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s
Spirit
The
ingapore
PEOPLE’S
ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT
10/11
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PA Mission
To Build and to Bridge communities
in achieving One People, One Singapore
PA Motto
Bringing People Together
Vision for the Community
A Great Home and a Caring Community,
where we:
Share our Values
Pursue our Passions
Fulfil our Hopes; and
Treasure our Memories
Contents
singapore
Spirit
The
EOPLE S
SSOCIA ION
NNUAL RE ORT
10/11
Singapore is more than a
physical space. It is where
people, cultures, traditions
and events come together to
form a heart and soul that is
unique and remarkable.
At the People’s Association,
we see our mission as preserving
and enriching this heart and soul.
Join us on our journey to realise
this mission in this report simply
titled: The Singapore Spirit
2–3
Chairman’s Message
Building the Singapore Spirit
4 – 5
Deputy Chairman’s Message
A Great Home and A Caring Community
6 – 7
Chief Executive Director’s Message
The PA’s 50th Anniversary
8 – 9
Board of Management
10 – 11
Organisation Chart
12 – 21
Events at a Glance
22 – 57
Making Friends Promoting Neighbourliness
24 – 27
Celebrating Ties Storing Up Memories
28 – 31
A Community Where Seniors Thrive
32 – 35
Making Newcomers Feel Part of Singapore
36 – 39
The Passion That Touches Hearts and
Uplifts Lives
40 – 42
Bonding Through Sports
43 – 46
Art That Bonds
47 – 49
A Safe Home in a Community that Cares
50 – 53
Assisting the Needy, Bonding the People,
Connecting the Community: 5 CDCs
54 – 57
When the Virtual World and the Real World
Come Together
58 – 67
Connecting Youth & the Community
60 – 67
68 – 77
Building an Active Community
70 – 73
Partners that Help Build a Better Singapore
74 – 77
Building the Singapore Spirit
78 – 83
Strengthening Our Team
80 – 83
84 – 88
Financial Highlights
Harnessing Youthful Energy and Passion
Strengthening and Empowering Our People
This report covers the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
1
Chairman’s Message
Building the
Singapore Spirit
2
PA Annual Report FY2010
“The PA helped build the basis
of the Singapore Spirit.”
The People’s Association (PA)
commemorated its 50th Anniversary
in 2010. For half a century, the
PA has supported Singapore’s
nation building and development.
It worked hard to foster community
bonding, strengthen social cohesion
among different races, religions
and cultures, and draw the people
and the government closer
together. It built social capital,
and nurtured in Singaporeans a
shared responsibility for their fellow
citizens and a shared commitment
to Singapore. In short, the PA
helped build the basis of the
Singapore Spirit.
Our social cohesion has enabled
us to face difficulties as one united
people. Through successive crises,
Singaporeans stayed united, worked
hand-in-hand with the government
to overcome challenges, and hence,
emerged strengthened.
We must never take our social
cohesion for granted, but must
continue to broaden and deepen it.
With this in mind, the PA, together
with many stakeholders, co-created
the Vision of Singapore as a Great
Home and a Caring Community,
where residents feel a sense of
belonging, and care and look
out for one another.
Over the next five years, the PA
and its grassroots network will
continue to widen its outreach to
residents and deepen resident
engagement. Through the
Community 2015 Masterplan,
the PA aims to build greater trust
amongst residents and neighbours
by creating opportunities for them
to interact regularly and become
friends, strengthen reciprocity
by fostering neighbourliness and
encouraging residents to help one
another, extend the social network
by helping residents to know their
neighbours, and build confidence
in Government by supporting
public institutions to connect better
with residents.
Together, let us make Singapore our
Great Home and Caring Community,
where the Singapore Spirit is alive
and strong.
Lee Hsien Loong
Chairman,
People’s Association
3
Deputy Chairman’s Message
A Great Home and
A Caring Community
4
“Today, about one in three residents take part in the
PA and grassroots programmes and activities. We aim
to further widen our outreach, and to better engage
residents from different segments of the community.”
2010 has been a significant year
for the PA.
The PA, together with all its key
stakeholders, co-created our Vision
for the Community – that of a Great
Home and a Caring Community.
All constituencies came on board
and developed their respective
five-year Community 2015 workplans
in support of the Vision. We adopted
the concept of social capital to
explain the work of the PA and its
grassroots organisations (GROs).
In November 2010, we launched
the Community 2015 Masterplan
and Workplan. The Masterplan sets
out the strategies and approaches
that the PA and its GROs would
adopt over the next five years to
build greater social capital in the
community. Guided by three
strategic thrusts –
(i) Making Friends, Promoting
Neighbourliness;
(ii) Connecting Youth and the
Community; and
(iii)Building An Active Community,
the PA and its GROs will provide
varied platforms for residents
from different backgrounds
to meet and form friendships
through interest groups,
courses and activities.
Today, about one in three residents
take part in the PA and grassroots
programmes and activities. We aim
to further widen our outreach,
and to better engage residents
from different segments of the
community. We hope to reach out
to more youths, through initiatives
such as the local Youth Chapters,
to help and encourage more youths
to get involved in the community, to
do things for other youths and for the
wider community. We will continue
to encourage and facilitate groundup initiatives initiated by residents
for their community, and work with
more partners to build greater social
capital in the community.
There is a renewed sense of purpose
amongst grassroots leaders
(GRLs) today. They know that as
Community Facilitators, they need
to engage residents and facilitate
interactions and engagements
amongst residents in building social
capital. There is also a new buzz
and sense of excitement amongst
the PA staff, as they strive towards
becoming professionals in
Community Leadership and
Organisation, supporting the
grassroots movement to build
a strong, resilient and cohesive
community that we call Home.
Lim Boon Heng
Deputy Chairman,
Mr Lim Boon Heng was Deputy Chairman of the PA from 1 January 2007
to 26 May 2011.
5
Chief Executive Director’s Message
The PA’s
th
50 Anniversary
6
“Putting the community at the centre of all
that we do, we aim to better support and
fan the passion of GRLs, community partners,
staff and residents towards Community 2015.”
2010 marked a significant milestone
for the PA. We celebrated our
50th anniversary, and launched
the Community 2015 Masterplan,
which sets out our strategies
towards our vision of a Great
Home and a Caring Community.
We reorganised ourselves last
September in support of the
vision. Putting the community
at the centre of all that we do,
we aim to better support and fan
the passion of GRLs, community
partners, staff and residents
towards Community 2015.
We piloted the Residents’ Committee
(RC)/Neighbourhood Committee
(NC) Manager Scheme to better
support our RCs and NCs to reach
out to residents in all estates.
An NC Coordinating Unit was
set up to support outreach
efforts to private estate residents,
complementing the existing
RC Coordinating Unit.
The Constituency Sports Clubs,
which celebrated their 35th
Anniversary in February 2011,
were renamed Community Sports
Clubs (CSC) to better reflect their
role in bringing residents together
through community sports. The
CSCs plan to reach out to 1 in 5
residents by 2015, through their
three-pronged approach of
Building Capabilities and Enhancing
Engagement, Expanding Offerings
through Creative Programming,
and Strengthening Partnerships
with Stakeholders.
The PA Youth Movement (PAYM)
celebrates 40 years of engaging
youths in 2011. PAYM continues
to reach out to youths through
various programmes that meet
the changing aspirations and
different needs and interests of
youths. Today, there are 312,000
members, who can take part in
programmes ranging from policy
forums, eco carnivals and sports
fiesta, or join interest groups
ranging from cheerleading, yoyo
to community service. A recent
addition to the PA youth network
are the RC/NC Youth Chapters.
There are 77 Youth Chapters today
and we hope to expand this to
reach out to more youths in the
local community.
The Wellness Programme, which
was piloted in 12 constituencies
in 2008, is now rolled out to 42
constituencies and has benefited
many seniors. Through physical
activity, social engagement and
health screening, the Programme
aims to help our seniors live a high
quality of life for as long as possible.
A key success of the Wellness
Programme is its emphasis on
inter-generational bonding at its
activities, which provide a good
platform to pass down good family
values to the younger generation.
We will continue to explore more
partnerships with like-minded
community and corporate partners,
as we work towards Community
2015. We are happy to have
entered into partnerships with
organisations such as the Institute
of Certified Public Accountants of
Singapore (ICPAS), NTUC Fairprice
Co-operative Limited and Dairy
Farm Singapore Group on
corporate social responsibility
programmes in 2010.
We also aim to increase our pool
of GRLs, from the current 31,000
to 41,000 by 2015, to help us
widen outreach and deepen
resident engagement. To enhance
the leadership capabilities of our
GRLs and volunteers, the National
Community Leadership Institute
(NACLI) introduced a new leadership
development framework centred
around the three pillars of inspire,
align and develop.
Various initiatives were introduced
in 2010 to enhance the recruitment,
development and recognition of
our staff. To encourage staff to
embrace lifelong learning and
upgrade their skills and knowledge,
the PA introduced the Staff
Continuing Education Sponsorship
Programme where the PA co-pays
part of an officer’s continuing
education. The Wellness Leave was
introduced which allows staff time
off for important family occasions
such marriage, children’s first day
in school and graduations. This
is to help staff better meet the
demands of family and work.
Over the next few years, all of
us in the PA look forward to
working closely with residents
and partners to build a strong
and resilient Singapore, a Great
Home and a Caring Community
for all Singaporeans.
Yam Ah Mee
Chief Executive Director,
7
Board of Management
(as at 31 March 2011)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1–3
4–6
7–8
Lee Hsien Loong
Chairman
Prime Minister
Mah Bow Tan
Member
Minister for National Development
Lim Boon Heng
Deputy Chairman
Minister, Prime Minister’s Office
Lim Swee Say
Member
Minister, Prime Minister’s Office
Secretary-General,
National Trades Union Congress
and Adviser to Holland-Bukit Timah
Grassroots Organisations
Zainudin Bin Nordin
Member
Mayor, Central Singapore District
and Adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh
Yam Ah Mee
Chief Executive Director
Hri Kumar Nair
Member
Adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh
Grace Fu Hai Yien (Ms)
Member
Senior Minister of State
for National Development
and Education
and Adviser to Jurong GRC
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
9 – 11
12 – 14
Wong Yew Meng, PBM
Member
Former Chairman,
Health Promotion Board
Retired Audit Partner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
Singapore
Timothy James
De Souza, PPA, PBM
Member
Trustee, Eurasian Association
Edwin Lye Teck Hee
Member
Member, NTUC Central Committee
General Secretary,
Singapore Teachers’ Union
Tan Cheng Kiong
Member
Chief Commissioner,
The Singapore Scout Association
Abdullah Shafiie
Bin Mohamed Sidik, BBM
Member
President, Singapore Silat Federation
David Tay Poey Cher,
JP, BBM
Member
President, The Photographic
Society of Singapore
9
Organisation Chart
(as at 31 March 2011)
Chairman
Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Chairman
Lim Boon Heng
Chief Executive Director
Yam Ah Mee
National Youth Council
D: Koh Peng Keng
Deputy Chief Executive
Chan Boon Fui
Policy & Corporate
Development Cluster / QSM
Corporate Services Cluster
People Cluster
GD: Chan Boon Fui
GD: Tan Kia Jin
GD: Tan Kim Kee
Strategic Planning
D: Lim Kar Yee (Ms)
Finance
D: David Phua
Human Resources
D: Goh Siew Yem (Ms)
Corporate & Marketing
Communications
D: Ooi Hui Mei (Ms)
Business Development
D: Chong Pei Lan (Ms)
Volunteer Management
D: Jessie Tan (Ms)
Quality Management
D: Patrick Han
Building & Estates
Management
D: Foo Soon Leng (Ms)
NACLI
Dean: Jeremy Tay
Research
D: Goh Hock Soon
Infocomm Technology
D: Lam Wai Mun (Ms)
Outward Bound Singapore
D: Nicholas Conceicao
Information & Knowledge
Management Systems
D: Dr Oh Kheng Hoe
Administration
& Procurement
D: David Chua
Legal Service Office
–
10
Legend:
GD – Group Director
D – Director
CDD – Community Development Division
CDC – Community Development Council
Internal Audit
D: Ng Soo Koon (Ms)
Partnership Cluster
Engagement Programmes
Cluster
Grassroots Cluster
GD: Nah Juay Hng
GD: Chia Tze Yee
GD: Han Tan Juan
CDC Planning
& Development
D: Dennis Seah
Integration/Co-ordinator
(Inter-Ethnic Engagement)
D: Tan Choon Hooi
Central Singapore CDD/
Co-ordinator
(Residents’ Committees)
D: Roger Low
Membership
& Partnership
D: Goh Hock Soon
Family Life & Active Ageing/
Co-ordinator (Women’s
Programmes)
D: Joan Pereira (Ms)
North East CDD
D: Tan Mui Hwoon (Ms)
Singapore Chingay and
Events Network (SCENE)
D: Pow Choon Ghee
Youth/Co-ordinator
(Eco-Community)
D: Clarin Wee (Ms)
South East CDD
D: Eng Kee Chye
Lifeskills & Lifestyle/
Co-ordinator
(Community Arts)
D: Toh Lay Hoon (Ms)
PMET
D: Jacinta Lim (Ms)
North West CDD
D: Ng We Khoon
Interest Group Development
D: Philip Tan
Community Sports
D: Ang Lay Kwang (Ms)
South West CDD/Co-ordinator
(Neighbourhood Committees)
D: Jeanie Tan (Ms)
5 CDCs
Emergency Preparedness
D: Bobby Yap
105 Community Clubs
8 T-Net Clubs
8 Water-Venture Outlets
11
Events at a Glance
April 2010
PA 50th
Anniversary
Roving
Roadshows
In conjunction with the PA’s
50th anniversary celebrations,
14 roving roadshows were
organised from April to November
2010 to increase awareness of the
role of Grassroots Organisations
(GROs) in promoting racial
harmony and social cohesion.
May 2010
PA STARS Trainers Awards Ceremony
The inaugural PA STARS Trainers Awards
Ceremony was held on 21 May 2010 to
12
recognise six outstanding trainers for their
contributions and to motivate other trainers.
June 2010
Soundwaves
Summer’s Night
The PA organised the “Soundwaves Summer’s
Night” concert by the PA Talents on 17 June 2010
to promote cross-cultural appreciation through
the universal language of music and dance.
World Cup 2010
Screening at
the Heartlands
Sixteen Community Clubs (CCs) screened 754
matches “live” during the month long season of
the FIFA World CupTM 2010 from June to July.
This brought like-minded people who shared a
love for football together to interact and make friends.
Launch of
PAssion Draw
A PAssion Draw was launched on 13 June 2010
for PAssion Card members who participated in
grassroots activities. There were four quarterly
draws held from July 2010, with more than
$140,000 worth of prizes given out.
Gentarasa 2010
Eight students received the inaugural Gentarasa
Study Grant at the Gentarasa 2010 – MARAMARA (MOVING FORWARD) event on 19 June
2010. The study grant was awarded to recognise
the academic excellence and involvement of
Gentarasa 2010 performers.
13
Events at a Glance
July 2010
Grassroots
Convention
The PA 50th Anniversary Commemorative
Book We Are One was launched by the
PA Chairman, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
at the Grassroots Convention on 3 July 2010.
The book captured the PA’s transformation
since it was set up in 1960. At the event,
PM also received the Community 2015
Workplan, which comprised the workplans
of all constituencies. This was symbolic
of the PA’s and the Grassroots Leaders’
(GRLs) commitment to the Vision for
the Community.
