Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.
Tel: 3757794/5
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SPEECH BY MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI, MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, AT THE LIA VOLUNTEER AWARDS PRESENTATION, ON WED, 29 MAR 2000,
AT 12.30 PM AT MARRIOTT HOTEL, THE GRAND BALLROOM
Good Afternoon
Mr Tan Suee Chieh, President of the Life Insurance Association, Singapore
Dr Richard Eu, Chairman, Community Chest
I am glad to be here this afternoon at the 10th
Anniversary of the Life Insurance Association (LIA) Volunteer Awards Presentation.
I would like to commend the Life Insurance Association for its dedication
in contributing to the community and for organising this awards presentation
to honour those who serve the community without expecting any reward or
recognition.
Volunteerism has always been a subject close to my heart.
Not just because it is an issue under the purview of the Ministry of Community
Development, but because it is one of the most important ingredients for
building a cohesive and resilient community. It is one of the key driving
force in strengthening our sense of rootedness and community bonding.
At a Workshop on Volunteerism in November 1998, we sought
feedback from volunteers and volunteer user organisations on how we could
promote volunteerism in Singapore. The suggestions we received contributed
towards the setting up of the National Volunteer Centre, or NVC, to drive
volunteerism in Singapore and to encourage greater participation in volunteer
work.
I understand that this year's LIA Volunteer Award is,
for the first time, open to foreigners who have been residing in Singapore
for three or more years. I applaud this initiative. It is indeed timely
that we recognise and include friends of our community in such an award.
As Singapore globalises, we will have a growing international community
living in Singapore. Many of our foreign friends living here participate
very actively in community service.
Not only do we welcome them to participate in Singapore's
economy, we also welcome them to interact with Singaporeans, to join us
in contributing to the Singapore community. They too can play a role in
making Singapore a caring and active community.
Volunteerism is not a new phenomenon among foreigners
resident in Singapore. I am happy to note that many in the expatriate community
have taken a lead in voluntary work. In April last year, US firms and the
American expatriate community got together to offer their skills and resources
to charities. Together, they set up a charitable project called "Friendship
Works". They offered their premises, equipment, expertise and financial
assistance to a number of local charities. Another sterling example is
the American Women's Association which donated a total of $135,000 to more
than 20 charitable organisations. The members of the Japanese Women's Volunteer
Group have also been actively volunteering at the Singapore Cheshire Home.
Apart from this, many others also volunteer their time in a range of community
services including helping out at the Singapore Zoo and the local museums.
These are but a few examples of how our foreign friends contribute to our
community. I would like to commend them for their dedication and good work.
It is my hope that we will increasingly see even closer
collaboration between local and expatriate volunteers. Many of these volunteers
come from countries where volunteerism is an integral part of their lifestyle.
They bring with them their unique experiences, expertise
and ideas on volunteer management. By working together, there can be a
cross-fertilisation of ideas on recruiting, retaining and managing volunteers
in Singapore.
This afternoon, I would like to commend all the recipients
of the LIA Volunteer Award both Singaporeans and expatriates for their
hard work and selfless contributions. I hope that today’s award winners
will be a continual source of inspiration to others. I encourage them to
keep up their excellent work, and I am confident that they will continue
to derive as much satisfaction from their work as their beneficiaries do
from their contributions.
My best wishes to you and I hope you have a pleasant day.
Thank you.
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