Mr Lim Chee Onn, Executive Chairman of the Keppel Group

Mr T U Naidu, President of APSN

Ladies and gentlemen

2 The CFA caters to children with special needs who have grown into young adults. After spending their early years in the APSN Junior, Intermediate and Senior Schools, some of these special children will move on into the CFA where they will learn additional skills or hone existing ones to better prepare them for integration into society.

3 Special schools serve children from 6 to 18 years old. When they leave the protective environment of the schools as young adults, they face the responsibilities of adulthood and the challenges of being a part of mainstream society. The CFA is here to provide a seamless support for the transition from school to employment. Vocational guidance is especially important to young adults with special needs and their caregivers in their choice of employment. At CFA, these adults are helped to upgrade their skills and will receive further training until they are placed in employment.

4 Beyond education, training and social interaction, the CFA can also serve as a place where adults with special needs can turn to for support. The CFA counsels the special adults and their families, negotiates with the employers on their behalf and in essence, provides a bridge between the persons with special needs and the rest of society. Here they can also receive legal therapy and counselling assistance or referrals.

5 As you can see, we are not only witnessing the opening of a physical facility. CFA is also a place for community support that is so vital to these special young people. The opening of the CFA would not have been possible without the efforts and financial assistance of the Keppel Group. This collaboration is a good testimony to the successful partnership between the private sector and a voluntary organisation.

6 Corporate Volunteerism is a key area that my Ministry and the National Volunteer Centre have been promoting and I am happy to note that the Keppel Group has taken up the challenge of developing corporate volunteer programmes within its organisation. You have a large pool of employees to tap on and you have committed to volunteer not only money but also time. This is how volunteerism should be.

7 I understand that it is not always easy for a business organisation to promote volunteerism when there are bottom lines to think of and business initiatives to implement. But volunteerism and success in business need not be mutually exclusive goals. This is clearly as demonstrated by the Keppel Group, which has been running a successful volunteer programme for the past one and a half years now. Your year round commitment to participate in APSN’s activities clearly reflect your seriousness in being a good corporate citizen.

8 The Keppel volunteers raised $78,000 through the sale of Christmas and New Year cards last year. That money had gone to renovating this old school building for the CFA that you see today. The Keppel volunteers have shown that in the midst of pursuing economic growth and prosperity, it is through volunteering our resources, either time or money, that we can promote a more gracious and compassionate Singapore.

9 But as we all know, the building no matter how new and well equipped will be but empty shells without the warmth of human activities. So your continued commitment to this project will bring life into the rooms and hallways.

10 And on this note, I extend my heartiest congratulations to the APSN and Keppel Group and wish them every success in their collaboration to fill this place with love, joy and enthusiasm for our special young people.

Thank you.