One Community Walk
More than 84,000 residents from 75 locations
took part in the One Community Walk, the first
nationwide mass walking event held on 25 July
2010. The walk was the finale of the four-month
long Community Sports Festival launched on
4 April 2010 and was organised to promote
community bonding by bringing residents
together to commemorate the PA’s
50th anniversary.
14
August 2010
NDP Heartland
Celebrations
National Day Heartland Celebrations were held at
five locations across Singapore on 9 August 2010
for residents to join in the activities and soak in
the National Day atmosphere.
Journey of
the Youth
Olympic Flame
Two PA staff, Mr Mohd Salleh and Ms Lois Ser
represented the PA as Singapore 2010 Youth
Olympic Games (SYOG) torch bearers on
13 August 2010 and carried the Youth Olympic
Flame through the Central Singapore District.
Then Deputy Chairman of the PA, Mr Lim Boon
Heng and more than 700 staff cheered Salleh
and Lois as they ran through the PA grounds.
Fried Rice Paradise
Fried Rice Paradise – The Musical made its
debut with a brand new story, catchy songs
and a star-studded cast from 20 August 2010.
Specially commissioned to commemorate the
PA’s 50th anniversary, this mega production
was staged to reach out to and engage the
different communities in Singapore through
the storyline of Singapore’s history and music.
15
Events at a Glance
September 2010
PA Awards
Ceremony
1,057 GROs were lauded
for their role in nurturing the
Singapore Spirit and for their
efforts in building community
cohesion through their
grassroots events on
3 September 2010.
October 2010
Climb On!
Singapore 2010
872 participants, including children under
12 and 18 years of age participated in
Singapore’s largest climbing event held
on 23 October 2010. The event, organised
by the PA Water-Venture aimed to bridge
and bond niche climbers and adventure
enthusiasts in Singapore through the sport.
16
November 2010
Launch of
PA’s Community
2015 Masterplan
The PA’s Community 2015 Masterplan and
Workplan were launched at the Grassroots
Seminar held on 21 November 2010. With the
Masterplan, the PA aims to increase reach
from the current ‘one in every three’ to
‘one in every two’ residents.
Launch of
OurCommunity.sg
The PA’s first-ever mobile portal OurCommunity.sg
was launched at the Grassroots Seminar and
simultaneously introduced to public at 10 Mass
Rapid Transit (MRT) stations around Singapore
on 21 November 2011.
Narpani-Vasantham
Family Day cum
MOU Signing
PA Narpani Pearavai and MediaCorp
Vasantham signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) during the
Narpani-Vasantham Family Day held
on 21 November 2010 to foster stronger
partnership between the two organisations
in their quest to serve the community better.
17
Events at a Glance
November 2010
December 2010
Countdown
Parties
More than 50 countdown parties
were organised in the community by
the PA GROs on 31 December 2010.
The Serangoon Swing 2011 by Serangoon
Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC),
We Are the World Countdown @ Boon Lay
by Boon Lay CCC and Welcome 2011 –
Party by the Park by Radin Mas CCC
were three highly successful countdown
parties with more than 10,000 residents
participating in each event.
NutCracker
in Singapore
The PA Talents presented The Nutcracker
in Singapore, the first Singaporean
rendition of the classical ballet production,
on 26 November 2010. The unique dance
drama was a mix of performing and
visual arts.
18
January 2011
MOU Signing
with Senior
Counsel Forum
The PA signed a MOU with the Senior
Counsel Forum (SCF) on 8 January 2011
for SCF to share their knowledge on the
Singapore Legal System and its laws with
GRLs. This would in turn equip GRLs with
the knowledge to guide and assist residents
with relevant issues that they may face.
Unveiling of Plans for
Tampines Town Hub
The plans for Tampines Town Hub, a one-stop
integrated lifestyle hub for Tampines residents
were unveiled by then Minister for National
Development Mr Mah Bow Tan on 21 January
2011. The Town Hub will feature a range of
facilities including a mega CC, and will house
major services such as the Tampines Regional
Library, the HDB branch office, Town Council
and North East Community Development
Council (CDC).
19
Events at a Glance
February 2011
Chingay – Finale and PA’s Got
Talents! Celebrates Chingay
In conjunction with the Chingay Parade,
the PA organised a first-ever, big scale
PA’s Got Talents! Celebrates Chingay
from 11 to 12 February 2011. Chingay 2011,
which attracted more than 150,000 spectators,
brought residents of all ages and races
together to enjoy the vibrancy of community
arts, further anchoring Chingay as a
people’s parade.
CSC 35th Anniversary and
Renaming of CSC
The Constituency Sports Clubs were renamed
as Community Sports Clubs (CSCs) at the
launch of CSCs’ 35th Anniversary Celebrations
on 16 February 2011. The renaming was an
20
affirmation of CSCs’ commitment to take
a community-centric approach to widen
outreach and deepen engagement with
residents through sports.
March 2011
International Women’s
Day Celebrations
Appointment
of C2E Council
EXCO and CERT
Zone Leaders
The PA launched the Women’s Eco Champions
at the International Women’s Day Carnival held
on 6 March 2011. The Women Eco Champions
is a national volunteer movement piloted in
the South West District to raise awareness of
environmental issues. The International Women’s
Day Carnival, organised by the Women’s Integration
Network (WIN) Council, was held to celebrate
the achievements of women and to recognise
the contributions of Women’s Executive
Committees in the community.
The Appointment Ceremony of the Community
Emergency and Engagement (C2E) Council
EXCO and Community Emergency Response
Teams (CERT) Zone Leaders was held on
5 March 2011. The appointed C2E Council
EXCO will guide the constituency-based
C2Es to better prepare and lead residents
in peacetime preparations for emergency
response and recovery.
Launch of
PAssion Card
iPhone Application
The PAssion Card iPhone application was
launched on 10 March 2011 for members to
receive the latest updates on PAssion Card
promotions and happenings while on the go,
in the convenience of their palm.
21
22
Making
Promoting
Friends
Neighbourliness
23
All Estates as One
Inter-generational Bonding
Celebrating Ties
Storing Up Memories
A grandson’s cherished memories inspired one of the PA’s most popular family
programmes, Grandma’s Recipes. While studying in London, Daisy Koh Swee Hong’s
son kept calling her long distance to ask for his late grandfather’s recipes. Each time,
he would reminisce about fond memories of his grandfather cooking for him.
A three-generational affair – The Grandma’s Recipes Interest Group participants range from young students to their grandparents.
24
1
The Task
of Bringing
Generations
Together
• Family Life Champions
(FLCs) are PA volunteers
who play a pivotal role in
organising a wide array
of activities and interest
groups to bridge the
different generations
and foster closer
inter-generational ties.
1
Children and parents try their hand at mooncake making during one of the Grandma’s
Recipes Interest Group sessions.
Expressed the Chairman of the
Yio Chu Kang Community Club (CC)
Women’s Executive Committee
(WEC), “After some time, I thought,
wouldn’t it be great if grandparents
can teach their grandchildren their
favourite dishes to strengthen that
special bond they have and leave
behind lasting memories.”
To get grandmothers and
grandchildren to come together
and share their favourite recipes
with others in the community,
the 56-year-old company director
launched the Grandma’s Recipes
Interest Group at the Yio Chu Kang
CC in 2009.
The programme was a runaway
success from the very start.
A Winning Recipe
At the first cooking class in
July 2009, two grandmothers
showcased their favourite recipes
– konnyaku jelly from a Chinese
grandmother and roti jala from
a Malay grandmother – to an
audience of 10 grandparents and
their grandchildren. “They all
ate together and they enjoyed
it hugely,” recounted Daisy.
Since then, participation at the
cooking sessions has doubled.
“I was surprised because some
events for seniors do not enjoy
the best attendance. I think
this project succeeded because
it tapped on the desire of
seniors to share their beloved
recipes with others. And all
grandparents love to cook for
their grandchildren.”
Now, at each bi-monthly session,
grandparents come not just
with their grandchildren but with
their children too, making it a
three-generational experience.
The Grandma’s Recipes Interest
Group also presents its members’
dishes to a wider audience,
setting up booths showcasing
grandmothers making kuehs
during carnivals.
Daisy said programmes like this
unite generations, keep family
traditions alive and ensure that
future generations will not miss
out on their family heritage.
“When I see the smiles of the
grandparents and the joy of the
• These programmes
reinforce the values
of respect and love for
our elders and highlight
the joys of having an
extended family.
grandchildren, I know I am doing
something meaningful. They always
ask, “When is the next session?”
because we are bringing them
something that both grandparents
and grandchildren enjoy
and treasure.”
The Family That Does Things
Together, Stays Together
Daisy is passionate about the
need to strengthen ties between
grandparents and grandchildren.
Enjoying a shared activity makes
life richer for both grandparents
and grandchildren, she believes.
“They learn a lot from each
other and are both emotionally
enriched from the bond they
share. My son learned about
history from his grandparents
through stories about events
like the Japanese occupation.
He got to know about his
ancestors and so has a sense
of roots and belonging.”
For all her efforts to foster closer
ties across generation, Daisy was
named winner of the Outstanding
Family Life Champion Award in
2010. [See side story on FLC]
25
“With today’s
hectic lifestyle, it is
important to have
fun activities that all
family members can
participate in and
enjoy together.”
Tay Poey Kiang, winner of Outstanding
FLC Award in 2010.
Tay Poey Kiang is another winner of
the same award. He won the gold
award for Best Men’s Programme
Event, Best Grandparents Event
and Most Outstanding Interest
Group in 2010.
The Men Cooking Interest Group,
which bagged him the gold for
Best Men’s Programme Event, was
“challenging” to get off the ground.
The monthly activity featured
cooking demonstrations to teach
men how to cook simple dishes
for their families. It took some time
to coax men to attend but now,
the group is going strong. “It turned
out that the men were very keen
to learn and very happy to cook
for their family members,” said
Poey Kiang, a Braddell Heights FLC.
The 60-year-old principal technical
officer has created a whole slew of
events for the entire family, including
Cook for Love; My Dad, The Chef;
and Family Eat Together Day, which
involved family members cooking
and serving food to their loved ones
with the help of a chef.
Declared Poey Kiang, “With today’s
hectic lifestyle, it is important to
have fun activities that all family
members can participate in and
enjoy together.”
Among the appreciative members
is Yeo Hock Kwee. The 50-year-old
software engineer said, “It is
fascinating that the interest group
can provide its members the
opportunity to learn about cooking,
make new friends who are also
fathers and be able to cook for
our families. Now cooking is part
of the weekend activities for our
family. We have fun together,
sharing the recipes in the kitchen.
My wife and children love to taste
the many dishes I am now able to
do. So now, cooking and eating
together has become a special
family bonding time for us.”
1
2
1
Participants of Cook for Love ready to
present their dishes to their loved ones.
2
Simon, a participant of My Dad, The Chef,
with his family after the event.
26
3
4
3
Finale of the Happi Family Game Musical staged to commemorate the 5th anniversary
of the FLC Award.
4
Three-generational families have fun posing for the Most Photogenic Family category
of Baby Singapore 2011.
How the PA Worked With FLCs and Partners to Strengthen Families
Promoting Inter-generational
Bonding
• The PA formed 15
grandparent’s interest
groups centred around
activities that foster
inter-generational bonding.
• FLCs organised
an annual Baby Singapore
competition to celebrate
family life and parenthood.
In 2010, the nationwide
baby contest attracted
the participation of 2,000
families. In 2011, two new
categories – Most Photogenic
Family and Happiest Parent
& Baby – were introduced
to promote intergenerational bonding.
• FLCs collaborated with
students from Nanyang
Polytechnic to stage
the Happi Family Game
Musical on 10 July 2010.
The production with its
heartwarming messages
of family and friendship
commemorated the
5th anniversary of the
FLC Award.
• KaraOK! K-Battle kicked
off in October 2010. This
inter-generational karaoke
singing contest jointly
organised by the PA Active
Ageing Council and StarHub
attracted about 300 contestants
of all ages from various
constituencies. Over 1,000
supporters of contestants
and members of the public
attended the auditions,
semi-finals and finals.
Celebrating Marriage
• To celebrate marriage,
FLCs have been appointed as
Licensed Solemnisers since
2006. To date, there are 58
FLC Licensed Solemnisers and
they accounted for a third of
the total number of grassroots
solemnisations in 2010 with
2,400 solemnisations.
• To build friendships with
newlyweds and integrate
them into the community, FLC
Licensed Solemnisers organised
events such as Blue Valentine by
Kampong Ubi-Kembangan FLC
and Love on Wheels by the FLCs
of Geylang Serai, MacPherson
and Joo Chiat in 2010.
• 1,138 couples participated
in Faithfully Yours, a mass
renewal of vows organised
by FLCs in the Holland-Bukit
Timah GRC on 7 August 2010.
The event entered the Singapore
Book of Records for the
most number of married
couples renewing their
vows simultaneously.
• In September 2010, the
PA collaborated with the
International Bride of the
World Committee to host
Bride of the World 2010,
an international pageant
for brides-to-be. The event
promoted marriage and
motherhood by spreading
the message of the
importance of a good family
life to a wide audience.
• 118 couples participated in
“I Do” Weddings @ Sentosa,
a mass solemnisation event
conducted by FLC Licensed
Solemnisers that took place
on 10 October 2010. This
flagship event was jointly
organised with the Singapore
Press Holdings.
Helping Young Parents
• The PA formed interest
groups such as the Kampong
Chai Chee Interactive
Parenting Club and the
BreastPal@Yew Tee for young
parents. These interest groups
provided young parents with a
platform to share information,
exchange parenting tips and
offer mutual support.
27
All Estates as One
Active Ageing
A Community
Where Seniors Thrive
Seniors in Singapore, according to Dr Tan Yong Seng, fall into three categories.
They are: the diamonds, the rocks and the gems. The diamonds are the enthusiastic
supporters, explained the Chairman of the PA Active Ageing Council. This group of
seniors turn up for almost all the PA’s programmes.
Ageing with grace – Seniors participated and showed their steady moves at the PA Dancethon 2010.
28
1
1
Members of the Heartplus Singing Class
perform after the One Community
Walk @ Whampoa.
“It is important to understand that active
ageing is a phase that is full of potential in
every way – mental, social and physical.”
Dr Tan Yong Seng, 52, heart surgeon and Chairman of the PA Active Ageing Council and
Wellness Programme for Whampoa.
The rocks are the seniors who are
more resistant to participating
in grassroots activities despite
attractive offerings.
But the biggest group of the
three is the gems – the in-between
seniors who are not currently active
in community programmes but
who can be persuaded to join.
“Our biggest challenge,” confessed
Dr Tan, “is getting through to them.”
Putting the Zing into the
Silver Age
The PA has made getting through to
this group a top priority. For the PA
wants to encourage all seniors to be
physically and mentally active and
stay connected with the community.
Fact is, Singapore has one of the
fastest ageing populations in the
world. By 2030, one in five residents
in Singapore will be aged 65 and
above. And with advances in
medicine and better health care,
Singaporeans are living longer,
which makes ensuring good
quality of life in the silver age even
more important.
To reach out to seniors more
effectively, the PA piloted the PA
Wellness Programme in 2008. Run
by volunteers but anchored by teams
of professionals, this programme
encourages seniors to be physically
and mentally active through
a structured course of health
screenings and group exercises.
The well-being of each senior in
the programme is regularly tracked
and followed up by the team.
