sinda connections
DESCRIPTION
June, 2011TRANSCRIPT
MICA (P) 115 ⁄ 08 ⁄ 2010
JUNE2011 $500,000 Relief Package Unveiled at the SSC Launch (P11)
COMMEMORATING 20 YEARS
ContentsCEO’s Message (P1)
Blazing the path to University with SINDA (P02)
STEPping Up in the Next Decade (P03)
Aceing the A’s with Saadhana (P04)
Amazing Race @ The Zoo (P05)
Young Agents of Change (P06)
Breaking Record @ Family Day (P08)
Community Matters: Your Views Matter (P10)
$500,000 Relief Package Unveiled at SSC Launch (P11)
V is for Volunteer (P12)
Indian Businessleaders Roundtable (P14)
COMMUNITY
STUDENTS
STUDENTS
STUDENTS
FAMILY
FAMILY
SINDA
YOUTH
Advisor: Mr T Raja Segar, CEO, SINDA
Writers & Designer: Green House Design + Communications Pte Ltd
Editors: Corporate Communications Team, SINDA
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LOOK OUT FOR EXCITING
UPDATES ONLINE!
NDA’s now on social media!e you?
NEVER FAR FROM YOU
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hth tp
Watch SINDA events now! Here’s a video of what we were up to in 2010
ONE MORE QR CODE HIDDEN INSIDE. FIND IT! Hint: It’s DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s speech!
SINDA
Watch videos on your Smartphone! Look out for these Quick Response (QR) Codes in this issue! INSTRUCTIONS:1. Turn on 3G2. Download a free QR code reader to your smartphone3. Scan the QR Code
1
CEO’S MESSAGEMY MESSAGE FOR THIS SINDA CONNECTIONS ISSUE is
an excerpt from the speech I made at the Narpani-SINDA Family Day
at Downtown East on 24 April 2011. I hope to reach more through
this newsletter.
SINDA turns 20 this year. Looking back at the last 20 years,
we see the Indian community progressing well. Thanks to efforts by
schools, families and students who have realised that the path to
progress is via a good education, more are passing PSLE, GCE ‘O’
and ‘A’ Levels and going on to tertiary education. But there is still
room for improvement. There is still a performance gap at landmark
examinations between the Indian average and the national average.
We need to bridge this gap by reaching out to the frontrunners in
the race.
When students fail subjects like Mathematics, many
opportunities are closed to them. Those who qualify for tertiary
institutions tend to choose softer options in terms of courses.
This usually leads to economically less-viable career prospects,
which leave many in the lower income bracket or below the middle-
income band.
Our education system has multiple pathways for those with
varied capabilities and talents. There are still many families that have
not accepted ITE (Institute of Technical Education) as an educational
pathway yet. If they visit the new ITE campuses, they will most
defi nitely change their minds.
Education is a key enabler in upward social mobility and many
amongst us have proven that time and again. For those with a strong
drive for excellence, Singapore offers tremendous opportunity for
career and success. Students and parents need to take that to heart
to excel in their studies and their work and to be recognised. Only
then will we be able to positively contribute to the progress of the
nation and partake in the fruit of that progress.
What is needed is a new approach. A sense of urgency needs
to be felt, in order to jumpstart the action that will once and for all
address the shortcomings of ourselves and our community to leave
behind a life of mediocrity.
A sense of urgency needs to be felt… to leave behind a life of mediocrity.
SINDA cannot do this alone. It needs a collaborative effort
from teachers, volunteers, temples, mosques, churches and
sub-ethnic community organisations to guide our chilldren. Hence,
we invite more of you to come into the picture to ensure that, as a
community, we focus more on doing the right things.
Parents, strive to create a good home environment for your
children. Save more; spend on your children’s education; take action
when you see them underperform and be involved in their schools.
Likewise, Second Language teachers can do more to reach
out to these children. Whether from Tamil, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati
or Bengali schools, you have fi rst-hand contact like no other with
the future Indian community. Leaders of community and religious
organisations are also great agents for reaching out, motivating the
community and addressing issues when you see them.
Finally, I appeal to our students to aim high and never give
up. You have the power to create your own future. Seek and seize
the opportunities that are around you. Life is an exercise in balance.
Don’t let time pass you by. Understand that time will not return. Do
the right thing now. Seize the day!
As SINDA plans for the next 10 years, we must function in a
different manner to ensure the community succeeds. Together, we
can stand tall in Singapore.
Raja SegarCEO
Mr Raja Segar (extreme left) with a participating team in ‘Amazing Race at the Zoo’ (P05)
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2
“MY NAME IS K. PAVITRA KANAIAH.
I have been offered a place at the National
University of Singapore to do a Science
Degree.”
The pride that shines through this
innocuous statement is wonderful. It is
the heartfelt joy of a young girl from a
disadvantaged family, who was once barely
scoring C6 grades in school.
Pavitra’s story is one of triumph
against tremendous odds. Her father is the
sole breadwinner of the family. He suffers
from heart disease. Her mother requires
regular medical attention and is unable to
work. The family was plagued by fi nancial
diffi culties as she was growing up.
