Embargoed for publication till 15 September 2016, 2.30pm
media advisory
10 Eunos Road 8 Singapore Post Centre
#12-01 Singapore 408600
Tel: (65) 6319 8712/52 Fax: (65) 6319 8755
Website: www.cdc.org.sg/SouthEast
15 September 2016
News Editor
A GLIMPSE INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM
Singapore, 15 September 2016 – More than 15 years ago, Mr Pankaj Lunia left his home in India and came to Singapore, eventually settling down in Singapore and calling it his home. But his life in Singapore was still far from perfect. With his busy work schedule, it was difficult for him, a foreigner, to find time to integrate into the society, and Pankaj struggled to fit into the Singapore culture. So, when his company, IBM Singapore Pte Ltd, embarked on the Corporate Community Laboratory (see Annex A for more information) by South East Community Development Council (CDC), Pankaj jumped at the chance. It was not only a chance for him to give back to the community, but also a chance for him to meet and interact with the local community.
Through the Corporate Community Laboratory, IBM Singapore launched a project to help Pertapis Halfway House residents to reintegrate into the society. Through a series of group discussions and analysis, they realised that the residents are keen to return to the society to work, but lack the confidence in job-searching. Over the next few months, IBM Singapore guided and mentored these residents in interviewing skills, as well as shared success stories as a form of motivation.
“I see volunteering as a way to localise,” Pankaj shared, “It was a great experience. We got to see an aspect of life we hardly get to experience. We were able to learn the concerns and fears of the residents while they were in the process of getting back to the society. I am happy that we could engage the residents well and were able to demonstrate that the society cares for them. I hope to continue volunteering, because not only do I get to help people, I get the chance to get closer to the community as well.”
IBM Singapore has clinched one of the 67 awards given to Corporate Partners and Community Partners, such as Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Schools (See Annex B for full listing of Award Winners), at the Mayor’s Appreciation Luncheon on 15 September 2016. There are five categories of awards, namely the Corporate Social Ownership Award, Active Citizenry Award, Big Hearts Award, Inspiring New Star Award and Token of Appreciation.
The annual Appreciation Luncheon is organised by South East CDC to show appreciation to Corporate and Community partners for their strong support, strengthen existing partnerships with corporate and community partners leading to more sustainable efforts, as well as forge partnerships with new corporate partners. To engage the partners, as well as heighten awareness, six organisations will be setting up booths at the luncheon. The booths will showcase the works done by their beneficiaries, as well as allow partners to experience the challenges faced by beneficiaries through a series of activities. The six organisations are Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Katong, Filos Community Services, Metta Welfare Association, Peacehaven Bedok Multi-Service Centre, The Singapore Association of the Deaf and Yellow Ribbon Project.
Dr Maliki Osman, Mayor of South East District, shared, “It is important that when corporate and community partners step forward to assist the less fortunate in the community, they have a certain level of understanding of who they are helping, why they are helping, and what kind of help they are able to give. At South East CDC, we aim to connect the community to best align the appropriate needs with the assistance that the partners are able to offer, at the same time providing a meaningful experience for our community partners to deepen their understanding and root themselves more in the community.”
This is also the first year where youths from APSN Katong School, Metta Welfare Association and seniors from Thye Hua Kwan Senior Activity Centre (THK SAC) @ MacPherson are invited to build Lego awards to express their appreciation to the corporate and community partners. Lego was chosen as it is represents the process of community-building. Just like how the different blocks are assembled together to form the awards, our different stakeholders can come together to build a stronger community.
We invite your journalist and crew to join us at the event. For more information, you may reach Ms Claire Koh at 9695 7630 / Claire_Koh@pa.gov.sg or Audrey Liew at 9221 2133 / Audrey_LIEW@pa.gov.sg.
Interviews with Dr Maliki Osman, Mr Pankaj Lunia and award winners can be arranged at your request.
Detailed Programme
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Date |
Thursday, 15 September 2016 |
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Time |
11.30amArrival of Media Engagement at Exhibition Booth
11.45am Guests to be seated
12.00pm Arrival of Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman Mayor of South East District Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grassroots Adviser to East Coast GRC GROs
12.05pm Opening Remarks by Mayor Community Laboratory Video
12.30pm Lunch, Networking and Media Interviews
1.30pm Presentation of Awards Presentation of Token of Appreciation Presentation of Inspiring New Star Award Presentation of Big Hearts Award Presentation of Active Citizenry Award Presentation of Corporate Social Ownership Award
2.30pm End of Programme |
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Venue |
Concorde Ballroom, 3rd Level (Lobby Level) Concorde Hotel Singapore 100 Orchard Road Singapore 238840 |
About South East Community Development Council
South East CDC was set up on 24 November 2001. It oversees the Marine Parade Group Representative Constituency (GRC), East Coast GRC, Fengshan Single Member Constituency (SMC), Mountbatten SMC and MacPherson SMC, and serves a population of about half a million residents. At the helm of South East CDC is Mayor Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, who steers efforts in achieving the three strategic thrusts that guide the work of the CDCs. Termed the “ABCs of Community Bonding‟ — Assisting the Needy, Bonding the People and Connecting the Community — South East CDC initiates and manages programmes in collaboration with both community and corporate partners along these three strategic thrusts, so as to nurture a vibrant and self-reliant community.
For more information on South East CDC, visit www.cdc.org.sg/SouthEast or be our Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/secdc.
Annex A
Corporate Community Laboratory
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BACKGROUND Community Laboratory @ South East was conceived in 2011 as a four-stage community service leadership programme to immerse students in “real” community experiments and raised their social consciousness.
Many of the participants shared that this programme gave them rich learning experiences in understanding community issues and the helping landscape in Singapore. With the experiences, they were able to spin off more relevant community projects to address service gaps.
Given the great success, Community Laboratory @ South East progressed to include Corporate Organisations in 2014.
Programme Highlights (4 I’s)
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QUOTES FROM PARTNERS: This programme is great for all who intend to volunteer for medium term duration to see through and experience meaningful changes for both volunteers and beneficiaries Low Shao Jun, Management Associate Citi Singapore
As a recent resident of Singapore, this programme helped me to get closer to Singapore. Gives me the opportunity to meet another side of Singapore, we hardly get to see in our day to day lives. Pankaj Lunia, IBM Singapore
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Visits and interactions with social workers and beneficiaries to better understand their needs. |
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Working with the VWO to carry out the community service project |
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Interactions with local adviser and community leaders through Meet-the-People Sessions |
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Sharing by SE CDC on many helping hands approach and roles of various agencies |
Annex B
List of Winners for Mayor’s Appreciation Luncheon @ South East
Corporate Social Ownership Award
This award is given to corporate partners who have long term partnerships with South East CDC and contributed to the community in terms of cash and product sponsorships, as well as involving their staff as volunteers in the programmes.
Active Citizenry Award
This award is given to corporate partners who have contribution of skills/staff hours.
Big Hearts Award
This award is given to corporate partners who have made monetary donations or donation in kind.
Inspiring New Star Award
This award is given to new corporate partners in 2014
Token of Appreciation
This award is given to community and corporate partners in 2015.
Corporate Partners
VWOs
Schools