Evaluation at the close of the
pilot revealed that the programme
enhanced the social life of the
participants. After the pilot
programme ended, 57 percent
of the participants enrolled in
grassroots activities, compared
to only 13 percent before. And
34 percent took part in 10 or more
such activities, compared to only
eight percent before. It was evident
from the findings that the PA Wellness
Programme was working, that the
programme helped to engage and
connect seniors with one another
and the community at large.
With that success, the programme
was rolled out nationwide in 2010.
To date, the programme has been
implemented in 42 constituencies
and has benefited close to 200,000
residents. And by end 2012,
it will be implemented in all 87
constituencies around the island.
Striking the Gem Lobe
Dr Tan is an ardent supporter of
the PA Wellness Programme.
Since the heart surgeon, who is
also Chairman of the PA Wellness
Programme for Whampoa, rolled
out the PA Wellness Programme in
Whampoa, he has observed that the
diabetes rate among seniors in the
area has gone down and their need
for medication has decreased. They
have begun to eat more healthily.
More importantly, the seniors in
Whampoa now have a sparkle in
their eyes and a spring in their step.
29
1
Seniors actively participated in the Active
Agers’ Games 2010 which included
petanque, a game of boules that
originated from France.
2
Dr Tan speaks to participants of the
Heartplus Singing Class.
1
2
“The elderly
can feel the love
in the Whampoa
community. You
can see each week
that the elderly here
are getting to know
each other and
care for each other.”
Dr Tan Yong Seng.
It all started when Dr Tan launched
the Heartplus Singing Class in
2010, which gathered the seniors in
Whampoa to learn to sing together.
The class proved popular and soon
grew to 60 strong.
Then, said Dr Tan, “We realised
that seniors like to dance as
well as brisk walk.”
That led to the formation of
a weekly social dance group,
and a slate of fortnightly walks
in parks where the group took
part in singing sessions after a
good walk.
“Then we realised that seniors
love to learn.” And so began a
lifelong learning series featuring
topics such as tea culture and
30
the 50 most influential people in
history. This programme attracted
the males among the Whampoa’s
elderly residents, unlike previous
programmes which drew mainly
female seniors. As a result,
more seniors in Whampoa
began signing up as couples
for seniors’ activities.
Today, said Dr Tan, “The seniors
can feel the love in the Whampoa
community. Some tell me that
they have to take multiple buses
and get up at 6am to join
us on the weekends. And that
they are more than willing to do
that. That is very heartwarming.
You can see each week that
the seniors here are getting to
know each other and care for
each other.”
Agnes Mok Fong Ying is among
those who have experienced
this love in Whampoa.
A former worker in the service
industry, Agnes never had the time
to join in any grassroots activity.
Then in March 2009, she enrolled
in the health screening component
of the PA Wellness Programme.
This led her to discover the Heartplus
Singing Class. She enrolled in
the class and never looked back.
Today, life for the 56-year-old retiree
is filled with stir and excitement.
Every Sunday, Agnes and her
husband can be found at the
CC the entire day, she revealed
with a laugh.
On Sunday, her day starts at
9am with singing at the Heartplus
Singing Class. Then it is off
to dancing in the social dance
class till past noon. This could
be followed by a movie, a traditional
Chinese medicine talk or drumming
in the drum circle. And once every
fortnight, the couple would be
out in a park, doing a half-day
brisk walk with the members
of the Heartplus Singing Class,
ending with a session of songs
and games outdoors. And if the
couple still have energy to spare,
they enjoy live band performances
in the evening.
“My days are fuller and I am
happier. I feel uplifted by the
fact that I am doing something
that I love – singing. And I have
made more than 40 friends
from all these activities.
Every Sunday is a gathering
of friends, filled as it is with
laughter and fun.”
The PA Wellness Programme
is changing community life
in Whampoa, she affirmed.
“Because these programmes
are attractive, more and more
people are coming forth to join.
Every Thursday, for example,
we have more than 30 people
joining in the taichi class, come
rain or shine. There is definitely
a buzz in Whampoa now.”
It is clear that it will take time
to change mindsets about what
ageing means, and some effort
to persuade seniors to be active
participants in society. But it is
also clear that the right steps have
been made towards ensuring richer,
fuller lives for seniors in Singapore.
How the PA Turned the Senior Years
into Golden Years
• Mr and Ms Singapore Senior
2010 was staged for the first
time on 28 August 2010 at the
Resorts World Convention
Centre. Jointly organised by
the PA Active Ageing Council
and Resorts World Singapore,
the event celebrated seniors
who embraced an active and
healthy lifestyle. The event
drew 172 contestants from
60 constituencies.
• 10,000 seniors and their family
members participated in the
10-hour long Dancethon 2010
held on 5 December 2010 at
the Suntec City. The event
also featured a Learn-ADance segment where all
participants tried out the new
‘Wellness Dance’.
• 2,000 seniors took part in
Active Agers’ Games 2010.
The event which featured six
sports – petanque, bowling,
gateball, badminton, pickle
ball and table tennis – aimed
to promote active and healthy
ageing and helped seniors to
widen their social network.
• 500 seniors took part in
Active Mind Game Festival
2010, battling it out in
the intellectual games of
Mahjong, Contract Bridge,
Sudoku and Chinese Chess.
• Niche Interest Groups were
formed with specialised
activities to reach out to
seniors who were selective
in their choice of pursuits.
These include Ukulele in
Bishan East, Ballet in Kebun
Baru and Dance Fit (a more
danceable form of Qigong)
in Ulu Pandan.
31
All Estates as One
Integration
Making Newcomers
Feel Part of Singapore
In Singapore, ordinary citizens are coming together to make newcomers feel a
sense of belonging and community. Since 2007, Grassroots Leaders (GRLs) known
as Integration and Naturalisation Champions (INCs) have been helping new citizens
and Permanent Residents (PRs) settle in. They welcome new immigrants by visiting
them at their homes, distributing welcome kits and organising events where they
meet their neighbours and make new friends.
Truly part of Singapore – Students of different races and nationalities enjoyed the Holi Hungama celebrations organised by Woodlands CC.
32
1
1
The Canberra Family Day which was
attended by 5,000 residents, showcased
the national costumes and food from
various countries such as China, India,
Myanmar and Thailand.
“Being involved in Canberra INC
and helping to organise meaningful
activities and programmes for new
immigrants has allowed me to have
a deeper understanding of Singapore’s
culture and make many new friends.”
Zhang Min, 48, a water treatment supervisor who hailed from China. She is currently a Canberra
INC member, the Assistant Secretary of Canberra Zone 1 RC and Associate of Jelutung CC WEC.
One such champion is Singaporean
Alvin Kwok Charn Fei, who works
tirelessly to offer new immigrants
many opportunities to get to
know their community, and
for their neighbours to get to
know them.
In April, the 36-year-old Canberra
INC Leader invited 5,000 people
– most of them residents of
Canberra estate – to mingle at a
carnival called the Canberra Family
Day. The event had 40 new citizens
from China, India, Myanmar and
Thailand manning four booths
showcasing the national costumes
and food of their native country.
During the carnival, the residents
had a delightful time dressing
in the national costumes and
snapping pictures of each other
in the outfits. Because it was also
the water festival month for the
Thais, the Thai participants sprinkled
water and applied powder on the
faces of the partygoers, including
Singaporeans, who enjoyed
the novelty of the ritual.
The property executive also
organises tours and events
that would help new immigrants
gain a better understanding of
Singapore and Singaporeans,
including visits to Chinatown,
Pulau Semakau, Asia Pacific
Breweries and Kranji Memorial.
Commented Alvin, “We aim to
reach out to half of all new citizens
and PRs in all the five Residents’
Committees (RCs) in Canberra.
I am happy to say that we
often succeed.”
The work he does is rewarding,
declared Alvin. “It is exciting
because we do see new
bonds being formed, and new
citizens being forthcoming
in sharing their culture with
other residents. Each time we
launch an event, we always
have new citizens saying they
want to contribute or they
want to join us and it is
very encouraging.”
33
“I wanted to
develop activities
that would
enrich their lives
and make them
feel more a part
of Singapore.”
Rita Gupta, 42, a housewife from India.
Apart from Singaporeans like
Alvin, new citizens and PRs are
also playing an active part in
promoting integration.
Rita Gupta, 42, a housewife from
India, is a shining example of
an avid champion of integration.
As an Indian Activity Executive
Committee member of Admiral
Garden CC, she has touched
the lives of thousands of fellow
immigrants with the many activities
she has organised.
She is responsible for two
successful events called Dandiya
and Holi Hungama. Dandiya is
a celebration of the triumph of
good over evil that is traditionally
observed in northern India. Four
hundred residents attended the first
Dandiya Festival held in Woodlands
CC in September 2007. By 2010,
the event filled with dance and
joy had grown into a two-day
party and drew 1,100 PRs and
Singaporeans of all races.
Similarly, she introduced the
Holi Hungama festival of colours
to Singapore four years ago
to an appreciative crowd of 600.
This Indian festival celebrating
good harvests and fertility attracted
1,500 people in March this year.
In her native country, Rita was an
active volunteer for various charities.
When she became a Singapore PR
seven years ago, she signed up
to be an INC because she felt
compelled to reach out to her
fellow new immigrants.
She explained, “I wanted them
to know more about Singapore,
to make it easier for them to
adapt to the country. I knew how
they felt because I have been in
their shoes. I wanted to develop
activities that would enrich their
2
1
A young Indian girl teaches a resident the
moves for the traditional folk dance form,
Dandiya at Woodlands CC.
2
A GRL shares a laugh with new citizens
during their visit to a CC.
34
3
Numbers That
Paint a Portrait
of Integration
Efforts in 2010
• 22,000 new citizens
and PRs attended
440 INC activities.
3
New citizens participate in the National Education Tours and learn more about Singapore.
lives and make them feel more
a part of Singapore.”
She added, “Everyone needs to
be recognised as an important
part of the society that he is part
of. Involving new citizens and
integrating them into the society
early is thus very important.”
The enthusiastic support the
PA gave to many of her proposed
activities is a stout demonstration
of how committed the organisation
is to its goal of making new
citizens feel at home, she added.
Rita and her husband have
since applied to become
Singapore Citizens.
• 4,000 new immigrants
went on 150 National
Education Tours,
which are part of
the PA’s National
Education Programme.
• 20 Half-Day District
Orientation Tours were
attended by 900 new
immigrant participants.
• 8,600 house visits
were made to welcome
new citizens and PRs
to the republic.
How the PA Supported Integration
• Rode on festivals such as
Chingay, Pongal, Holi and
Hari Raya to promote interethnic understanding and
cross-cultural appreciation
and also help residents
from diverse backgrounds
make new friends and build
mutual trust.
• Our National Education Tours
continued to provide a window
for new immigrants to experience
Singapore’s heritage, lifestyle
and culture through an assortment
of tours. Mingling with locals
during the tour allowed new
immigrants to widen their
social network.
• In collaboration with
The Straits Times, we
produced a quarterly
newsletter weWelcome for
new immigrants. Distributed
through PA channels, this
publication provides new
immigrants with information
about Singapore as well
as the many ways in which
they can participate in
their community.
• Leveraged on the Community
Sharing Session and Singapore
Experiential Tour components
of the Singapore Citizenship
Journey – a mandatory programme
for new citizen applicants –
to engage new citizens.
• Tapped on Community Sharing
Sessions to engage citizens-to-be
and introduce them to Grassroots
Organisations (GROs) and their
activities. These sessions
were organised at the GRC
level and facilitated by INCs.
• INCs helped new immigrants
and local residents come
together, bond and make
new friends by organising
Welcome Tea Parties
for new citizens and PRs,
Floor and Block Parties,
Culinary Delights and
Festive Celebrations.
• Grassroots Advisers
held dialogues with GRLs
on issues pertaining to
immigration and integration
to gain better understanding
of how to promote integration
between Singaporeans and
new immigrants
35
All Estates as One
Interest Groups
The Passion That Touches
Hearts and Uplifts Lives
Balloon sculpting changed Givan Lim’s life in ways she did not expect. Two years
ago, the teenager was running wild with a crowd of drug-taking gangsters. Though
PA volunteer Glen Peh tried to reach out to Givan, the then 15-year-old believed
she could not be helped.
Passion that brings people together – Glen shows participants the techniques for balloon sculpting during a workshop.
36
“Balloon sculpting made me a much
more positive person. It made me
realise that I have to work at things
to succeed in them.”
Givan Lim, 17, student.
by the PA. She no longer had the
time to hang out with bad company.
And as the months passed,
she found herself enjoying the
craft hugely. Most importantly,
she grew in self confidence and
self esteem.
“In the past, I had always failed
at everything and so I thought
I could never do anything. Certainly
I never thought I would be able to
do something so fun and creative.”
Recalled Givan, “Mr Peh told me,
“I will help you become a better
person.” But at that point I didn’t
believe him.”
Glen, however, had a secret
weapon in the battle to win Givan
over to the good side: The art of
balloon sculpting.
First Glen picked Givan to model
a special balloon dress for the
President’s Star Charity 2009.
Then, “Mr Peh said that since
I am wearing a balloon dress,
how about learning balloon
sculpting,” related Givan.
“How lame”, was Givan’s reaction
then to the thought of learning
how to balloon sculpt. However
she was hooked when she was
told she could earn $20 an hour
as a freelance balloon sculptor.
It took Givan just one day to
pick up the basic skills. That day
was to change her life completely.
From that day onwards, Givan
began spending her free time
practising balloon sculpting.
She also started earning money
assisting at weekly balloon
sculpting workshops conducted
1
Participants of Glen’s balloon sculpting workshop with their art pieces and new found friends.
2
A volunteer demonstrates balloon sculpting to a young boy during a National Day Dinner.
1
Balloon sculpting is special,
Givan now believes. “It is
colourful, it touches the heart,
it makes everybody happy and
it bonds people.”
Balloon sculpting has a way of
bringing people together, declared
Givan. “I see it all the time at the
workshops. I see strangers strike up
friendships while learning together.
At the end of each workshop,
participants always ask each
other for contact numbers and
they go on to meet up and become
friends. It is heartwarming the way
2
37
1
1-2
2
Members of the Kallang CC Drumming
Circle have fun during practice sessions.
balloon sculpting can turn strangers
into friends.”
These days, Givan is busy forging
a brighter future for herself; while
studying full-time, she is working
hard at two part-time jobs.
Said Givan with emphasis,
“Balloon sculpting made me
a much more positive person.
Being able to sculpt balloons
brought me confidence. It made
me realise that I have to work at
things to succeed in them.”
Today, balloon sculpting is one
of the PA’s popular interest group
activities. The PA currently has
more than 39 balloon sculpting
interest groups. The groups
draw people of all ages, from
seven year olds to seniors
in their 60s.
Said Glen, “We have people
from the interest groups who
go on to launch their own
38
business in balloon sculpting.
And many others are able to
earn pocket money with the skill
by working at event companies.”
“What’s even more exciting,”
added the 36-year-old teacher,
“is that we have at-risk youths
from the groups volunteering
themselves for community events
and charity events and helping
out at hospitals.”
A Universal Heartbeat:
The Spirit of Community
In any village, there is always
a drum that serves to
call together a community.
At Kallang, it is not just one
drum but a whole orchestra
of drums that is bringing the
people of Kallang together.
Every Saturday sees the Kallang
CC Community Drumming
Circle gathering like a huge
multicultural family for a fun
session of drumming.
Some Saturdays, the session
attracts over 100 drummers all
energetically banging away on
drums to create a pulsating beat.
The make-up of the group is
diverse, including young children,
students, retirees, professionals
and even the wheelchair bound.