Pavitra shares, “Our only goal and aim
was to pursue a Degree in order to improve
our situation.”
SINDA became involved in Pavitra’s
quest for success when she was in Secondary
1. She had enrolled at the Sengkang STEP
Centre and soon started scoring good
grades. She did well in her “O” level exams,
earning a place at Serangoon Junior College.
Pavitra attributes her good results to her
dedicated and patient tutors who spent their
time selfl essly with students.
However, while at Junior College,
Pavitra found herself faltering in her studies.
By the second year, she was getting “Ungraded” scores in all subjects. She realised that she
needed help and her zeal to succeed saw her enrolling in the Saadhana tuition programme on
a full subsidy. This academic help and the redoubling of her efforts consequently earned her a
place at NUS.
“Even today, my family is still benefi ting from SINDA,” says Pavitra. Since 2005, SINDA
has provided both her and her brothers bursary awards and fi nancial aid. She elaborates,
“There was a point in time when we were unable to pay for my brothers’ ‘O’ Level and my ‘A’
Level fees. SINDA immediately responded with fi nancial help. We would not have been able
to carry on with our education otherwise.”
Pavitra’s two younger brothers are also former STEP students who have done well in the
2010 ‘O’ Levels. Both K. Rohinesh and K. Revinesh are now in junior college. Pavitra is grateful
for the assistance accorded to her family, “My family and I are very grateful to SINDA!”
And SINDA is proud of these motivated young siblings who are rising above their
circumstances to take their place as stars of the future.
“MY NAME ME IS K. PAVITRA KANAIAH.
have been offerefered a place at the National
University of Singaporepore to do a Science
Degree.”
BLAZING A PATH
Model Mathematician Sums Up SuccessMOHANDASS KALAICHELVAN received the SINDA Excellence
Award in 2009 for scoring 8 ‘A’s in his GCE ‘A’ Levels. The 20-
year-old’s impressive college successes include making the Raffl es
Junior College (RJC) Dean’s List and receiving the Prime Minister’s
Book Prize as well as several national inter-school sports trophies.
Mohandass is also an active supporter of non-profi t projects such
as Tapestry 2008 where he helped to raise $50,000 for Singapore’s
visually handicapped.
He will be reading
Mathematics at
Dartmouth College
in the USA from
September 2011 on
the Defence Science
Technology Agency’s
(DSTA) Overseas
Undergraduate
Scholarship.
Join the ranks of students such as Mohandass and strive to be among the top Indian students in Singapore! The prestigious SINDA Excellence Awards now honours students graduating from top overseas universities as well. THE CRITERIA FOR RETURNING GRADUATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Students must have obtained a 1st Class Honours or equivalent.
He/she should be a PSC/Statutory Board/Government scholarship
holder or from prestigious universities which are ranked higher than
any one of the local universities (NUS, NTU and SMU) in
The Times Higher Education - World University Listings
(http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-
rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html).
So, if you are a star achiever from a distinguished overseas
university, you might be our next SEA winner!!!
Nithya
63937230
Dilraaj
63937224
+++MoSu+++++++++++
TO UNIVERSITY WITH SINDA
ores in all subjects. She realised
NDANDA
FOR FURTHER DETAILS & REGISTRATION, CONTACT:
ST
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3
STEPping Up in the Next DecadeSINDA TUTORIALS FOR ENHANCED
PERFORMANCE (STEP) was one of our earliest
programmes which has proven its success with countless
Primary and Secondary school students for about 20
years. There are now 21 STEP centres island-wide
providing tuition in English, Maths, and Science.
STEP students are now able to opt for two
Maths classes a week, letting them work more on a
subject that has been a concern for them. Besides
simply improving grades, the STEP programme
provides students with opportunities to develop their
self-confi dence and take charge of their life, through
various enrichment activities.
For example, in April this year, 74 upper
primary students from STEP centres island-wide
participated in an invigorating Heritage Trail along the scenic Singapore River.
The inter-disciplinary activity had elements of National Education, Mathematics and
motivational factors infused as the children learnt about Singapore’s unique history.
Aided by high-tech mobile devices, this made for an out-of-the ordinary experience!
At STEP classes, students’ performances are monitored through centre-based
tests and recognised at both centre-based prize presentations and at the Joint-Tuition
Awards Ceremony.
STEP also aids in imparting skills to parents and tutors on how to nurture these
students’ abilities through open communication and regular dialogues.
Best of all, families can now pay even less under the new relief package
(See page 11). There are certainly ample reasons to step into a STEP centre today.
REACHING OUT TO MORE STUDENTS means bringing help right
to the doorstep of schools. Cue Project Teach − SINDA’s quality
tuition that is both accessible and affordable. Conducted within the
schools, these classes work around school hours for the students’
convenience. Small group sizes offer personalised attention, and fees
are heavily subsidised. Project Teach commenced in 2001 at Stamford
Primary School with 13 students. Today, SINDA reaches out to 800
students through Project Teach centres in 40 primary schools.
