speaker award in 2008 and 2012, and the Faculty of the Year award at Johns Hopkins University in 2000 and 2020. He also holds over 15 patents. In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Shyamsunder is actively involved in the Valley Interfaith Council and is the founder of Namaste Shenandoah, an Indian community organization based in Winchester. His wife, Dr. Archana Shyamsunder, runs a Nephrology practice in Winchester, and they have two children, a son studying Computer Science at Cornell University and a daughter studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He moved to Winchester in 2005, discovering the best-kept secret of the Washington, D.C., area. "We are excited to have Karthik on the Board," said Cary Nelson, Chair of the Bank of Clarke/EFSI Board. "His background in technology and data security will help us navigate the challenges the coming years will certainly bring." About Bank of Clarke Founded on April 1, 1881, Bank of Clarke now operates 14 full-service branches, two loan production offices, a wealth management office, and one drive-through only facility. The main office is located at 2 East Main Street in Berryville, Virginia, with additional branches in greater Clarke County, Frederick County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and the City of Winchester, VA, as well as a loan production office in Frederick, Maryland. Eagle Financial Services, Inc., the Bank's holding company, trades on Nasdaq under EFSI, as of February 2025. Bank of Clarke's mission is to be a trusted partner in the communities it serves, providing financial solutions to help people achieve their financial goals at every life stage. The bank aims to build lifelong relationships with customers, employees, shareholders, and communities, maintaining its status as a high-performing, independent community bank that offers best-in-class technology, products, and services. For more information, visit Member FDIC. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bank of Clarke Sign in to access your portfolio
India.com
25-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Dinesh Karthik Weighs In: How Team India Might Cope If Jasprit Bumrah Misses Edgbaston Test?
After a taxing performance in the first Test at Headingley, the management may be considering rotation options to manage Bumrah's workload over the five-match series. Resting Bumrah? Karthik Thinks It's Likely According to Karthik, the team might opt to rest Bumrah at Edgbaston to preserve him for conditions at Lord's in the third Test. He emphasized that although Bumrah has been central to India's bowling attack, it's crucial to manage his workload smartly, given the short turnaround between matches. 'The more rest Bumrah gets, the better for him. I'd personally like to see him at Lord's. Edgbaston might be a Test where the management takes a calculated risk,' Karthik stated during a pre-match discussion. He further added that team management, including coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill, are likely weighing Bumrah's fitness and match-ups against England's batters before making the call. India's Possible Bowling Strategy Without Bumrah Karthik suggested that if Bumrah is indeed rested, India should consider fielding four frontline pace bowlers, supported by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as the sole spinner. This approach, he believes, could maintain the balance in both bowling and batting departments. 'Jadeja gives you control and batting depth. You can go with four quicks and still have a solid lower order,' Karthik observed. Importance of Bumrah in English Conditions Jasprit Bumrah's role has been critical in overseas Tests, especially in England, where he's delivered match-winning spells with reverse swing and pinpoint accuracy. In the first Test, his 5-wicket haul proved pivotal in keeping India in the game despite England's strong batting performance. Who Could Step Up? While replacing a world-class bowler like Jasprit Bumrah is never easy, India has a few promising options who can step up in the second Test. Whether it's Arshdeep's swing, Akash Deep's consistency, or Nitish Reddy's all-round value, the team management will need to weigh form, conditions, and balance before finalizing the XI for Edgbaston.
India Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Doubt Jasprit Bumrah would want to play at Edgbaston: Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik doubts if Jasprit Bumrah would want to play the second Test at Edgbaston after his performance in the Leeds Test. Ahead of the tour, Bumrah's workload management was a topic of discussion as the bowler himself said he won't play all five matches. During the first Test, Bumrah bowled a total of 43.4 overs and picked up five wickets. advertisementAfter the match, India coach Gautam Gambhir admitted that India's plan with Bumrah won't change, and he will play a total of three Tests during the series. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said that the Indian pacer would want to wait as Edgbaston is also expected to be a flat deck and missing the game would give his body more time to rest and recover. Karthik feels that Bumrah will be eager to play in the third Test at Lord's but admitted that the final decision will lie with the team. 'First of all, we need to see if Bumrah is playing. I doubt Bumrah would want to play at Edgbaston. I would think that he would wait. It is flat and it would give his body more time, he has bowled a lot of overs in this game. The more rest, the better for him. I think he would love playing at Lord's, but it is not about what he wants, but what the team feels he has to do as well," said Karthik. 'No need to play more than one spinner'advertisementIndia were ineffective in controlling the run flow on Day 5, with many feeling that Kuldeep Yadav should be included in the lineup for the second Test. However, Karthik feels that they just need one spinner for the game and felt playing two would weaken the batting lineup. Karthik said that India shouldn't think what England will do. 'Everything about England tells you that you don't need to play more than one spinner. If you are playing two spinners, then that genuinely weakens your batting. They need to be very sure of one thing: they can't think what England will do. What England are doing is very simple, they have picked even if it is an ordinary bowling and are saying you give us whatever you want to chase, we will back ourselves to do it," said Karthik. India and England will face off in the second Test at Edgbaston from July 2. - EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Dinesh Karthik fires big ‘Jasprit Bumrah' caution to Team India after Headingley loss: ‘I doubt he would want to play…'
Veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has cast doubts over Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the second Test against England. India head coach Gautam Gambhir has already made it clear that Bumrah will only be playing three Tests on the ongoing tour to manage the workload, but the management has not made a call on which two he will miss out. The last time Bumrah played all five Tests in a series in Australia, he got injured in the final match and had to miss the crucial Champions Trophy. Jasprit Bumrah picked a fifer in first innings but remained wicketless in second at Headingley.(AP) Meanwhile, with India losing the opening Test in Leeds, Bumrah's role became more crucial as the Indian bowlers failed to put enough pressure on England in the second innings while defending a 371-run target. Bumrah once again led India's bowling effort with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, but went wicketless in the second as England's batters adopted a more cautious and measured approach against him. Karthik, who is commentating on the series, said Bumrah might not want to play the second Test at Edgbaston, where the pacers won't have much assistance from the surface. 'First of all, we need to see if Bumrah is playing. I doubt Bumrah would want to play at Edgbaston. I would think that he would wait. It is flat and it would give his body more time, he has bowled a lot of overs in this game," Karthik said while speaking on Cricbuzz. Also Read | Shubman Gill praised but branded 'helpless captain' with brutal attack on India pace trio: 'He led better than Stokes' Meanwhile, Karthik bluntly said that the management will make the final call, but Bumrah would prefer playing at Lord's rather than Edgbaston. 'The more rest, the better for him. I think he would love playing at Lord's, but it is not about what he wants, but what the team feels he has to do as well," Karthik added. 'India can't think what England will do': Karthik The veteran wicketkeeper is keeping a close eye on this series and suggested that India can't make their plans similar to England, who play with an ultra-attacking batting approach. 'Everything about England tells you that you don't need to play more than one spinner. If you are playing two spinners, then that genuinely weakens your batting. They need to be very sure of one thing: they can't think what England will do," Karthik said. Also Read | 'I'm sorry, Shardul Thakur has to go out': Shubman Gill, Gambhir ordered to use 'common sense' like Ben Stokes The 40-year-old said that England rely heavily on the batters and back themselves to chase big targets in the fourth innings. 'What England are doing is very simple, they have picked even if it is an ordinary bowling and are saying you give us whatever you want to chase, we will back ourselves to do it," Karthik added.