“A drumming circle bonds a
community because it removes
all barriers including race, religion,
language, education and age.
Because it is universal, because
it is like a heartbeat, everyone
understands it,” explained Soh
Geok Kee, the founder of the
group. “The feeling you get when
you’re in a session is inspiring;
you feel uplifted, like you are part
of a music making group.”
The Kallang CC Community
Drumming Circle has also inspired
other CCs to launch their own
drumming circle. Four CCs
have to date launched their own
drumming circle. “Given the fact
“A community drumming circle is often
a fun, multicultural, mixed level event,
with freely improvised rhythms and
music in the moment.”
Rikki Ng Tien Choy, 60, member of Kallang CC Community Drumming Circle.
that the drumming circles are
entirely volnteer-driven, this is quite
an achievement for the short one
and a half years since the PA first
kicked off drumming circles,”
declared the 64-year-old teacher.
The feel-good effect of the
drumming circle extends beyond
the circle itself. One drumming
session for the benefit of 162
wheelchair-bound elderly at Thong
Teck Home For Senior Citizens
visibly touched the audience.
“Their response was overwhelming,”
recalled Rikki Ng Tien Choy,
a member of the Kallang CC
Community Drumming Circle.
“One of the senior nurses asked
if we could continue to ‘bring more
love’ to the seniors. She told me:
3
Uncle, we have plenty of food
here but we need you to bring
love in the form of music therapy,
especially during the festive
seasons when the seniors
get very lonely here. We hope
you all can come more often
and bring joy and happiness
to them.”
Rikki, a 60-year-old retiree,
believes that drumming bonds
like no other medium. He said,
“A community drumming circle
is often a fun, multicultural, mixed
level event, with freely improvised
rhythms and music in the moment.
It is a jam session; an exploration.
The language of rhythm transcends
normal communication boundaries,
so one sometimes find folks
interacting who would normally
have trouble doing so. Often in
a large community drum circle,
some will choose to dance so that
the drumming is part of a larger
social event.”
Interest groups like the balloon
sculpting and drumming groups
are part of the PA’s efforts to
encourage more people to pursue
their passions. Individuals gather in
groups, the PA believes, because
they share a common passion,
whether it be a love for singing,
gardening, cooking, dancing or
walking. Through shared passion,
the PA hopes to spur more to
enlarge their social network and
interact with a wider spectrum
of people.
The Choa Chu Kang CC Indian Activities Executive Committee Reading Club is one of the
many interest groups under PA.
3
How the PA
Got People
Bonding Through
Shared Passion
• More than 21,000
members were part
of the 1,348 interest
groups set up in 2010.
• These interest groups
were diverse and ranged
from sports, leisure
and entertainment to
even educational and
informational ones.
39
All Estates as One
Community Sports
Bonding
Through Sports
Few things can build a network of friends as powerfully as sports. The thrill, athletic
challenge and camaraderie experienced playing a sport together promotes bonding
and makes life that much more fulfilling.
Starting young – Boys from different races learn soccer skills during the PA Children’s Soccer League.
40
1
2
“Cycling has given me a healthy way to
de-stress and I get to know people from
different walks of life.”
Lillian Lee, 45, housewife and a mother of two.
In 2010, the PA achieved exciting
results in using sports to get
people to come together and
become friends across race,
religion and age.
They even take part in competitions
together; the group recently
participated in OCBC Cycle
Singapore 2011, Runway Cycling
2011 and NTU Bike Rally 2011.
A Sporting Passion Brought
Them Together
This group is startling in its diversity
– they are a motley crew of
housewives, teenagers, bankers,
lawyers and engineers – but there
is one thing they all have in common:
A look of pure joy when perched
on a bike.
Said Lillian Lee, a 45-year-old
housewife and mother of two,
“Cycling has given me a healthy
way to de-stress and I get to know
people from different walks of life.
More importantly, cycling has
helped me to step outside my little
world and to get back to nature.
More housewives should join the
cycling group!”
Formed in October 2009, the
Yio Chu Kang Community Sports
Clubs (CSC) Cycling Group is a
group of 24 happy and energetic
biking enthusiasts aged 15 to 54
who came together because of
their passion of cycle. They meet
often for endurance training, riding
challenging routes and cycling up
the Bukit Timah Hill. They also
meet regularly to share tips on
maintaining their bicycles.
The Punggol Central CSC
Dragon Boat team is a group
that is equally disparate. Formed
in 2005, this fraternity of vibrant,
fun-loving paddlers are of all ages
(from 15 to 58) and of various
shapes and sizes. Every Sunday,
the 45 paddlers get together
for an afternoon of training at
Kallang River. On weekdays, they
put in long hours doing distance
1
Yio Chu Kang CSC Cycling Group
participated in the OCBC Cycle
Singapore 2011.
2
Activities organised by CSCs span a
wide spectrum, ranging from cycling
to Qiqong. Elderly residents participate
in the South West Mass Qiqong session
organised as part of the Community
Sports Festival.
running and cardio exercises to
sharpen their competitive edge.
“This team is almost phenomenal,”
said team coach Peter Heng.
“When a milestone is achieved,
the team is always aiming to scale
yet greater heights.”
CSC: Where Passion Rules
The Yio Chu Kang CSC Cycling
Group and the Punggol Central
CSC Dragon Boat team are just
two of the many sports interest
groups formed by the CSCs.
CSCs were born from PA’s
aspiration to grow sports
communities and foster social
cohesion, racial harmony and
community bonding by bringing
like-minded residents together
through sports interest groups.
CSCs are winning hearts, minds
and bodies. In 2010, a staggering
620,000 individuals took part in
activities organised by the CSCs.
41
Managed entirely by passionate
volunteers, the CSCs will play
a vital role in realising the PA’s
ultimate vision of what can be
achieved through sports: An active,
vibrant and socially connected
nation where one out of every five
individuals is engaged in sports.
Water-Venture, more than double
that of the preceding year.
A Great Thirst for
Water Activities
Apart from CSCs, the PA satisfies
many sports fanatics who get their
adrenaline rush in water through
its Water-Venture outfits. This is a
chain of eight adventure and water
sports outlets located throughout
Singapore that offer a wide range
of sports including abseiling,
dragon boating, kayaking, sailing
and windsurfing.
Jaron Tan, a kayaking enthusiast,
had this to say, “I love the sport
and look forward to doing my
Three-Star Training course soon.
Kayaking keeps me healthy and
it is my favourite hobby. I have
several close friends who come
kayaking with me too. It is a great
and healthy way for us to spend
time together.”
The eight outlets cater to the great
number of people in Singapore with
a thirst for adventure in water –
a number that is increasing every
year. Between April 2010 and
January 2011, 54,895 took to the
water in activities organised by
In all, 20,000 signed up for the
PA Water-Venture courses in 2010.
These courses are conducted
professionally by trained and
experienced trainers.
The staff and trainers of WaterVenture are passionate in their
belief that adventure and water
sports is an exciting and healthy
lifestyle activity that should be
enjoyed by everyone in the
community regardless of age, race
or gender. Said Kok Lai Mun, 34,
PA Water-Venture Kayaking Trainer,
“Singaporeans are more health
conscious these days and are looking
for ways to keep fit. Water sports is
one alternative, especially with the
opening up of the reservoirs for water
sports such as kayaking and dragon
boating. These are good sports to
pick up, not only because they help
with fitness, but also because these
sports enable participants to become
friends. We encourage course
participants to come back and
participate in activities together,
go for advanced level courses,
join in expeditions and more.”
And if the PA had its way,
more young children will take to
water sports like ducks to water.
To make this happen, Water-Venture
launched its children’s programmes
such as kayaking and bell boating
in 2010. Meant for children aged
10 and above, these programmes
will help build the confidence of
young children, develop in them
life skills in a fun outdoor setting,
and more importantly, help them
make new friends.
“Singaporeans are more health conscious these days and are looking
for ways to keep fit. Water sports is one alternative, especially with
the opening up of the reservoirs for water sports such as kayaking
and dragon boating. These are good sports to pick up, not only
because they help with fitness, but also because these sports
enable participants to become friends.”
Kok Lai Mun, 34, PA Water-Venture Kayaking Trainer.
1
1
42
The Punggol Central CSC Dragon Boat
team during a practice session.
All Estates as One
Community Arts
Art That Bonds
A great home is where we can pursue our passions and build memories that
we treasure. The PA believes that the arts not only allow individuals to express
their passions, it can be a means of celebrating our unique culture and connection
as one people.
A walk down memory lane – Fried Rice Paradise – The Musical was an inspirational art piece that showcased Singapore’s multi-racial society
since the 1970s.
43
1
The Nutcracker in Singapore was
presented through a melding of
diverse dance genres such as hip hop,
contemporary Chinese, Malay and
Indian dance.
1
“This musical was the perfect platform to
celebrate the PA’s role in the development
of Singapore’s unique culture, and it was
a fun rollercoaster ride for audiences from
all walks of life.”
Dick Lee, producer of Fried Rice Paradise – The Musical.
In 2010, the PA saluted Singapore’s
distinctive multi-ethnic culture
through two unique made-inSingapore productions,
The Nutcracker In Singapore
and Fried Rice Paradise –
The Musical.
Inspired by The Nutcracker, one of
the world’s most beloved ballets,
The Nutcracker In Singapore was
an exciting retelling of the classic
with a distinctive multicultural
Singapore flavour. The PA Talents
Dance Ensemble presented this
delightful production through a
melding of diverse dance genres
like hip hop, and contemporary
Chinese, Malay and Indian dance.
The PA Talents Dance Ensemble
is Singapore’s only multi-ethnic
and contemporary dance and
orchestra group and is led by
a group of award winners in
44
the field of contemporary and
traditional multi-ethnic arts.
Staged on 26 November 2010
at the University Cultural Centre
Hall at the National University of
Singapore campus, the production
not only delighted the 1,600
audience, it promoted greater
understanding and appreciation
of our multi-cultural communities.
And to commemorate its
50th anniversary, the PA specially
commissioned Fried Rice Paradise
– The Musical. The musical took
the audience on a nostalgic trip
back to the Singapore of the 1970s
through a brand new story, catchy
songs and a star-studded cast.
Written by Dick Lee and produced
by Singapore Repertory Theatre’s
Stage Two, the musical combined
the talents of a cast that included
Singapore Idol winner Taufik
Batisah, Lim Yu Beng, Darius Tan
and Rahimah Rahim.
The true-blue Singapore musical
enjoyed an enthusiastic reception
for its performances between
20 August and 12 September
2010 at the Esplanade Theatre
and was an inspirational piece
for younger generations to
appreciate and embrace interracial harmony.
Said Dick Lee, “This musical was
the perfect platform to celebrate
the PA’s role in the development
of Singapore’s unique culture,
and it was a fun rollercoaster ride
for audiences from all walks of life.”
The arts also played a key role in
the Chingay Parade. For many
years, Chingay has fueled the
imagination, excited the senses,
inspired people, and brought them
together. For nothing builds collective
memories and makes one feel quite
as good as a colourful parade.
Conceived by Singaporeans for
the enjoyment of Singaporeans,
the Chingay Parade has become
an annual national high point that
engages people from all walks
of life in a joyous celebration of
Singapore’s multi-ethnic cultures.
Each year, the PA stages the
Chingay Parade with the support
of various partners such as
the Singapore Tourism Board,
Tote Board and Community
Development Councils (CDCs).
Billed as Asia’s grandest street and
float parade, the Chingay Parade
has been lifting spirits and charming
spectators since its debut in 1973.
Chingay Parade 2011 held from
11 to 12 February however, was a
standout event. Featuring 8,000
performers and attracting
over 150,000 spectators, it was
the grandest Chingay Parade ever.
It was possibly also one of the
most fun Chingay Parades ever,
featuring a motorcade of vintage
cars and Harley Davidsons at the
head of the parade as well as a
dance competition on the move.
The dance competition had dance
groups competing in the first ever PA
National Travelling Dance Competition
by showing off their dance moves
as the parade was in full gear!
Chingay Parade 2011 also saw
the biggest ethnic participation
in history as the PA Malay Activity
Executive Committees Council
together with its 97 Malay Activity
Executive Committees in various
constituencies, the Malay Heritage
Foundation and other Malay
organisations worked together
to present the biggest ever Malay
cultural item.
The PA Narpani Pearavai and all its
Indian Activity Executive Committees
and affiliated Indian organisations
also came together in a series
of workshops to create the
parade’s first ever poo gopurams
(flower towers). The 60 elaborately
decorated flower towers added
great excitement and rich intensity
to the parade as the tower bearers
danced and spinned in a hypnotic
blur, amidst a sea of colour.
“I feel really proud and happy to be
part of the largest Indian contingent
in Chingay’s history. Chingay Parade
has always been known for its
multicultural elements and colours.
Through this platform, I have
learnt more about other cultures,
especially from the Chinese and
foreign groups!” exclaimed Ananthi,
31, a participant of the Chingay
2011 Indian Contingent.
The parade culminated with 4,000
performers including a choir of
250 members performing Chuan
Deng, the theme song of Chingay
Parade 2011. This made it the
biggest item ever presented in
the history of the parade.
2
2
The Chingay Parade was a standout event
which featured 5,000 performers and
attracted more than 150,000 spectators.
45
1
The PA Youth Movement (PAYM) Hip Hop
contingent was the largest contingent at
the Chingay Parade 2011 with more than
2,000 enthusiastic youths participating.
For Pow Choon Ghee, Director
of Singapore Chingay and Events
Network (SCENE), what was
important, however, was not
size but heart.
Said Choon Ghee, “While I am very
happy to see that the parade has
achieved international standing due
to its scale, grandeur and artistic
value, I am also very heartened to
see the different ethnic cultures
get represented in a bigger and
more creative fashion at the parade.
More significantly, how the
parade provides a platform for
the performers to appreciate and
learn about each other’s cultures
as well as to make friends.”
A survey conducted over the
two-day Chingay Parade by
the PA revealed that on average,
the participants made at least one
to 20 friends from their involvement
in the parade.
46
1
For this reason, the Chingay
Parade is the perfect platform
to get people of various
backgrounds, nationalities
and races to come together
to become friends.
Luk Chew Nun, 49, can bear
testimony to that. He became
involved in the Chingay Parade
when he entered the contest titled
Chingay Paparazzi, where avid
amateur photographers were
invited to capture the best
rehearsal moments of the parade.
“Taking pictures of the rehearsals
for the Chingay Parade, a national
event, was not only fun, it was
also very meaningful for me.
Snapping away behind the scenes,
I could see many friendships being
forged among the performers.
I myself became friends with
other ‘paparazzi’ and we are
now good friends!”
Today, the former contestants of
Chingay Paparazzi have become
firm friends who encourage
each other to take part in other
photo competitions.
Joyce Vera Lim is another
parade participant who took
away great memories and lots
of new friends from the event.
She was one of the 2,000
energetic hip-hoppers at
the parade. Enthused Joyce,
“Although Chingay Parade
2011 is over, I still cherish my
memories of the great fun
my team members and I had,
as well as the sense of satisfaction
after all the hard work we had
put in prior to the parade. It was
simply awesome!”
For the PA, the takeaway
from events like the Chingay
Parade is clear: Art is a
powerful bond.
All Estates as One
A Safe Home in a
Community That Cares
A great neighbourhood is one where residents know and look out for one another.
The residents of Bukit Panjang believe so strongly in this credo that they established
a citizen patrol following a gang attack in their neighbourhood.