On 16 April 2011, SINDA President Ms Indranee Rajah and
members of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees visited
Project Teach at Boon Lay Garden Primary School. Project Teach
students, their parents and tutors shared their views on the education
of Indian students and the Project Teach programme in general.
Mrs Christina Shirley, a Project Teach tutor of eight years,
observed, “I’ve built bonds with each child, their parents and the
school coordinators. It’s been a blessing indeed. Some of them are
now in Sec 3 and 4 and I’m teaching their younger siblings − it really
strengthens my commitment!”
SINDA continues to look for opportunities to commence Project Teach centres in
more Primary schools. To know more about Project Teach, log on to http://www.sinda.org.sg or write to us at [email protected].
More than just Tutorials
Thought SINDA’s education
programmes are just for the kids?
Think again! We don’t just help
our children with their schoolwork,
we make sure that their tutors
and families give them the right
support as well. It’s all part of
SINDA’s holistic approach to giving
education a boost.
For the Tutors...
The Tutor Orientation
Programmes held in January and
April proved to be fruitful and
engaging sessions for SINDA’s
STEP and Project Teach tutors.
New initiatives were introduced
and tutors benefi ted from the
sharing and exchange of ideas.
They also learnt useful training
strategies for the classroom.
For the Parents...
Across 19 STEP centres,
500 parents attended the
Parent Orientation Programme
emphasising the importance of
their children’s education. It was
a rewarding session for parents
as they had the opportunity to
meet their children’s STEP tutors
and centre principals. This was an
opportunity many parents took
to discuss how the children could
improve their performance with
STEP. Parents also learned about
the various activities organised in
their respective STEP centres.
For the Students...
An exciting e-Learning initiative
was launched on 27 April for
STEP students at Woodlands Ring
Primary School. For these students,
studies have become interactive
and fun, even at home!
e-Learning is part of SINDA’s
mission to provide quality
educational programmes.
PROJECT TEACH: Study Help at Hand
4
ACE-ING THE WITH SAADHANA
Cost (after 50% discount for Indian students)
Date Time Subjects
JC1 For the next 16 weeks, you only pay:1 subject - $1232 subjects - $2463 subjects - $369
Every Saturday18 June to 1 October(16 weeks)
2-hour sessions: - 0900-1100- 1115-1315- 1400-1600
· Maths (H1,H2)· GP (H1)· Economics (H1, H2)· Physics (H2)· Chemistry (H2)· Biology (H2)
- Classes for other subjects such as Geography/History available if a minimum of 6 students sign up- Max. 3 subjects per student
JC2 For the next 20 weeks, you only pay:1 subject - $1652 subjects - $3303 subjects - $495
Every Saturday18 June to 29 October (20 weeks)
Help your kids mind their maths
TIP 1: Build your child’s interest in Maths from young. When your child is interested, half the battle is won.
Strategy:Expose your children to ‘Real World Maths’ to stimulate their thinking. Use everyday objects such as clocks, measuring cups and counting blocks, books, etc. to introduce general mathematical concepts. Develop their interest further through simple and fun Maths articles and investigative projects from the Internet.
TIP 2: Work with your child’s Maths Teacher to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses.
Strategy 1:Talk to your child’s school teachers at the start of the new academic year, to identify areas of concern. They would be able to offer follow-up actions for parents to help address the issues.
Strategy 2:If your child requires extra time and individualised attention, you can consider enrolling him/her in SINDA’s STEP classes or the Collaborative Tuition Programme run by the self-help groups. You can also engage a tutor with good credentials and experience.
Strategy 3:Alignment with the school’s curriculum will provide consistency for your child to grasp the concepts fi rmly.
Strategy 4:Monitor your child’s progress. If your child is confused or is not benefi ting from the extra help, step in to rectify the problem.
TIP 3: Practice makes perfect.
Strategy:Try modifying the questions in school assignments and test papers to create more practice for your child. Rope in siblings and relatives to help!
TIP 4: Help your child learn from mistakes.
Strategy:Revise papers with your child to understand his/her mistakes. Make him/her do ‘corrections’ a few times. You might want to create your own worksheets with errors and get your child to identify the mistakes.
TIP 5: Foster good time management skills.
Strategy:Daily practice within stipulated time frames will help your child ace his/her Maths examination.
TIP 6: Cultivate a climate of high achievement at home.
Strategy: While you inspire your child to aim for high goals, remember to set realistic
targets in consultation with the subject teacher. Celebrate every success! Verbal and non-verbal affi rmation (like putting up a “Well Done” card) will motivate your child to better the performance.
A supportive home environment is crucial in a child’s academic and social development. Believe that your children can excel in Maths, and reap the rewards with them!
Saadhana is an annual ‘A’ Level tuition project spearheaded by the National University of Singapore Tamil Language Society (NUSTLS)
and supported by SINDA and Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET). This year’s Saadhana kicked off on 12 March. The subsidised
programme will see our Indian ‘A’ Level students giving their all in pursuit of an university education.
