LEADERSHIP

Joseph Kuok, Board Member

Joseph Kuok’s alma maters have been St. Columba’s School, New Delhi and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. He completed Master in Business Economics from Delhi University. He served in the Customs and Central Excise Department under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India and attained superannuation as an Indian Revenue Service Officer.

His lifelong passion has been his love for sports. He represents India at various international championships. He won a Bronze medal in Water Polo at the 1982 IXth Asian Games held in New Delhi. He continued to represent India at the World Masters

Swimming championships held in Budapest, Hungary 2017 and Gwangju, Korea 2019 He is the Vice President of the Delhi Swimming Association, Treasurer of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) and Secretary of the Delhi Cerebral Palsy Association.

Joseph has been a volunteer with AFS India since 2005, when his son went on the YES Program to the USA. He is on AFS India Board since 2014. Between February to November 2022, his support for AFS India as National Director for an interim period is commendable.

Based on his experience of volunteering with AFS India since 2005, he summarizes the impact AFS had on him...

'Having studied in two great institutions in my formative years, embedded in me the concept of volunteerism at an early age. For years, I have been volunteering for the sports associations, YMCA Delhi and the church community.

Volunteering with AFS is an altogether different experience. It provided me with a unique opportunity to engage with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Initially, for me, it was more challenging for the simple reason that we were dealing with teenagers from all over the world. The children look up to you as a parent, guardian, mentor and a person whom they can fall back on in any kind of situation. These interactions have evolved my perspective in numerous ways and have a significant impact on me as an individual as well as on my family Firstly, I understood my children better and became openminded to their dreams

Empathy and tolerance, which we find lacking and deteriorating in the current world atmosphere, is another aspect that volunteering has helped me enhance due to a better understanding of different cultures and ways of life. Hence, it promotes a more peaceful and interconnected world.'

'Volunteering developed my skills - communication, problem-solving, collaboration and leadership. It has definitely made a positive difference in both my personal and professional careers.​'