Taking ownership – Bukit Panjang residents started a citizen patrol group when they learnt of a gang attack in their area.
47
1
1
Last November, seven youths
were repeatedly slashed in the
housing estate by a group of
parang-wielding men in gangrelated attacks. When the area's
grassroots Adviser, Dr Teo Ho Pin,
called for volunteers for the Citizens
on Patrol (COP) programme after that
incident, Sailesh Peter immediately
signed up to be part of it.
“I wanted to do something because
I have a teenage son and I am
worried about his safety,” said the
46-year-old logistics superintendent.
“But it is also about giving back
something to a community that has
given me a lot when I was growing
up in the neighbourhood.”
Since February 2011, he has been
part of a group of four residents
who do fortnightly patrols of 10
blocks in Bukit Panjang’s Jelapang
Road. Armed with reflective vests,
torchlights and whistles, they walk
a route covering Block 502 to Block
512, including quiet areas such
as car parks and a jogging track
straddling a canal.
Their job, said Sailesh, is simply
“keeping an eye on things”.
They are not vigilantes and they
do not have power to arrest.
On the occasions when they have
spotted issues such as vandalism,
they merely reported the incidents
to the neighbourhood police post.
The residents welcomed the group,
which has heightened alertness
48
among residents, and provided
the community with a sense of
security knowing that would-be
troublemakers among their midst
are being monitored. The group
also brought the residents closer
together as the men on patrol
frequently chat with residents
during their walkabout.
“In a community, members
should take care of each other
because this is where they will
live for a long time. They have
to take ownership of this estate,”
declared Sailesh. He is glad
he is part of the patrol group.
“I feel good that I did something
instead of simply being an
armchair critic.”
Ready for Anything
Similarly, in Toa Payoh, residents also
enjoy a sense of security, knowing
they are prepared for any emergency.
GRLs with the residents of the
four damaged units (from the fire at
Toa Payoh Lorong 5) after they brought
them mattresses, pillows, blankets and
other necessities.
That’s why when a fire broke out
at Block 31 Toa Payoh Lorong 5
on 15 October 2010, the residents
did not panic.
Expeditiously and calmly, the
residents of the block made their
exits following routes that they have
become familiar with, as a result
of quarterly fire drills.
Down on the ground, several
individuals were seen efficiently
assisting families to assemble their
members together and gathering
information on missing people. They
then passed this vital information on
so that firemen could conduct
search operations more efficiently.
These individuals are members
of the Toa Payoh Community
Emergency and Engagement (C2E)
Committee. [See side story on
C2E Committee]
Community Leaders Take Ownership
• C2E Committees were
formed in 2009 to help
strengthen community
resilience by involving
residents, GRLs, educational
institutions, businesses,
religious, voluntary
welfare organisations
and other community
partners in Community
(EP) programmes.
• During times of emergency,
C2E Committees
– Coordinate community
resources and
grassroots’ emergency
response efforts
– Help emergency
authorities disseminate
critical information
– Collect feedback
and help defuse
community tension
– Assist to restore public
confidence and normalcy
2
2
Recalled Teh Beng Chye, the
Vice Chairman of Toa Payoh C2E,
of the events that night, “We helped
to calm and console the residents,
especially the unit that was burned
and the other three units that
were damaged. We told them
not to worry, that we would help
them locate their missing family
members. We arranged for food
and drinks for the hungry and
the thirsty. All in the block turned
to us for any information and for
anything they needed. Because
the C2E team was around, the
fire was less stressful for all.”
Their job did not end when the fire
was brought under control. The
C2E team worried about where
the residents of the four damaged
units would sleep. They turned
to Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society
for help and were given a
multi-purpose hall where 10
residents could rest for the night.
At midnight, the team rushed
down to Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour
“Because the C2E team was around,
the fire was less stressful for all.”
Teh Beng Chye, 48, Vice Chairman of C2E.
Preschoolers learn how to operate a
fireman’s hose during the EP Family
Orientation Programme at the Singapore
Civil Defence Force Fire Station.
shopping mart, and bought
mattresses, pillows, blankets,
toothbrushes, beverages and
bread so that all 10 residents
could have a comfortable night.
A GRL for 25 years, Beng Chye
is passionate about C2E.
“Emergencies can happen
any time, at any place and to
anyone,” pointed out the 48-yearold self-employed transportation
worker. “But if you are prepared,
you will know how to react and
will be calm.”
During emergencies, he said,
C2E helps reduce risks. “And at
other times, we fight against crime
like loan shark activities.”
How the PA Got the Nation Ready
Building Neighbours’
Safety Network
• The GROs formed 267 COP
Teams in 2010.
• The PA EP School Engagement
Programme was introduced
in March 2011 to adopt an
interesting and systematic
approach to encourage
students to be the safety
and security ambassadors
in their neighbourhood.
The programme will equip
students with the knowledge
of EP as well as safety and
security issues through theory
and practical trainings.
Creating a Life-Saving
Volunteer Force
• 651 CERT teams were formed
at the RCs and Neighbourhood
Committees (NCs) with a total
of 11,800 members. The desired
outcome is to increase the
current ratio of one CERT
member per block to two
per block by 2015.
• A forum theatre play titled
‘Trick or Threat’ was successfully
organised in November 2010
for 700 residents. The play
created greater awareness and
understanding on the importance
of inter-racial sensitivities and
discussed the possible approaches
to address these issues.
Promoting Family and
Inter-generational Bonding
Through EP
• 100 preschoolers attended
a half-day EP Family
Orientation Programme
at Singapore Civil Defence
Force Fire Station together
with their parent or
grandparent in November
2010. These children learnt
home fire safety and basic
first aid and shared the
EP messages with three
other neighbours.
49
All Estates as One
Social Assistance
Assisting the Needy,
Bonding the People,
Connecting the Community:
5 CDCs
Helping those who need help. Bringing people closer together. Making life richer
and fuller. Achieving all these may seem a tall order but for the five Community
Development Councils (CDCs) in Singapore, it’s all in a day’s work.
Bonding through walks – Many families participate and make friends during North West Brisk Walking Clubs’ activities.
50
CDCs could well be called the glue
of the nation. Administering the
needs of a specific region made
up of several constituencies, CDCs
provide social assistance services
to help needy residents and
manage programmes for their
residents to make the community
a better place for all. Each council
is headed by a Mayor.
Through the councils, residents
can also get involved in their
community and work towards
making life better for themselves
and their neighbours.
In 2010, CDCs were hard at work
making a difference in the lives of
residents in many parts of the island.
Assisting the Needy
In 2010, Hamzah Bin Ahmad, 58,
was in despair. He had left his job
and could not find a new one.
During that difficult time, help
arrived in the form of a career
consultant at the South West CDC.
Related Mr Hamzah, “He encouraged
me to attend motivational workshops
and skill upgrading courses
and provided job referrals after
I completed my courses. The CDC
also gave me transport assistance
to help defray some of my household
expenses while I was undergoing
training. Now, I am working as a
security officer. I am very thankful
for the guidance and assistance
provided to me.”
Mr Hamzah is one of many who
have been helped by a programme
called Upskill the Unskilled @ South
West. Launched by the South West
CDC in July 2010, the scheme
offers transport and food vouchers
to low wage or low skilled workers
or those currently unemployed to
encourage them to go for training
and skill upgrading.
1
1
Children trying on spectacles at the eye screening session under EyeWear @ South West
held at Singapore Polytechnic Optometry Centre.
Besides this programme, South
West CDC which looks after the
south-western region of Singapore,
also runs many other local social
assistance programmes. They
include EyeWear @ South West,
which provides free eye screening
and eyewear vouchers for needy
school students and senior citizens,
and Kids-Up @ South West, which
provides $100 to needy kindergarten
students for the purchase of school
items. Hairudin Ibrahim, Senior
Manager of Social Assistance
at South West CDC reflected,
“When I was a frontline staff at the
CDC Service Centre, I got to meet
and understand the difficulties
of residents. The experience has
reinforced my belief that we can make
a difference. Now, I appreciate the
autonomy and flexibility provided
to develop local help initiatives that
make positive and direct impact
for our needy residents.”
Bonding the People
In the north west region of Singapore,
the North West CDC has been
bringing people together through one
simple, everyday activity – walking.
Since its kick-off in 2002, the North
West Brisk Walking Clubs have
expanded to 134 clubs with 55,000
members. It is today the most popular
healthy lifestyle activity in the region.
The clubs aim not just to get
people moving but also to get
them interacting.
To do that, the CDC created special
walks for its members such as the
North West Harmony Walk where
residents brisk walked while learning
more about the culture of other races
by visiting different places of worship
every quarter. Then there were the
North West Nature Walks where
residents strolled through nature
spots to gain a deeper understanding
of the local eco-system and admire
the flora and fauna in Singapore.
Mega walks such as the North
West Brisk Walk Challenge held in
October 2010, also attracted some
7,500 participants.
As the project manager handling
the Healthy Lifestyle portfolio of
the North West district, Thomas
Poon has seen the impact of these
programmes throughout the region.
“Over the years, our Healthy Lifestyle
programmes have reached out to
more residents. Seeing the smiles
“When I was a frontline staff at the CDC Service Centre, I got to
meet and understand the difficulties of residents. The experience
has reinforced my belief that we can make a difference.”
Hairudin Ibrahim, Senior Manager of Social Assistance at South West CDC.
51
1
2
1
Benjamin Lee (in yellow) with the team of children that he led to perform during the
Singapore Youth Olympic Games.
2
Washing cars for a good cause – to raise funds for Sunlove Senior Activity Centre under
the Car Wash 2 Help @ South East.
and gratitude of residents make me
feel that all that hard work and time
I’ve put in is worth it.”
“Brisk walking has allowed the people
of Sembawang to lead a more
healthy and joyful life. It has taught
us how to relax, smile and enjoy
each day to the fullest,” commented
Rafiah bte Yusof, 47, the Brisk
Walking Coordinator for Sembawang
Zone J RC. “I hope to influence
more in the area to have a positive
attitude to life though brisk walking.
Whenever I see a resident exercising
alone in the park, I will say ‘Uncle/
Aunty, come and join us lah!’”
Strengthening People
Meanwhile, the residents of the
eastern coast of Singapore are
being empowered by the CDC
that serves them.
The South East CDC is active
in initiating programmes that
foster an active, vibrant and
self-reliant community.
Daryl Kang, a 14-year-old student,
was among the young residents who
grew from being part of the Ignite
The Spirit Youth Training programme.
Launched by the South East CDC in
2009, this coaching and experiential
programme seeks to impart social
skills to teenagers through mentoring
and group focused activities. The
52
youths also work on community
projects to apply what they have
learnt. One of the programmes
organised was the Car Wash 2 Help
@ South East, a charity car wash
where all proceeds went to Sunlove
Senior Activity Centre @ Kampong
Chai Chee. The youths befriended
the elderly living in one-room flats
and bought household necessities
and food items for them with the
proceeds from the car wash.
“I’ve learnt to be more independent
and confident in my decisions,”
declared Daryl, one of the
participants of Car Wash 2 Help
@ South East. “The programme
helped me to think out of the box
and better value both myself and
the people in my community.”
Young people are not the only
ones who participate in the
CDC’s programmes.
Since 2009, the CDC has been
running an annual camp for senior
citizens. The two-day Seniors
Learning Camp sees seniors
engaging in teambuilding activities,
workshops and team games
to gain the knowledge and
skills to lead a more meaningful,
self-reliant and active lifestyle.
The seniors also reach out to
the less able in the community
through community projects.
Said camp participant Boey Keng
Chew, 58, “Through the camp, we
made many new friends, prepared
for our first community project
and discovered our creativity and
hidden talents. The camp has
certainly made our senior years
more colourful and meaningful.”
Developing Talents and
Realising Dreams
One young man’s dream would
have died without the help provided
by the North East CDC.
Since he was 13, Benjamin Lee
has been mad about drumming.
For years, he picked up what
techniques he could from fellow
drummers at a youth centre but
finally realised that he needed
proper lessons to further his
dream of becoming a professional
“Brisk walking has allowed the people
of Sembawang to lead a more healthy
and joyful life.”
Rafiah bte Yusof, 47, Brisk Walk Coordinator for Sembawang Zone J Residents’ Committee.
drummer. Unfortunately the
polytechnic student could not
afford to pay for music lessons.
But in 2010, with $2,000 from a
programme called the Live It Up
Fund, Benjamin was able to enrol
in a one-year drumming course.
“I'm so thankful to the North East
CDC for providing me with the
means to continue my drumming
course. The fund gave me the break
that I needed for my drumming
career. It has kept my dream of
being a professional drummer alive”.
Currently serving his national service,
the future drumming star is looking
forward to realising his dream
soon. Declared the 22-year-old,
“The drumming journey has been
awesome for me since I started,
thanks to North East CDC.”
The Live It Up Fund was set up by
the North East CDC to allow residents
from the north east with potential in
arts, sports, educational, professional
or any other fields to develop their
talents. The fund is just one of the
many life-changing programmes
managed by the North East CDC.
Bibi Majid, the Senior Manager of
Social Assistance at the North East
CDC shared, “Ten years on and
I am still passionate about my job.
Listening to the hardship that
my clients have gone through
and helping them get out of their
difficult situations really spur me.
It’s heartening and fulfilling to see
the positive change in my clients’
situations and how their lives have
improved with the help we render.”
Enriching Lives
Five years ago, Nur Nabila was shy
and lacking in confidence, especially
on her command of the English
language. Her enrolment in the
Nurture programme changed all that.
This year, the articulate 12-year-old
was a co-emcee at an event for
underprivileged children hosted by
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and
attended by over 1,500 other guests.
Said Nur, “I have become a more
confident person since joining the
Nurture Programme. And I strongly
recommend shy students to join
the programme to become more
confident and assertive.”
3
The Nurture Programme, run by
Central Singapore CDC, started
in 2006 as a reading programme
for children living in the central
region of the island. Today,
the programme has expanded
from three centres to 20 centres,
which together provide an avenue
for 500 children to learn and
play together.
Said Elizabeth Aw, Senior
Manager of Social Services at
Central Singapore CDC, “It is
really heartening to help clients like
Nur overcome difficult situations
through our dedicated care and
efforts. I strongly believe that all
clients have the potential to improve
their lives and that of their children.
They deserve the necessary help
and we can help facilitate their
path in doing so by serving them
wholeheartedly.”
Lying at the heart of Singapore,
the CDC serves the largest
district in terms of population
size. Besides the Nurture
Programme, the Central Singapore
CDC also has several other social
assistance programmes.
This includes the Bright Homes
Programme, an outreach and
assistance programme with a
difference – engaging volunteer
groups, community and corporate
partners across all ages and
backgrounds to befriend vulnerable,
isolated, low-income elderly across
all races, living in different estates
with 1-2 room rental flats. This
structured volunteer-driven
programme empowers and funds
volunteers to come up with initiatives
to address the needs of these lonely
and needy elderly, and enhance
their lives. Since its inception,
Bright Homes has benefited over
3,000 seniors with the help of
more than 1,000 volunteers.
3
Nur, 12, hosts a game segment at
an event for underprivileged students
at RWS.
How CDCs Made
An Impact On the
Lives of Many
Assisting the Needy
• The CDCs helped 52,183
unique beneficiaries
under the National
ComCare Schemes,
giving out a total of
$81.7 million in aid.
• They also registered
a total of 24,190 job
seekers, 62 percent
of whom were aged
above 40. Of these,
12,945 were successfully
placed in jobs.