The programme runs from March to October each year. Don’t miss this opportunity!For more information, visit www.nustls.org
Saadhana commenced on 12 March 2011. Students are still welcome to register for classes. The fee structure below is for those who join us after 18 June.
Parents, you can help your children score in Maths. Mdm Sivakami Alagumalai nee Mrs Segar, Senior Maths Teacher at Evergreen Secondary School, offers the following tips and strategies for parents.
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WHAT WERE NEARLY 100 students
racing (and horsing!) around the Singapore
Zoological Gardens for? It was all in the
pursuit of education, of course!
Besides solving Maths challenges,
Science Quizzes and English Puzzles, these
Primary 5 and 6 students from fi ve schools
had a day of team-building and confi dence-
raising fun as they defi ed the morning heat
and afternoon rain to hunt down answers to
numerous quizzes through various games.
This motivational activity held on
19 February was organised by SINDA in
collaboration with the Raffl es Institution
Junior College Indian Cultural Society,
as part of SINDA’s Project GuidE.
AMAZING RACEat the zoo
P1 STARTERS‘A RIGHT START TO A BRIGHT FUTURE’
- that’s what 50 parents pledged for their
children when they attended the P1 Starters
seminar on 26 March at SINDA.
SINDA’s Senior Director, Mrs Sarojini
Padmanathan; Principal of Fernvale Primary
School, Mdm V Balakrishna; and Nascans
Winning Strategies for PSLE Students
Views and ideas were abundant as 50 Junior
College students came together at the LASALLE
College of the Arts to consider paths to success
through Junior College and beyond. There to
inspire them were three exemplary Indian youths
who have excelled in their respective fi elds: LTC
Gaurav Keerthi, Air Force Pilot; Mr Joel Arun,
NUS medical student; and Ms Lingehswari Eisvran,
Teacher at Bukit Panjang Government High School.
Views and ideas were abundant as 50 Junior
College students came together at the LASALLE
PLANET JC‘Where to... after Junior College?’
It was well worth the effort for about 200 students who
turned up at Cheng San Community Centre on a Sunday morning.
Under the motivational coaching of Mr Vijayan Nambiar on 20
March and 5 June, this Primary 6 cohort of Indian kids tackled tricky
Maths questions with renewed confi dence.
Maths was no longer tedious work when a winning mindset
was adopted, and by the end of the day, it was bright smiles all
around as most participants showed remarkable improvements in
their post-test results.
Learning is always more effective when coupled with fun, and
with SINDA, learning is always exciting!
More than 100 Primary 5 and 6 students had a whale of a time
at SINDA’s Project GuidE motivational workshop on 16 April. Held at
Republic Polytechnic, trainers and facilitators from Nascans Pte Ltd
taught them how to maximise their potential with skills such as self-
understanding, self-motivation, goal setting and time management.
They also benefi ted from fun English, Mathematics and Science
enrichment activities.
A GuidE to Excellence
Pte Ltd’s Principal Consultant, Dr Chris Koh
gave tips to the parents while the graduating
kindergarteners enjoyed Maths and Science
games in another room.
Parents took home key lessons on
building strong bonds with their little ones
and easing their transition from kindergarten
to primary school. “It was indeed very good.
We should have more such workshops,”
enthused participant Ravichandran.
ect GuidE.
A
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CHANGEYoung agents of
Developing the next generation of youth
leaders has been an aspiration of SINDA,
and under our fl agship SINDA Young Leaders
Programme (SYLP), there are currently 11
young leaders actively engaged in community
building projects.
One on-going endeavour is SYLP’s ‘Act
to Change’ programme, in which participants
initiate, design and implement a local
project based on an actual community need.
Complementing this is a requisite overseas
study trip, (see other story, Learning at Kerala). ‘Act to Change’ has seen SYLP participants at
SINDA’s STEP centres since January to study
how Indian parents can motivate their children
to achieve their best. SINDA is proud to
champion these young leaders’ efforts.
If you are between 17 and 25 years of age and are interested in contributing to Singapore’s Indian community, do get in touch to fi nd out more about the SYLP. Contact Ramesh at 6393 7256 or [email protected]
LEARNING AT KERALA
In Conversation Series
INDIAN YOUTH ARE NOT SHYING AWAY from issues of
community responsibility. On the contrary, 60 tertiary students
and young working professionals took full advantage of an
opportunity to engage Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Parliamentary
Secretary, Ministry of National Development, in a lively debate
on 11 April.
The event, centred on ‘Community Matters - From
Service to Leadership’, had Dr Maliki sharing his experiences
in the social services sector while the youths brought their
concerns and offered fresh perspectives. The ICS is a regular
SYC dialogue with prominent community leaders and
outstanding industry professionals from various fi elds.
Look out for our next session with Mr Moonshi Mohsenruddin, CEO of CommGate Inc. Mr Moonshi will recount his journey of self-improvement from being a 14-year old school dropout to attaining his current success.
