Meet Paulette Leong

Paulette Leong lives in Johannesburg and is Senior Meetings & Events Coordinator at an international travel agency. Paulette is also the English Secretary on the TCA committee (The Chinese Association of Gauteng).

"I would like to see more Chinese youth become involved with their sporting or provincial Chinese Associations, as serving on a committee teaches them how to organise events and to be a leader. These experiences helped sculpt my career path to where I am today." ~ Paulette Leong

Read more about why Paulette is proud to be Chinese and proud to be South African.

Name: Paulette Leong

Occupation: Senior Meetings & Events Coordinator at an international travel agency. English Secretary on the TCA committee (The Chinese Association of Gauteng)

1. Where were you born?

Johannesburg

2. What school/college/university did you attend?

Loreto Convent Queenswood, Pretoria
Willow Ridge High School, Pretoria
Birnam Business College - Hotel Management Diploma

3. What is your fondest childhood memory, growing up as a Chinese child?

Visiting with my large family and playing with all my cousins in Germiston. We would always have great gatherings that was arranged with wholesome Chinese food.

4. What is your favourite Chinese food?

Mapo Tofu. I love the chilli’s in the dish together with the pork mince and tofu which goes well when you eat it with steamed rice.

5. Where do you live?

Johannesburg, East

6. What work do you do?

Senior Meetings & Events Coordinator at an international travel agency
English Secretary on the TCA committee (The Chinese Association of Gauteng)

7. What do you love about your job?

Working in the Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Events department at a travel agency is very exciting because I get the odd occasion to travel with the groups and have educational trips to wonderful destinations and hotels. The job is never dull as each booking is unique and you get to coordinate all the aspects from décor, photography, entertainment, gifts, transport, flights and accommodation. I thrive on the excitement and to see that the event is run successfully, and enjoy dealing with clients.

Serving on the Executive Committee of the TCA as English Secretary allows me to use my talents to help coordinate events that bring the Chinese community together, which gives me a sense of achievement. I also enjoy sending out the TCA email newsletters and updating the TCA website and Facebook Group. I feel that communication is vital so that the Chinese community is informed of all the great projects planned and events they can attend to celebrate our culture, plus bring them together to socialise with friends.

TCA Commitee

8. What is your proudest achievement?

Being selected as Torch Bearer at the SACSA Easter Tournament in Durban (2010) and Johannesburg (2016).
Being selected by the P.R.C. Embassy to represent South Africa at the Eminent Young Overseas Chinese conference held in Beijing in 2011.
Having a healthy, bright son – Daniel Fokming. Who just started Grade R this year.

2009 SACSA Easter Tournament 50th Anniversary Cake Cutting

9. Why are you proud to be South African?

South Africa is a beautiful country with great weather and so many different cultures – as we are “the rainbow nation”. Whenever overseas guests come to visit, I love acting as tour guide and taking them to all the wonderful sites, markets, resorts and game lodges. South Africa has a lot to offer to tourists and I’m proud to be living here.

10. Why are you proud to be Chinese?

I’m proud to be Chinese as our culture is full of tradition and history. It gives me a sense of belonging - to a community who share my beliefs and upbringing. Plus Chinese food is delicious.

11. Name one Chinese tradition that you’d like future generations to continue with?

Speak, read and write Chinese.
Hang Cheng and Sew-Ee, which is the tomb sweeping festival that is done twice a year. Our clan still upholds the tradition and goes to all the cemeteries in Johannesburg and Pretoria to place flowers at all the clans graves, then we get together for either lunch or dinner at a Chinese restaurant and burn paper money and incense to pay respect to the ones that have passed on.

12. What advice would you give to the Chinese youth today in South Africa?

Try to play in the SACSA Easter Tournament or attend Chinese events, as this is where you will socialise and make more Chinese friends.

13. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with the Chinese community?

I grew up in Pretoria where there was a small Chinese community and everyone knew one another. There were many events at the Pretoria Chinese School and this is where I was introduced to the annual SACSA Easter Tournament where my sisters and I volunteered as flag bearers at the March Past at a young age. The following year we started playing softball, where I made many lifelong friends. Soon I found myself on the Northern Gauteng Chinese Sports Association (NGCSA) committee as they needed a Softball Director. As I enjoyed serving the Chinese community, I stayed on the NGCSA committee for 13 years from 1989 and filled other positions of Volleyball Director, Newsletter Editor and Minutes Secretary.

2004 – 2010: I was elected as the SACSA Chairman and helped arrange the SACSA Easter Tournament in cities such as Bloemfontein and Durban. Here I became friends with more Chinese from around the country and also from Mauritius, Reunion and Swaziland.

I would like to see more Chinese youth become involved with their sporting or provincial Chinese Associations, as serving on a committee teaches them how to organise events and to be a leader. These experiences help sculpt my career path to where I am today.