Bonding the People
• The CDCs organised
1,330 programmes and
activities for 1,091,483
residents.
Connecting the Community
• About 9,819 active
volunteers were
involved in planning
and organising CDC
activities. Together,
they launched 304
community projects.
53
Virtual and Real World
Integrated as One
When the Virtual World
and the Real World
Come Together...
Something unusual is happening in Punggol. Residents from all parts of Punggol chat
daily online with each other and meet regularly for coffee sessions. And on collecting
the keys to their new flats, residents throw housewarming parties for neighbours
that they have only gotten to know online. They even band together with their
newfound friends to buy household appliances, so that they can enjoy bulk discounts.
Using new media to reach out – Punggol residents chat with each other daily though the various online platforms.
54
1
Champions of a
New Social World
• GRLs who are NMCs,
keep their neighbours
connected through social
media platforms such as
Facebook and Twitter.
1
Patrick discusses the online forum, Punggol.org during a FBtweetup gathering.
You might say that in this new
town, neighbourliness has reached
heights not seen since Singapore’s
kampong days.
And it all started with an online
forum created by a Punggol resident.
In 2006, new Punggol resident
Patrick Pang Zhiwei was perturbed
to find that not only was information
about Punggol scarce, what little
news there was focused on the lack
of development in his new town.
To change that, he launched
Punggol.org, a website that
provides residents with updates
on the township, including events
such as power trips and flooding,
and even when traffic wardens
patrol the area.
Said the 29-year-old civil servant,
“I tried to cover things that people
want to know and invited discussion
on them. And over time Punggol
residents became proactive.
They began taking photographs
and sharing information over the
forum. By 2008, the forum had
evolved from me providing the
information to the residents
generating the information.”
The forum, with its ground-up
approach, proved so popular with
residents – particularly among
young families and youths –
that Penny Low, the Adviser
to Punggol GROs and GRLs
decided to tap on the forum
to publicise the PA’s activities
and events.
Today, the forum has more than
6,700 members, with at least 200
members chatting daily. And it
has its own Facebook page,
where more than 2,800 people
comment on Punggol happenings
on a regular basis. Punggol.org also
tweets daily to about 700 members.
“The Punggol.org forum offers
good updates on current affairs
on a daily basis. I often read the
news here and see it on the news
later. Also, this is a good place
to know each other, especially
when we are in the same area.
The exchange of information is
instant. We know who to reach
when we need assistance and
can gather advice on issues about
our neighbourhoods. And of course,
we have fun chatting and relieve
stress here!” said a user of the
forum who goes by the virtual
name 4U2NV.
These days, Patrick is actively
involved in grassroots work as
the Chairman of the Punggol
Gardens RC. He is also a New
Media Champion (NMC) [see side
• They also use websites
or blogs that help
residents to keep
track of happenings
in their constituency.
This helps residents
stay connected.
story on NMCs]. Recalled Patrick,
“When we moved into Facebook
and Twitter, people became even
more engaged because they
could see others responding
instantly. What excites me about
the whole thing is the two-way
communication and engagement;
it is not just me giving information
but people sharing their concerns
and tips with each other.”
His goal is not limited to the virtual
world – he wants Punggol residents
to connect in the real world too.
This is already a reality. In an
event called FBtweetup held
on 27 February 2011, 25 Punggol
residents who previously only
knew each other online got
together to get to know each
other better.
Said Patrick, “With people so
busy these days, I think we have
achieved something exceptional in
getting people to meet each other.
And we plan to keep this going,
by organising more of such
meet ups.”
The PA shares Patrick’s philosophy
of using online platforms to
connect people and deepen their
relationships in the real world.
The ultimate goal: To engage
people online and get them to
meet and interact face to face.
55
1
YouTube was one of the social media
tools that the Woodlands NMCs tapped
on to engage Woodlands residents.
Woodlands is Full of
Talent and Heart
Another project, Woodlands
Talent, was also successful in
using social media to engage
a community and get them to
interact face to face. In December
2009, Ahmadusshafa Bin Zainudin
was watching the finale of
Singapore Idol when a thought
came to him: Why not a
neighbourhood version of
Singapore Idol?
Explained the 25-year-old former
PA Constituency Management
Executive, “I felt we had been
playing it too safe when it
came to engaging youths.
We wanted to take a risk.”
And so Woodlands Talent 2010
was born. Because contestants
may fear going in front of judges,
contestants were invited to
audition by submitting their
own YouTube videos.
To promote the event, the
Woodlands NMCs created the
Woodlands Talent Facebook
page and a special YouTube
link and cross-linked the two.
56
1
Once a contestant had uploaded
his video, he could take the link
created by the team and post
it on his own Facebook page.
The event was also publicised on
S.O.F.T, a Singapore music forum,
and on the Facebook pages of
schools and tertiary institutions.
To get more people excited
about the event, Singapore
Idol finalist Tabitha Nauser,
who is a Woodlands resident,
was roped in to lend her support
to the event. Her tweets and
posts about the event on her
own Twitter and Facebook
account created greater interest
in Woodlands.
In the end, Ahmadusshafa
said the event realised a
key goal of the PA – Bringing
online communities to the
real world.
Response was slow at first. But in
just three weeks, over 30 entries
were received.
With their interest piqued by the
event, 150 Woodlands residents
became a Woodlands Connetz
Facebook member, a Facebook
group where Woodlands events
and activities are posted and
where residents can discuss
local issues.
The finale held at Causeway Point
turned out to be a wild success.
More than 1,000 people turned
up to support the budding
performers. For the contestants,
it was a dream come true. Their
videos publicised through the
Woodlands NewMedia YouTube
channel and Facebook received
30,000 views.
He recalled, “We could see
participants interacting with
each other. They would call each
other up and rehearse together.
They would network through
Facebook. And it was great to
see families and friends coming
down to support the contestants
in force. The event turned out
to be very powerful in building
bonds. Many became friends
in the process.”
The project was a great example
of leveraging on interests and
causes to engage residents
and to sustain that engagement.
Twelve contestants were so
charged up by the experience,
they formed a Woodlands
Talent interest group called
Give Campaign. The volunteer
group today works to benefit
the community through
public performances.
Following the success of
Woodlands Talent 2010, the
event was staged again in 2011.
Many who had participated in
and supported Woodlands Talent
2010 stepped forward to help
with the event.
Woodlands Talent was a
great learning experience, said
Ahmadusshafa. “I learnt that you
have to take risks so that you will
learn along the way how to make
things better for the community.”
“I also learnt,” he added,
“that virtual to reality is possible.
It can be done.”
“We could see participants interacting with
each other. They would call each other up
and rehearse together. They would network
through Facebook. Many became friends
in the process.”
Ahmadusshafa Bin Zainudin, 25, former PA Constituency Management Executive.
2
Supporters of one of the Woodlands Talent contenders show their support with banners.
More than 1,000 people turned up to support the budding performers.
3
More than 30 entries were received within three weeks, with all of them putting up
enthusiastic performances at Causeway Point.
2
3
57
58
Youth
Connecting
& the
Community
59
Connecting Youth and
the Community
Y
Harnessing outhful
Energy and Passion
Two crises in her life turned Lina Chong towards community and volunteer work.
The first was a serious sport injury at age 17 that damaged her spine so badly,
Lina was unable to continue to pursue her passion for sports. She was then her
school’s track and field captain and on her school’s volleyball and badminton team.
Bringing youths with common interest together – The Jurong Central Residents’ Committee table soccer interest group attracts youths
of both genders.
60
1
2
1
Lina, 33, with Pasir Ris Elias CC YEC members after a Book Donation Drive.
2
YEC members also work on projects for the elderly, such as the Hope Garden
by Kim Seng CC YEC, a gardening project to fulfil the elderly residents’ wishes
to have a garden of their own.
Recalled Lina, “My parents and
teachers told me then: “So what
if you can’t do sports? There are
other things you can do that can
be just as fulfilling.” And I thought,
“Yeah, just because I am physically
hindered doesn’t mean I can’t
help others.”
The other tragedy was more
recent. Three years ago, Lina was
diagnosed with precancer. By that
time, she was the Chairman of
the Pasir Ris Elias CC Youth
Executive Committee (YEC) as
well as Chairman of the People’s
Association’s Youth Movement
(PAYM) Central Youth Council.
It was a dark time for Lina. “I didn’t
know what tomorrow would bring,”
confessed Lina.
But she was bolstered and moved
by the words of her YEC team.
“They pledged that “Should Lina
be unable to continue her work,
we will continue it for her.” That
touched me. I have always felt
I was just giving of myself but
I realised that what I do has
inspired others too. Thereafter,
I was driven to do even more.”
activities, feel a sense of ownership
and belonging in the community.
At the heart of it all, it is about turning
young neighbours into friends,
and friends into a community.
And driven she has indeed been.
Through the years, the 33-year-old
assistant manager at Nanyang
Polytechnic has been responsible
for many exciting events and
initiatives launched by the PA
for young people.
Explained Lina, “With Youth
Chapters in every RC, there is an
opportunity for young people to
help other young people in the local
context. It’s really a ‘by the youths,
for the youths’ movement. And
because of the Youth Chapters,
we do see more youths stepping
up to help organise activities for
their neighbours.”
One of the most important was the
setting up of the Youth Chapters
in the Pasir Ris West constituency.
Linked to Residents’ Committees
(RC) and Neighbourhood
Committees (NC), Youth Chapters
organise events with other Youth
Chapters or with the YECs and
other grassroots organisations
to introduce and grow interest
groups. They offer young residents
opportunities to get to know each
other and, through meaningful
Since its launch in April 2010,
77 Youth Chapters have been
formed in 23 constituencies with
more than 500 youths joining them
as core members. The goal is to
have a Youth Chapter in each RC
and NC by 2015.
For her work with youths, Lina
was awarded the Singapore Youth
Award 2009 (Community and Youth
61
“This thing called passion is hard to
articulate, but for me, it’s the ability to bring
some joy to the people who participate
in our programmes and to see the growth
in my team mates at the YEC. That inspires
me to do more.”
Lina Chong, 33, assistant manager at Nanyang Polytechnic.
Services) and PAYM Excellent
Youth Award 2010.
Said Lina, “People always ask me,
‘Why do you do all this volunteer
work?’ This thing called passion
is hard to articulate, but for me,
it’s the ability to bring some joy
to the people who participate
in our programmes and to see
the growth in my team mates
at the YEC. That inspires me
to do more.”
For Lina, it is particularly inspiring
when she gets youths engaged.
“Being able to get young people
involved, is to be an agent of
happiness because you are
bringing more meaning to
young lives, be it the lives of
the youth volunteers or the
young participants.”
To better tap the energy
and vibrancy of youths in
Singapore, the PA is targeting
to eventually reach out to
650,000 youths, including
about 13,000 core youth leaders
and 8,700 young Grassroots
Leaders (GRLs).
While the new recruits may not all
be as driven as Lina, the exposure to
volunteer work will change all young
people for the better, believes Lina.
“Our youths lead very protected
lives. That is why for many,
community work is a life-changing
experience. They are exposed to a
bigger world outside their world and
they experience real life including
the grittier side of life. For a lot of
them, that exposure serves as a
catalyst that will ignite a whole lot
of change down the chain. That is
my objective anyway.”
1
1
62
RC Youth Chapters’ members visit
residents regularly to get to know
them better.
2
3
2
A volunteer shares energy saving tips
with an elderly resident.
3
A youth speaking up at the PAYM Policy
Forum, YOUTHSpeak, on Budget 2011.
“It is indeed heartening to see the passion
of our young GRLs and volunteers, who
devote their time and commitment for the
betterment of the community.”
Wilson Loh Tuck Kong, 44, Constituency Manager of Kim Seng CC
and the then Staff-In-Charge of YEC.
The Youths of Today are
Engaged and Passionate
The PA works hard to involve
the young people of Singapore
in social and community work
because it recognises that today’s
youths will shape the future of
Singapore. It is their creativity,
energy and passion that will
propel the nation forward.
The good news is that the level of
social and community involvement
of Singapore youths has risen
over time. Today, 73 percent of
youths aged 15 to 19 are involved
in at least one social group and
42 percent are involved in volunteer
activities and community projects.
“There are many things competing
for the attention of the youths
of today. But I believe they are,
at heart, passionate about causes
they believe in,” commented lawyer
Olivia Low, 26, the chairperson
of Kebun Baru CC YEC.
“So it is a matter of convincing
them that grassroots work is
meaningful work.”
Currently, the PA reaches out
to 320,000 youths. Of these,
5,376 are GRLs.
“It is indeed heartening to see
the passion of our young GRLs
and volunteers, who devote their
time and commitment for the
betterment of the community
despite the multiple challenges
and demands from their work,
studies, family and social life.”
said Wilson Loh Tuck Kong, 44,
the Constituency Manager of
Kim Seng CC and the then
Staff-In-Charge of the YEC there.
More, however, can be done to
reach out to more youths. After all,
there are 1.3 million people aged
12 to 35 in Singapore.
63
Empowering Youths
A programme in National Junior
College helped Cindy Chng, 22,
a student entrepreneur realise that
she could make a real difference.
and Youth Expedition Project (YEP).
All these inspired her to embark
on the path of being a social
entrepreneur, doing good for the
local, regional and global community.
Recalled Cindy, who is currently
serving in Lam Soon CC YEC.
“I first got acquainted with the
National Youth Council (NYC)
through the Young ChangeMakers
programme when I was a student
in school. My school friends and
I saw that there was much to be
done for environmental conservation
in Singapore and we wanted to
embark on a recycling initiative
to raise environmental awareness.
As youths, we did not have the
resources but the seed funding
from the Young ChangeMakers
programme really empowered us
to take action and make it happen.”
Said Cindy, “Through the NYC,
I was given the opportunity to do
things that I would have never
dreamt of doing before, like being
able to attend the Peace Building
Training in Rwanda and taking
a greater stake in promoting
peace and harmony in Singapore
through talking to youths and
sharing my experiences with
fellow Singaporeans.”
She went on to participate in other
NYC programmes including the
International Exchange Programme
She added, “NYC’s programmes
have allowed me to become a
better youth leader, encouraged
me to take ownership of the
issues within my community and
developed me into a global citizen.”
To help youths realise their potential,
the PA provides enabling tools and
opportunities through a range
of programmes including the Young
ChangeMakers programme and
YEP. Both are run by NYC, a body
through which the PA seeks to
engage youths. The council runs
a variety of programmes that get
youths involved in their community.
The Young ChangeMakers scheme
is a seed project grant for youth
initiated projects that benefit
the local community and society.
Grant decisions and mentorship
of projects are governed by a panel
of youths, empowering them
as decision makers. Meanwhile
the YEP funds individuals aged
between 15 and 35 to embark
on Service-Learning expeditions
to South East Asia, India and China
for international community projects
with the goal of nurturing confident
youth volunteers who can identify
local and regional needs, and make
active contributions to communities
both at home and abroad.
“Through the NYC, I was given the opportunity
to do things that I would have never dreamt
of doing before.”
Cindy Chng, 22, student entrepreneur.
1
1
64
YEP participants embark on overseas
Service-Learning projects such as the
Project Ban Huiya (Thailand), where
they were involved in building a Medical
Consultation Room in a Medical Centre.
2
2
PM Lee meets participants of the
Prime Minister’s Dialogue held for
youths to share their views on social
and national issues.
3
National Youth Forum participants get
the chance to chat with then President
SR Nathan after a dialogue session
at the Istana.