FROM 15 TO 20 MARCH THIS YEAR, seven of our Youth
Leaders embarked on a community engagement and study
trip to Kuchapuram, Kerala. Visiting the K. E. Carmel Central
School opened their eyes to the importance of non-school-
based support for under-achieving students.
Kerala has one of the highest literacy rates in Asia.
Leveraging on existing partnerships between Singapore’s
Ministry of Education and Kerala’s educational institutions, the
SINDA Youth Leaders Programme (SYLP) participants aimed to
generate ideas and identify processes that can be modifi ed for
our own SINDA STEP pupils.
The interaction with the Kerala community proved
insightful, and our SYLP participants will subsequently conduct
a comparative analysis between Kerala and Singapore as part
of the ‘Act to Change’ programme (see article below - ‘Young
Agents of Change’).
A ROUSING ROADSHOW AT ITEWHAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS TO GIVE THEIR BEST AND ACHIEVE THEIR AMBITIONS? Four Institute
of Technical Education (ITE) graduates shared their inspiring success stories at the ITE Roadshow on 15 April.
The 260 ITE students in attendance also heard from Mr Moonshi Mohsenruddin, who transformed from school
dropout to tech company CEO. In addition, Vasantham artistes entertained the students at the event held at ITE
College East.
Internationally lauded, ITE is at the cutting edge of vocational institutes. ITE students can look forward to a
bright future on successfully completing their courses, with one in four expected to advance to the polytechnics by
2015, and 90% of job-seekers fi nding employment within six months. The encouragement from the roadshow will
certainly motivate our ITE students further!
16 TEAMS OF INDIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
battled it out at the SINDA-TRC Futsal Fiesta on 26 March
2011, in an exciting display of skill and fi tness.
This was the fi rst time that SINDA, through our Youth
Club, has been a partner in the Tamils Representative
Council (TRC)’s annual futsal competition, allowing us to
reach out to more students for our STEP Tuition Centres
and other youth based activities.
“The event was amazing!” exclaimed Jeremiaah
George, 17, from the winning team, Stadio C. “We didn’t
expect to win the trophy today. It was defi nitely a pleasant
surprise.” His team beat Stadio A to bring home the
challenge trophy and a $500 Sportslink voucher.
Mr Inderjit Singh, SINDA Term Trustee & Member of
Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio GRC gave away the prizes.
Fun-tastic Futsal!
What did the well-received programmes, DraMaths, Amazing Race and Study Smart have in common? They were all organised by the Raffl es Institution Junior College Indian Cultural Society (RIJC ICS). To encourage their continued journey with SINDA, the President of SINDA hosted the young Gryphons to an appreciation dinner themed “Footprints”, in April. We look forward to these young volunteers becoming long-term champions and supporters!
Little Steps, Big Footprints
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WHAT A CELEBRATION! The
Narpani-SINDA Family Day was a grand
event, with more than 7,000 people at
Downtown East on Sunday, 24 April.
The occasion was graced by His
Excellency President S R Nathan, who called
it “a very special event for all of us in the
Indian community”.
As part of SINDA’s 20th anniversary,
we partnered PA’s Narpani Pearavai for the
fi rst time in the Family Day event, which
was organised together with the South East
and North East Indian Activity Executive
Committees (IAECs).
Both President Nathan and SINDA
CEO Mr Raja Segar urged each family and
the Indian community to work harder to
eliminate the academic underperformance
of Indian students. Mr Raja stressed, “We
all know that education is a key enabler in
upward social mobility.” He added, “A sense
of urgency needs to be felt... to address the
shortcomings (and) lack of vibrancy.”
The day’s exciting programme
included 1,741 participants coming together
to earn a place in the Singapore Book of
Records for the ‘Most Number of People
Painting at One Location’. Among them
were Indians from all walks of life, capturing
the spirit of the event tagline, ‘A Brighter
Future, Together’.
2
FAMILY DAYFAMILY DAYFAMILY DAYFAMILY DAYFAMILY DAY
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FAM
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS included the donation of
computers to 20 needy students, as well as a
stage version of the popular “Enna Nadakuthu” or
“What is happening?” Tamil television programme.
Visitors were delighted to interact with popular
Vasantham artistes from the “Uncle Taxi”
variety show, and enjoyed an Aarokkia Aattam
demonstration, besides other games and fun-fi lled
activities promoting active and healthy living.
‘Edu-tainment’ for the children came in the form
of a ‘MAD’ Scientist and MatheMagician, while
SINDA offi cers manned booths reaching out
to parents to enrol their children in the various
educational/ enrichment programmes. Participants
also took advantage of the good weather to
enjoy free entry to the WildWildWet and Escape
theme parks.
We, as family and community, need to motivate our children and youth so that they would aspire for greater success in education and the attainment of success as they embark on careers.
President S R Nathan
10C
OM
MU
NIT
Y
COMMUNITY MATTERSAFTER 20 YEARS OF RAISING the educational and socio-
economic profi le of the Indian community, SINDA is re-assessing
its position in the Indian community and charting the way forward.