3
Allowing Young People
To Speak and Be Heard
For youths to become more
engaged and acquire a sense
of belonging in the community,
the PA regularly consults them on
issues through dialogues, forums,
surveys and online platforms.
Among the many platforms
where youths can be heard
are the Policy Forums series
organised by PAYM and the
biennial National Youth Forum
organised by the NYC.
The Policy Forums series is a
platform for youths who are
keen in understanding and giving
feedback on government policies
and current issues. Since its
introduction in 2006, close to
8,000 youths have participated
in more than 80 forums organised
under its banner. Through the
forums held throughout 2010,
youths gained a deeper
understanding and better
appreciation of public governance.
This initiative also allows the
PA to reach out to new youth
participants – 40 percent of the
youths attending these forums
were first-time participants in
grassroots activities.
The National Youth Forum also
seeks to increase youth civic
participation and appreciation
for national policies. The 2010
event themed “Will You” was
held from 13 November 2010 to
19 February 2011 and featured
20 engagement sessions with
diverse stakeholders. Participants
conceptualised programmes and
initiatives to address issues around
5Cs, namely, Career, Comfort,
Children, Charity/Consideration
and Culture. This culminated in
presentations to Emeritus Senior
Minister Goh Chok Tong and
other relevant stakeholders and
agencies for consideration and
possible implementation.
In November 2010, a big assembly
of youths also had the opportunity
to share thoughts and ideas with
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
at the Prime Minister’s Dialogue
held at the *SCAPE Building.
The dialogue session organised
by the NYC saw 158 youths from
government agencies, educational
institutions and non-governmental
organisations sharing their views
on social and national issues with
the Prime Minister.
65
Engaging Youths from
a Young Age
One of the key strategies of the
PA in connecting with youths is
to engage them at an early age.
Involving youths early in their
community helps them build
character and offers them the
opportunity to learn about issues
facing Singapore and also the
opportunity to help shape the
Singapore of tomorrow.
The PA achieves this early
engagement through several
vehicles, including the PAYM
Service-Learning Clubs and
T-Net Clubs.
The PAYM Service-Learning Clubs
link secondary school students
with local grassroots organisations
(GROs), with YEC members
serving as mentors to the students.
Through the Clubs, students can
spearhead community projects,
leveraging on the community
resources and expertise of the
GROs. Since it kicked off in 2006,
4,200 students have gone through
the programme.
Meanwhile, T-Net Clubs are
non-profit centres that seek to
inspire and enrich the lives of
teenagers in Singapore. There are
currently eight T-Net Clubs around
the island that offer creative
learning programmes, community
services and sports activities to
develop teens to their fullest
potential throughout their
formative years.
Besides participating in educational,
recreational, sports and other
wholesome community activities,
some members become big
brothers and sisters to younger
members, guiding them and helping
to plan or run activities for them.
The clubs currently serves 9,200
teens. Among them is Nur Asyikeen
Binte Nahadi. Hailing from a lower
income, dysfunctional family,
Nur was doing badly in her primary
school. But things changed for her
after she joined the T-Net Club @
Bukit Merah and its Basketball
Interest Group. Club Manager
Ng Liap Soon successfully helped
her family obtain social assistance.
And both Liap Soon and his
Assistant Manager Tham Wai Yeng
guided and coached Nur in her
studies and placed her in the free
tuition service provided by Beyond
Social Service, a key partner of the
T-Net Club.
Today Nur, 13, is an ace at her
studies, having done well in the
PSLE exams. With the close
friendships that she has formed at
the T-Net Club, and the guidance
and support by the staff, Nur has
developed into a positive and
confident individual who treasures
the opportunity to be able to
1
1
18 Service-Learning Young Ambassadors
participate in a community service trip to
Kunming, China.
2
PAYM Service-Learning Club members
learn more about the winning projects
of Project Accolade 2010 at the PAYM
Service-Learning Festival.
66
continue her studies and pursue
her passions. She is now in the
basketball team at her school,
New Town Secondary School.
These days Nur is still active in
T-Net Club activities, especially
in the club’s basketball team and
lion dance troupe.
Liap Soon believes that every
teenager possesses unlimited
potential. That is why he works
hard to provide its members with
a wide variety of meaningful and
engaging activities.
Said Liap Soon, who is in his 60s,
“I strongly believe that most youths
can be groomed to become
leaders. You just have to give them
the opportunity and hand them the
responsibility. Early involvement
helps youth become adults who are
committed to change and improve
their community. In my experience,
youths can become passionate
about community work when
they are inspired and moved
by what they see. For example,
when we bring them to a home
for the disabled. At heart,
youths are idealistic and have
tender hearts.”
Developing Young Leaders
To prepare the young to lead
change in the community, the PA
offers various youth development
programmes designed to strengthen
their leadership capabilities.
2
3
Among them is the PA
YOUTHSLead Programme.
This programme introduces
community and grassroots work
to active youth leaders aged 18 to
35 who are not currently serving
in the grassroots. Participants are
nominated by their organisations
for the six-month long programme.
Since the launch of the programme
in 2008, 75 youth leaders
nominated from institutions such
as Mendaki, the Malay Youth
Literary Association, the Chinese
4
Development Assistance Council
and Boys’ Brigade have been
through the programme and
54 of them have since joined
GROs as volunteers.
“I joined the YEC after participating
in the PA YOUTHSLead Programme,
where I acquired more in-depth
knowledge of the grassroots
movement,” revealed Linda Tan, 34,
Vice Chairman of the Telok Blangah
CC YEC. “It’s been a fruitful journey
and I have enjoyed working with
my fellow volunteers to engage
the residents.”
“It’s been a fruitful
journey and I have
enjoyed working
with my fellow
volunteers to engage
the residents.”
Linda Tan, 34, Vice Chairman of
Telok Blangah CC YEC.
5
3-5
Youths go through teambuilding
activities as part of the PA
YOUTHSLead Programme.
67
68
Building an
Active
Community
69
Partners as Outreach Multipliers
Partners that Help Build
a Better Singapore
A great country is built not just on the economic wealth generated by its people
but also by its different communities working together to shape a better future.
Meaningful partnerships that impact lives – Woodgrove Secondary School students devise prototypes that would benefit the elderly.
70
“Through this project,
the students learnt
where these elderly
are, what issues they
face and how they
can help them.”
1
Alan Yap, 33, former Admiralty
Constituency Director.
1
Students from Woodgrove Secondary School showcase their project prototypes during an
exhibition on elderly healthcare issues.
The PA has always recognised
the power of collaboration. Since
the PA was established in 1960,
one of its key strategies has been
to work with partners in the
community to engage residents.
In line with that, the PA works with
many different segments of the
Singapore community, including
government agencies, community
organisations, corporations,
schools, religious organisations
and clans.
Today, the PA works with many
partners. Its corporate partners
include Néstle Singapore and Dairy
Farm Singapore. Its community
partners include Fei Yue Community
Services. It also works with
government bodies such as
NParks and the Ministry of
Information, Communications
and the Arts (MICA).
This ‘many helping hands’
approach has also led to more
help going out to those who
need it and to the nurturing
of a more compassionate and
caring society.
Building Compassion
Through Partnership
Since 2008, the Admiralty Citizens’
Consultative Committee (CCC)
has been partnering Woodgrove
Secondary School in the
Community Outreach Programme
to the Elderly (COPE).
The project began with secondary
three students accompanying
Admiralty Grassroots Leaders
(GRLs) on house visits where
they interviewed frail elderly.
The objective was to help these
students understand the plight
of the elderly in the Admiralty
community. Through those visits,
the students gathered information
on the dietary needs, medical
conditions and social interests
of these elderly.
From there, the students were
given free rein to propose activities
or devise prototypes that they
feel would benefit the elderly.
Among the programmes that the
students created were a health
screening event in July 2008,
public awareness exhibitions
on elderly healthcare issues
in November 2009 and mind
sports events for senior citizens
in November 2009 and October
2010. All these events were
co-organised with the Admiralty
CCC. During the Sembawang
GRC Active Ageing Carnival in
November 2010, the students
also presented their prototypes
of gadgets designed to aid
the daily lives of these seniors.
The Admiralty CCC is appreciative
of its supportive community partner
for the many initiatives that have
benefited the Admiralty residents.
Equally important, this project
gave Woodgrove Secondary
School students the opportunity
to understand the nature of
grassroots work. The project
also entrenched in the students
the importance of contributing
back to the community.
Said Sim Kin Chye, the Assistant
Treasurer of Admiralty CCC,
“Often, many young people
do not realise that there are
real issues and concerns in
the community they live in.
This project helped develop
awareness among the students
that the elderly in their community
had issues that they could help
to address. And the students
learnt where these elderly are,
what issues they faced and
how they could help them.”
The 59-year-old SMRT Line
Manager added, “Such projects
emphasise the importance of
compassion and will eventually
lead to an environment where
everyone cares for one another.”
71
Reaching Out to More in the
Community Through Partnering
Dairy Farm Singapore has been
a key partner of the PA, having
collaborated on various community
programmes that reached out
to residents and benefited the
needy. These include Heartbeat
– Many People, One Community
with Central Singapore Community
Development Council (CDC),
Step Up for Charity with South
West CDC and South East Skipping
Challenge with South East CDC.
intended target audience within the
community. As at 31 March 2011,
PA had 904,004 PAssion Card
members, out of which 720,625
were PAssion ez-link Card members.
Within the first nine months since
the launch of the new PAssion
ez-link Card, PA’s membership
base had increased by 38 percent.
This increase was driven by
Dairy Farm Singapore’s efforts in
promoting the PAssion Card through
publicity at points of sales and
other channels.
In April 2010, PA took the relationship
with Dairy Farm Singapore a step
further with the launch of the
TapForMore Rewards Programme
for PAssion ez-link Card members.
This proved to be a strategic
win-win partnership for both PA
and Dairy Farm Singapore as
the programme enabled both
organisations to reach out to their
Mr Lester Quah, General Manager
of Dairy Farm Singapore said,
“Our partnership with the PA helps
us to build brand loyalty among our
customers; understand them better
and bring more value to them.
The PAssion Card is a community
card which is an excellent tool for
PA to expand its outreach to the
community. With the partnership,
we have established an example
of how a successful partnership
between two diverse entities could
be established that is in line with the
goals of both partners and for the
benefit of the end users.”
The PAssion Card’s large
membership base, while optimizing
PA’s outreach to the community,
also serves as an effective tool
to understand the needs of
the different segments of the
community. This in turn helps
the PA develop programmes that
promote meaningful engagement
and interaction with the community.
By engaging organisations on the
areas that are close to their hearts
and creating a win-win partnership
culture, the PA believes that we
can look forward to nurturing and
developing sustainable collaborations
with our partners.
1
72
2
1
More than 1,000 residents participated
in Heartbeat – Many People, One
Community, a project by Dairy Farm
Singapore in partnership with Central
Singapore CDC. The event was a
mass percussion performance to
promote harmony through celebrating
the diversity of our multi-ethnic
community. The project was held
in support of the Orange Ribbon
Celebrations 2010.
2
Within nine months of the introduction
of TapForMore Rewards Programme
for PAssion ez-link Card members,
PA’s membership base increased
by 38 percent.
“The PAssion Card is a community card which is an excellent tool
for PA to expand its outreach to the community.”
Mr Lester Quah, General Manager of Dairy Farm Singapore.
Working Together to Bring Art
to Every Household
The PA partners government
bodies such as ministries, statutory
boards and government agencies
to implement a diverse spectrum
of programmes in areas such as
community sports, arts, culture,
health and wellness.
With the support of MICA and
the National Arts Council, the PA
introduced a PA Arts and Culture
for All Programme in the 3rd quarter
of 2011. As part of the programme,
by 2012, a new Community Arts
and Culture Club (CACC) will
be formed in each of the 87
constituencies which express
interest, adding to the family
of Grassroots Organisations
(GROs). The programme, which
will bring residents together
through arts and culture, is part
of Singapore’s Arts and Culture
Vision to build a nation of cultured
and gracious people.
The CACCs will work with their
respective Community Club (CC)
Management Committees and
other GROs to significantly enhance
arts and culture programmes and
activities, through arts and culture
courses, workshops and interest
groups such as performing
groups. Supported by the new
PA Community Arts and Culture
Division, the formation of CACCs
will result in more and better
performances at the constituency,
district and national levels.
The PA Arts and Culture for All
Programme will also contribute to
the vibrant arts and culture scene in
Singapore, for everyone, happening
everyday and everywhere.
73
Community of Volunteers
Building the
Singapore Spirit
“The Singapore spirit cannot be ordered into existence. It has to be built through
community involvement – by ordinary citizens coming together to volunteer for
the community, improve the living environment and help build a better Singapore
for all our children.” – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 2008 National Day
Rally speech.
Hard at work building the Singapore spirit – GRLs have fun during teambuilding activities at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS).
74
1
1-2
2
Volunteers participate in the Volunteer Induction Programme activities organised by
Community LEAD Champions at NACLI.
It is only when ordinary people in a
community stir themselves to help
others in the community that a true
civic society is formed. This act
of selflessness strengthens and
bonds a society like no other force
can and brings great benefits to
everyone. We call these ordinary
people “volunteers”.
and many others. These leaders
and volunteers do everything
from organising activities to help
residents know one another,
to identifying and helping the needy.
The one thing they have in common
is a passion to help and a desire to
engage others and build strong
bonds in the community.
Volunteers are people who know
what goes on in the community and
care enough about it to become
involved. They are people who look
beyond the welfare of their family
and friends to the welfare of the
whole community, extending a
helping hand to those who need
it in the community.
Expanding the Circle
of Helping Hands
Today, there are about 31,000
GRLs within the PA. The active
contribution of these 31,000
GRLs has seen many interesting
community activities and
programmes organised
for residents.
Volunteers make up the heart
of the PA. Working tirelessly to
reach out to the residents in
various ways, they allow the
PA to touch as many lives as
it does. The PA’s massive pool
of volunteers is made up of GRLs,
CDC councillors, youth activists,
senior citizens’ coordinators
To reach out to more residents
and deepen resident engagement,
the PA aims to encourage
more residents to step forward.
Its goal: to increase the number
of GRLs to 41,000.
Currently, the PA recruits between
3,000 and 4,000 new GRLs yearly.
These volunteers comprise a
healthy mix of ages and races
with different educational levels
and socio-economic backgrounds.
However, with the need to
attract more volunteers, the PA
has grown creative in developing
new volunteer recruitment
methods. These include Volunteer
Recruitment Fairs held in the
five districts in 2011 and tea
cum networking sessions with
potential GRLs. In addition,
personal invitations to join the PA
as volunteers were also extended
to PAssion Card members who
showed interest in volunteer work.
New volunteer Kelvin Lai Siew Kuan
appreciated the welcome mat
laid out by the Bukit Batok East
Community LEAD Champions
(CLC), which took the form of a
volunteer induction programme.
Selected GRLs were appointed
by the PA as CLCs since 2007
to identify, recruit and nurture
volunteers within the community.
75
“As the staff
supporting the
Sembawang CLCs,
I place a great deal
of importance on the
recruitment, retention
and development
of GRLs.”
1
Shashi Kumar, 32, Constituency Manager of
Sembawang Constituency Office.
1
“The Volunteer Induction Programme
organised by the Bukit Batok
East CLC was an excellent
platform for new volunteers to
be familiarised with the grassroots
movement. After going through
the programme, I was able to
relate to the residents’ concerns
on the ground as well as bridge
the gap between residents.