As we gear up to do more, we have reached out to hear the views
and opinions of the community.
Sixteen Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held from January
through May this year yielded valuable feedback. The groups
comprised of various educational, family and community stakeholders,
involving parents, students, teachers, social workers, media personnel
and benefi ciaries, as well as community and religious leaders. Mr Bimel
Ram, one of the FGD facilitators, remarked, “It was a rare opportunity
to get a fi rst hand glimpse into the psyche of various sub-ethnic
groups of the Indian Singaporean community”.
In addition, two Dialogue sessions were held in April. SINDA
consulted community leaders and professionals in retrospect of the
last 20 years and in planning the initiatives for the next decade.
So, what are some of the perspectives from the ground? Let’s hear it from two of our FGD facilitators...
MR BIMEL RAM
• On the Focus Group Discussions:“It was amazing how diverse the
perspectives, understanding and thoughts
about the state of the community and the
approaches to handle them were.”
• On SINDA’s performance:“SINDA, given its infrastructure, contribution
from the community and connectivity, was
seen by most, regardless of background
as the organisation that is best equipped
to handle not just educational pursuits
but also the socio-economic issues of
the community.”
MR MAHENDRAN REDDY
• On issues facing the community:“The main feedback shows SINDA’s on the
right path, focusing on education to raise
the standard of the masses; that this is the
area to fund. Another main concern was the
ability of parents to provide a conducive
learning environment for their children.
SINDA needs to provide a programme to
educate and equip parents for the task.”
YOUR VIEWS MATTER
• On what can be done:“The current cohort of Primary 1 Indian
students needs to be nurtured. We’ll have
to provide resources so they can adopt the
needed skill sets for school and life. We will
track their performance (in not just academic
development but also Sport, Music and
the Arts) until Primary 6, and then you’ll
have the results to show for it. The fi nancial
contribution by every Indian Singaporean
could be tagged to a percentage of their
salaries to fund this. It’s a radical idea to
achieve substantial momentum for educational
excellence amongst Indian Singaporeans.”
We engaged more
than 250 members of the
community through the
FGDs and Dialogues.
This interaction has
proved to be a constructive
exercise. Signifi cant themes
were highlighted in issues
concerning parenting, nursery
education, youth motivation, and perception of SINDA. These
qualitative fi ndings will complement a quantitative study done by
professional study teams looking into education and family issues.
The review will allow SINDA to further fi ne-tune our services to better
suit the needs of the community.
Look out for the full report, to be released in September 2011!
FAM
ILY
11
SINDA’S STEP AND TEACH STUDENTS
are among those who will benefi t from
a $500,000 boost as part of the ‘Grow &
Share’ relief package announced by SINDA.
Amidst rising infl ation, families can
breathe a little easier with increased help
from SINDA education bursaries, to the
tune of $220,000. The current 1,650 bursary
recipients from Primary to JC level can look
forward to a monthly $20 top-up to their
current awards.
The bursary criteria has also been
tweaked to allow more students to
benefi t from the scheme, with ‘Nett’
income replacing ‘Gross’ income in the
consideration, and the per capita income
ceiling raised from $450 to $600 for families
with special circumstances.
$210,000 has been earmarked for
students in SINDA’s academic programmes,
STEP and Teach, on top of the existing
subsidies SINDA already offers. Those whose
household per capita income is below $600
will enjoy a full fee waiver, while those with a
higher income will pay only 50% of the fees.
The rest of the relief package goes
towards vouchers, ezlink cards and food
rations for the benefi ciaries of SINDA
Family Service Centre to offset the increase
in the cost of living. This additional family
assistance is valued at $70,000.
Preparing healthy meals for your childThe best way to encourage your children to eat healthily is to set an example by eating well yourself. Try these simple steps:
Whole-grains for a Better FillWhole-grains may not be the most palatable to your child, but they are healthier and keep your child full for a longer time. Have whole-grain bread for breakfast, chapatti for lunch and whole-wheat biscuits at snack time. Use whole-meal fl our when cooking or include brown rice as part of a main meal.
Healthy Snacks For The Growing ChildKeep your fridge stacked with cheese, low-fat milk and yoghurt. If your child is not allergic to nuts, unsalted cashew nuts and almonds work well too. Limit snacks such as potato chips and cookies to special occasions. Bake chips instead of frying them.
Get The Goodness From Fruit Cut fruit of variety of colours into fun shapes and chill them for a nutritious afternoon snack.
Be Creative With Vegetables Be innovative. Include vegetables in your child’s diet by grating them into scrambled eggs or slipping them into sandwiches.
Go For Sugar-Free DrinksCurb your child’s sweet tooth by replacing sugary drinks with plain water. Water is the best thirst quencher!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE HEALTH PROMOTION BOARD
The relief package was announced by
DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Chairman
of SINDA, at the offi cial launch of the SINDA
Service Centre (SSC) on 26 March 2011.
Located at Jurong Point, the SSC is a more
accessible one-stop information and referral
point for families living in Western Singapore.
JUST TWO MONTHS OF TRAINING was all it took for two
SINDA teams from Project Athena to bag an award each at a
LEGO robotics competition in January. Of the 37 competing teams,
SINDA’s “Brilliante Challengers” won the Rising Stars award,
while “Commando Machiners” won the Creative Quality award. 16
awards were given out in this FIRST LEGO League (FLL) event.
Ms Baonee Tham, the volunteer who coached our teams,
won the Best Mentor award.
1
2
3
5
4
$500,000 RELIEF PACKAGE Unveiled at SSC Launch
SINDA KIDS WIN
UST TWO MONTHS OF TRAINING was all it took for two
SINDA teams from Project Athena to bag an award each at aS
LEGO LEAGUE AWARDS
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Turn on 3G
2. Download a free QR code reader to your smartphone
3. Scan the QR Code
Want to watch DPM Tharman’s speech?
{
A RECIPE FOR KINDNESS
For some people, doing what they love is all the more satisfying when it is for a good cause. Take celebrity chef Mrs Dorothy Krishnan, who has dished up more than just recipes with her latest publication, ‘The EZ Cookbook’ − she’s stirred up a good deal of compassion for the less fortunate too. Mrs Krishnan has donated 300 copies of her cookbook to raise funds for SINDA’s annual fund-raising campaign, Project Give.Get a taste of her culinary creations and
help the underprivileged at the same time,
by purchasing her cookbook today! Copies
of The EZ Cookbook are still available at
$25 each − call 6298 5911 to purchase. All
proceeds go towards Project Give.
At a Cairnhill Community Club event held on 16 January, Chef Dorothy raised $1000 for Project Give through sales of her book.
VO
LUN
TE
ER
12
VV is for Verve... Vibrancy... Vitality... V is for Volunteer!VOLUNTEERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED largely to SINDA’s success in the last 20 years.
As we look forward to the next 10, we hope
there will be more of you who will share our
aim of reaching out to the less privileged
members of the Singapore Indian community.
Our volunteers are key to the success
of our programmes; from reading to children
at our Reading Circle programme at centres
islandwide to mentoring youth. They
distribute gift hampers to families during
festive seasons. Lawyers offer free legal advice
to families with issues. Of different ages and
walks of life, they give freely of their time to
assist those who need help.
There’s never a time like now to take
that fi rst step to be a volunteer. SINDA is
constantly on the look out for enthusiastic,
committed individuals to join our
team. Having twice won the National
Volunteerism Award for our Volunteer
Management System, SINDA is well
placed to help translate your good
intentions into action. Students, you too
are welcome to fulfi l your Community
Involvement Programme (CIP) hours
with us.
Every effort is valued, and we
do our part to keep our volunteers
motivated, honouring them through our
appreciation tea events.
Log on to www.sinda.org.sg to learn about how you can help. Call: 1800 – 295 4554
Email: [email protected]
{ }V
OLU
NT
EE
R
13
ALL FOR THE LOVE OF READING
Mesmerising Entertainment for the Little OnesWhat does it take to keep 80 young children
rapt in their seats? A master story-teller! On
26 February, children from SINDA’s reading
programmes were captivated by the story-
telling skills of Ms Rosemarie Somaiah. The
free session was conducted in collaboration
with the Asian Storytelling Network. A big hit
with the children, such events will go some
way in spurring on their reading efforts.
I think that Project Read is one of the best projects that SINDA has initiated. We open up a whole new horizon when children can read...
IT IS THIS STRONG BELIEF THAT DROVE JACINTA to be involved in Project Read,
despite her busy schedule as a legal counsel with the Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR). For more than a year, she has been working with children from a family
that resettled here from India. Project Read has given her an avenue to contribute her time
productively and work with children too, something that she enjoys.
Jacinta’s young charge Fatima is older than the rest of her Primary 4 cohort at school
and she has two siblings − Karim, a younger brother in Primary 2 and Shahul, an older brother
(pseudonyms are used for benefi ciaries). Most Saturdays, Jacinta helps Fatima and Karim
with English and their schoolwork. She even introduced phonetics to help fi ne-tune
Karim’s reading skills.
Jacinta always fi nds new ways to make language learning interesting. She once bought
Fatima a hardcover book with decorative stones on it; Fatima has been recording new words
and meanings in the book. From time to time, they also discuss newspaper articles.
Jacinta has developed a good rapport with Fatima’s family. Knowing that one’s time
goes towards a useful purpose is fulfi lling in itself, but to be appreciated and to see results
is the icing on the cake. Recently, Jacinta was heartened to learn that her students’ oral
exam results have improved. She also observed that the children were starting to cultivate
good reading habits, encouraged by their mother. These things spur her on in her journey
of volunteerism.
... You need commitment to be part of a project like this. Once you have engaged a child, keep going. When you see that the child can read, you will feel a great sense of fulfi llment.