The sense of satisfaction received
from volunteering is simple yet
rewarding,” said 38-year-old
property agent Kelvin Lai Siew
Kuan who is now an Executive
Member of the Bukit Batok East
Zone 3 Residents’ Committee.
Grooming Leaders
Simply recruiting volunteers is
not enough; to become effective
community leaders and organisers,
volunteers must be equipped with
the necessary skills and knowledge.
Commented Shashi Kumar,
32, Constituency Manager of
Sembawang Constituency Office,
“GRLs play an important part
76
GRLs support each other in their climb up the OBS rock wall during a Teambuilding
Programme for GRLs.
in engaging the community and
they have to be equipped with
the proper skills to be successful
in doing this. As the staff supporting
the Sembawang CLCs, I place a
great deal of importance on
the recruitment, retention and
development of GRLs. Seeing
new GRLs joining our family and
becoming good leaders is very
gratifying for me, particularly
when they show their leadership
skills through the organising
of meaningful activities for the
residents of Sembawang.”
One of them was 35-year-old
Raymond Ang Kok Leong, the
Chairman of Zhenghua CC Youth
Executive Committee. Raymond
enrolled in the NACLI-Republic
Polytechnic certificate programme
and emerged a new leader.
Declared Raymond, “I now lead
my committee in a more structured
manner. Now, for every event,
we have a theme, an approach
and know who are our target
audience.” The training he received
also helps him to better motivate
his team.
To groom leaders, the PA leans
on two resources: the National
Community Leadership Institute
(NACLI) and Outward Bound
Singapore (OBS).
Meanwhile OBS, a pioneer of
experiential learning, focuses on
developing confidence, strengthening
teamwork and character building
through its outdoor education and
adventure learning programmes.
Guided by its mission to develop,
align and inspire leaders, NACLI
has helped thousands of volunteers
realise their leadership potential.
Between April 2010 and March
2011, NACLI trained more than
15,500 GRLs.
In 2010, OBS trained more than
1,800 PA staff, GRLs and volunteers.
And next year, to groom more
effective community organisers and
facilitators, OBS will put another
5,500 PA staff and GRLs through
teambuilding and leadership
development courses. In addition,
OBS launched a customised
teambuilding programme in
January 2011 designed to help
strengthen the bond between
new and experienced GRLs.
It Takes Many Hands to Build
a Great Society
By inspiring and fuelling the passion of its volunteers and grooming
their ability to lead, the PA is setting the foundation for a great
civic society.
Said David Tay, the Chairman
of the Tampines East CCC,
“The Outward Bound Programme
gave me a better understanding
of my constituency office staff as
well as our GRLs. It allowed me
to know the strengths of each and
every one of them and how we
could leverage on each person’s
strengths and capabilities to work
better as a team.”
The commitment of the GRLs
shined through during their training,
said Vincent Wong, the Head
of Training and Development at
OBS. “It is heartening to see the
enthusiasm of the GRLs. Their
level of engagement in the activities
was very high. During their time
in the programme, I could see
passion, positivity and boldness
in the way they braced up for
challenges that came their way.
This speaks volumes about how
they would commit to their role as
volunteers in their constituencies.”
Brought together by a shared purpose, GRLs and volunteers will
work wholeheartedly with their community to build a brighter
future for Singapore.
“My twenty years serving as a
grassroots leader in Tampines has
been the most memorable part of
my life. Seeing the happy faces of
the residents brings me immense
satisfaction. Together, we will build
a vibrant and caring community.”
David Tay, PA Board Member and Tampines East CCC Chairman.
2
2
GRLs form the ‘Circle of Trust’ at an OBS Teambuilding programme for GRLs.
77
78
Strengthening
Our Team
79
Strengthening Our Team
Strengthening and
Empowering Our People
For one day every year, the PA headquarters at King George’s Avenue resembles
a playground. In rooms where serious meetings are usually conducted, you’ll find
throngs of children between the ages of five and 12 accompanied by their parents.
And peals of laughter continually ring out as both parents and children play games
and do arts and craft.
Not all work and no play – The Bring Your Child to Work Day is one of the several programmes in place to ensure work-life balance for PA staff.
80
1
1
PA staff’s children pick up ballroom
dancing moves from a trainer during
the Bring Your Child to Work Day.
“We appreciate and value the commitment and
passion our staff have for their work. And so,
while they take care of the public, we do our
best to take care of them in every way.”
Lee-Goh Siew Yem, Human Resources Director, PA.
The reason for all this gaiety in the
workplace? It’s Bring Your Child to
Work Day at the PA.
Jointly launched in 2007 by the
PA Staff Club and the Work LifeWorkplace Health Promotion
(WL-WHP) Committee to allow
children to understand the work
that their parents do at the PA and
to encourage bonding between
parent and child, this scheme
has been a great hit.
Last year, 60 PA staffers and their
children spent the first half of the day
picking up ballroom dancing together,
followed by a hands-on session of
terrarium making, and finished off
with a basic Korean language class.
The second half of the day was just
as special: That was when the
children hung out in their parents’
cubicle and met their colleagues.
The scheme is just one of the PA’s
many initiatives to promote work-life
balance; initiatives that stem from
the PA’s conviction that people are
the organisation’s most important
asset and must be treasured as such.
“We appreciate and value the
commitment and passion our staff
have for their work. And so, while
they take care of the public, we do
our best to take care of them in
every way,” said Lee-Goh Siew Yem,
Human Resources Director, PA.
The PA believes strongly in meeting
the practical, real needs of its people
not just at work but outside work.
It does this by creating a caring,
supportive, empowering and healthy
environment for its employees.
A Caring Environment
The PA believes that for people to
give their best at work, they have
to enjoy coming to work. To ensure
that its staff come to work every day
with a spring in their step, the PA
provides a pleasant and caring
environment at work through many
little but thoughtful gestures that
shows the organisation cares about
the well-being of its people.
These gestures include Birthday
Off, a scheme that gives all staff
a day off in their birthday month,
wedding gifts for newly-weds and
baby gifts for newborns.
Besides Bring Your Child to
Work Day, the organisation
also creates Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day e-cards for their
staff to send to their parents,
and holds activities for singles
so that they can mingle.
“The PA is a very people-oriented
employer,” noted Loo Fey Shien,
Assistant Director of the Interest
Group Development. “It organises
a lot of work-life balance activities
that help colleagues bond,
which makes it a joy to work
here. That is what makes us
stay on at the organisation.
The environment is informal
because of these ice-breaking
activities. We find work life
exciting. And we become
more like friends rather
than colleagues.”
81
1
2
1-2
A Supportive Environment
Everyone needs a helping hand
from time to time. Recognising
this, the PA structured a system
of support so that its employees
can get the help they need in
difficult times. This will greatly
reduce their distress and anxiety
while dealing with traumatic or
unexpected life events.
Callie Chew is one PA staff who is
appreciative of the support offered
by the organisation. The Deputy
Director (Awards Management)
of the Volunteer Management
Division was able to take two
days off under a new scheme
introduced in January 2011
called the Elder Care Leave.
The two days allowed her to take
both her parents – who are in
their 60s – and her 88-year-old
grandmother for their medical
appointments. All three have
mobility issues.
“Two days may not sound like a lot,
but you can get a lot done in two
days. Personally I think a scheme
like this is very important because
the population of Singapore is
graying. And it is going to get
worse, because most parents
now have just one or two children
to share the care load. But above
all, the emotional support provided
by the organisation is a great
morale booster. It reflects the
82
PA staff have fun during the Inter-Divisional Games 2010 which included a telematch
and sandcastle building.
understanding that we all have
a family to care for and it makes
the organisation more caring.”
the PA sponsors part of the cost of a
PA officer’s course of study with no
bond attached to the sponsorship.
Added Callie, “It’s clear that the
PA does treasure its staff, and has
thought out what its people need,
both for themselves and their family.”
Said Lay Hoon, “For me, the
STEP UP scheme has provided
significant encouragement to take
on a part-time Masters course. This
has helped me fulfil my aspiration to
upgrade myself and in turn to better
contribute to the PA. The STEP UP
grant would really help me in my
payment of the course fees. ”
An Empowering Environment
Staff well-being goes beyond
providing a plethora of benefits.
It is also about giving individuals the
professional support they need to
succeed at work every day. The PA
focuses on schemes that help their
employees enhance their skills and
grow their talents, and in this way
ensures that its people find their
careers and working environment
meaningful, supportive and
engaging. Every form of learning,
the PA believes, will stimulate its
people and refresh them for their
role in carrying out the PA’s mission
– serving the people better.
Tan Lay Hoon, the Constituency
Director of Sembawang Constituency
Office, is among those who have
benefited from this philosophy.
Next year, Lay Hoon will be
embarking on a part-time Master
in Organisational Leadership,
organised by Monash University via
Kaplan APMI. Up to 40 percent of
her course fee will be paid by the
PA under a new training scheme
called STEP UP. Under the STEP UP,
In addition to this scheme, the PA
also gives out scholarships and
interest-free study loans for staff
and academic awards and education
grants to the children of its staff.
A Fulfilling Environment
The PA recognises staff for their
excellent work. In 2010, five staff
received the Outstanding Staff
Award, 16 staff received the Staff
Merit Award and three staff received
the Health Champion Award.
In addition, seven teams received
the Special Teamwork Award while
213 staff received various Long
Service Awards.
In recognition of the outstanding
work performance and dedicated
service to the nation, 25 officers
were also bestowed the National
Day Honours in 2010.
Said Nicholas Gerard Conceicao,
Director of Outward Bound
Singapore, PA, “I feel very honoured
and privileged to be conferred the
National Day Public Administration
Medal (Bronze). I accept it as
recognition of the team effort,
support and contributions of my
supervisors, colleagues and friends
at PA. Their steadfast commitment
to excellence and passion to go the
extra mile served as my inspiration
and indeed made my work
enjoyable and fulfilling.”
A Healthy Environment
The PA champions a healthy
lifestyle. In line with that, healthy
lifestyle programmes, including
exercise activities and stress
management programmes, are part
and parcel of work life in the PA.
These programmes have benefited
many PA staffers, including Finance
Officer John Toh. They led John to
not only shed 15 kilogrammes but
also to go from being an unfit couch
potato to a marathon runner.
In 2009, the 30-year-old was
appalled to find himself weighing
115 kilogrammes. He was also
unfit, panting heavily after jogging
just 100 metres at a slow pace.
To shed some weight, he started
going to the office gym everyday,
which was conveniently located
just below the Finance Division
at the PA headquarters. But the
weight really began dropping
when he enrolled in a weight
management workshop ran by
the PA, which taught him how
to eat healthily.
Today, John is not only slimmer,
he can proudly call himself a
marathon man. He recently
completed two 10 kilometre races
and plans to take part in more long
distance running events in 2011.
Declared John, “I have benefited
a lot from the PA’s facilities
and programmes for health.
They are formulated to match the
demographics of its employees.
Therefore the programmes lined
up are of real and practical use
to the staff.”
3
In addition, the PA encourages its
staff to form interest groups to allow
like-minded colleagues to come
together and share their passion.
These interest groups include the
Ladies Wellness Club and the
climbing, cycling, trekking, brisk
walking and soccer interest groups.
For its commitment to promoting
a healthy lifestyle for its staff,
the PA was awarded the HEALTH
Platinum Award by the Health
Promotion Board in 2010.
To encourage its staff to lead
an active and fulfilling life,
the PA organises a whole host
of programmes that encompass
personal, psychological, financial
and social development.
It was also awarded the Everyday
Champions Award 2010 by the
Singapore Sports Council and
POSB for the support it provided
its staff in sporting activities and
also for benefiting the community
through the sporting activities
it organises.
They range from annual events
such as A.C.T.I.V.E Day (a day set
aside for PA staff to do exercises
For the PA, there is no doubt
about one thing: the organisation
that plays together, stays together.
“I have benefited a lot from PA’s facilities and
programmes for health which are formulated
to match the demographics of its employees.”
John Toh, 30, PA Finance Officer.
together), the PA Family Day
Carnival and the Inter-Division
Games to regular healthy eating and
cooking classes, smoking cessation
sessions, weight and cholesterol
management programmes and
mental well-being talks.
3
Staff benefit from health talks on
weight and cholesterol management
and mental well-being as well as a free
health screening.
4
Staff participate enthusiastically during a
mass workout session on A.C.T.I.V.E Day.
4
83
84
Financial
Highlights
Contents
86
Statement of Comprehensive Income
86
Statement of Financial Position
87
Consolidated Operating Income
88
Consolidated Operating Expenditure
85
Statement of Comprehensive Income
For FY2010, the People’s Association (the “Association”) achieved a surplus of $23m (net of Government
Grants), a reduction of $8m compared to $31m surplus in FY2009.
Operating expenditure for the year increased by $30m to $409m and was funded by increased government
grants, more donations solicited and higher contributions for activities and projects.
Operating income
Operating expenditure
Operating deficit
Non-operating gains/(losses)(net)
Deficit before government grants
Government grants
Surplus/(Deficit) Total comprehensive income
Increase/
(Decrease)
$’m
FY2010
FY2009
$’m
$’m
34
409
(375)
9
(366)
389
23
23
27
379
(352)
12
(340)
371
31
31
7
30
23
(3)
26
18
(8)
(8)
Statement of Financial Position
Capital
Accumulated Surplus
Equity
Property, plant and equipment
Other non-current assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Deferred capital grants
Net assets
86
FY2010
FY2009
$’m
$’m
43
285
328
386
23
389
(118)
(16)
(336)
328
27
262
289
392
24
342
(98)
(15)
(356)
289
Increase/
(Decrease)
$’m
%
16
23
39
(6)
(1)
47
20
1
(20)
39
59
9
13
(2)
(4)
14
20
7
(6)
13
Consolidated Operating Income
The Association reported 26% ($7m) higher total operating income of $34m in FY2010 over $27m in
FY2009. The increase was mainly due to increased donations and contributions to fund more community
outreach and engagement activities.
FY2010
FY2009
$’m
$’m
Course fees
Donations
Contributions for activities and projects
Administrative charges on CC/RC course fees
Total operating income
10
12
9
3
34
10
9
6
2
27
Increase/
(Decrease)
$’m
%
–
3
3
1
7
–
33
50
50
26
FY2010 Operating Income
Administrative charges
on CC/RC course fees
$3m (9%)
Course fees
$10m (30%)
Contributions for
activities and projects
$9m (26%)
$34m
Operating
Income
Donations
$12m (35%)
87
Consolidated Operating Expenditure
Total FY2010 operating expenditure increased by $30m or 8% to $409m as compared to FY2009
expenditure of $379m. The higher expenditure was incurred to fund more activities and programmes
to widen outreach and engagement for FY2010, which saw an increase of 9% for the year.
FY2010
FY2009
$’m
$’m
Staff costs
Activities and projects
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment Rental expense
Professional services
Subsidies and contributions
Others
Total operating expenditure
183
78
44
43
23
16
22
409
149
66
59
41
24
17
23
379
Increase/
(Decrease)
$’m
%
34
12
(15)
2
(1)
(1)
(1)
30
23
18
(25)
5
(4)
(6)
(4)
8
FY2010 Operating Expenditure
Subsidies and contributions
$16m (4%)
Others
$22m (5%)
Professional services
$23m (6%)
Rental expense
$43m (11%)
$409m
Operating
Expenditure
Staff costs
$183m (44%)
Depreciation of property,
plant and equipment
$44m (11%)
Activities and projects
$78m (19%)
88
A Raindance design & production
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
9 King George’s Avenue
Singapore 208581

Link - Parliament Of Singapore

Transcription

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