– Jacinta Mahtani, a SINDA volunteer
IAVE Delegates visit SINDAON 22 JANUARY, SINDA was proud to host 15 delegates from the
21st International Association for
Volunteer Effort (IAVE) World Youth
Volunteer Conference.
With the aim of gaining an insight
into the local volunteering scene, the
conference representatives learnt
about SINDA’s various volunteer-driven
programmes and services. These youths,
who hailed from Canada, Germany,
Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and
Thailand, observed our volunteers at
work during a reading session, and later
interacted with both volunteers and kids.
The IAVE Conference was
jointly organised by the Singapore
Management University (SMU), the
National Youth Achievement Award
- Gold Award Holders Alumni (NYAA-
GAHA) and the Young Men’s Christian
Association (YMCA).
THE INDIAN BUSINESSLEADERS ROUNDTABLE (IBR) was
established in February this year. A SINDA initiative, the IBR is set to
engage prominent Indian professionals in Singapore on issues relating
to the Singapore Indian community, as well as in fund raising efforts.
Mr Girija Pande, Chairman of IBR, had this message for these
distinguished newcomers, “You may be surprised to learn of the large
needs that exist even in a country like Singapore. The onus is on us to
help (the less fortunate) lead more fruitful lives.” Mr Pande is Chairman
of Tata Consultancy Services, Asia Pacifi c and a Trustee of SINDA.
IBR is the fi rst formal forum through which recently-arrived senior
Indian business leaders and professionals (the cream of the Indian
diaspora now based in Singapore) are brought together. Invited
members range from those serving on public sector boards, to senior leaders in private enterprises and multi-national companies.
They will bring to the table their collective expertise and networks to help contribute to the welfare of the local Indian community.
SINDA hopes to benefi t from IBR’s advice, and leverage on their connections to support its wider mission. IBR promises to be an
enriching and rewarding endeavour for those involved. This is a fulfi lling way for recently-arrived Indian professional talent to contribute
and sink roots in Singapore.
INSPIRATIONAL TALKSTips for parents were aplenty at the workshop “How Parents Can Help Their Children Do Better in Their Studies and Behaviour” on 25 February this year. It was conducted at Beatty Secondary School by Mrs Sarojini Padmanathan, SINDA’s Senior Director. Dr M Andal, a Tamil teacher at the school, shares the feedback gathered from the event:
“The concise and inspirational talk helped parents develop more positive attitudes in their teenagers. The speaker is very knowledgeable and had a good understanding of children. The concept she shared, of knowing your teenagers by getting to know yourself, is very helpful.”
FROM DETRACTOR TO SUPPORTERMr Raghavan Prem Kumar approached SINDA as a beneficiary seeking assistance for his son’s education and other needs. He did not expect to receive much help and has since been touched by the courtesy and genuine concern shown by SINDA’s officers. He says:
“In these troubled times, most of us in the low income bracket have given up hope. However, the people at SINDA, especially Ms Vigneswari and Mr Ragu (both from SINDA Service Centre at Jurong Point) and Mr Saravanan GS (from the Youth Department) have put in their time and effort to make my life better. I really appreciate them from the bottom of my heart.”
YOUR VOICE
14
PLEDGING TO SCORELivesha is a 12-year-old who attended SINDA’s Winning Strategies seminar for PSLE students. It was conducted
by Mr Vijayan Nambiar. Livesha says:“Thank you for having me at the seminar. I really learned a lot of simple methods to solve maths questions and also have made new friends! I will never forget this help and I will prove to you that I WILL get As or A stars for my PSLE!”
Indian Businessleaders Roundtable
15
VISIONTo build a strong and vibrant Singaporean Indian community together
MISSIONTo build a well-educated, resilient and confi dent community of Indians that stands together with the other communities in contributing to the progress of multi-racial Singapore
VALUESRespect, our cultureIntegrity, our foundationService, our promiseExcellence, our pursuit
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PatronPrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Chairman, Board of TrusteesMr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Life TrusteesProfessor S JayakumarMr S DhanabalanMr S Chandra DasMr J Y PillayMr Sat Pal KhattarMr Tharman ShanmugaratnamMr K ShanmugamDr N Varaprasad
Term TrusteesMr Bobby Chin Yoke ChoongMr Ravi Menon
Mr Inderjit SinghMs Indranee RajahMr Haider M SithawallaMr V ShankarMr M RajaramMr Hsieh Fu HuaBG Ravinder SinghMr R JayachandranMr Gautam BanerjeeMr Girija Pande
AdvisorsDr Vivian BalakrishnanMr S IswaranMr Hri Kumar Nair
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President, Executive CommitteeMs Indranee Rajah
Vice Presidents, Executive CommitteeMr Viswa SadasivanMr Shabbir Hassanbhai, PBM
SecretaryMr Sarjit Singh
TreasurerMr Subramaniam Iyer
Members – Executive CommitteeMr V P JothiMr R RajaramMr Aaron ManiamMr Naseer GhaniMr Puvan AriaratnamMr P Thirunal Karasu, BBMDr Joshua V M Kuma
About SINDA
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