Volunteerism an important social glue to bond the community together

Mayor Low Yen Ling

South West District Councillors

Corporate partners, Community Leaders and Friends of South West District

1. Speaking on behalf of residents of South West District, particularly residents of Yuhua Division, I would like to thank the CDC for your work in the district, the assistance and grant schemes, the ideas that you have for the environment and all the capability building and networking you have conducted in schools. You have connected us to the much larger network of partners at the local level to strengthen the social safety net in Singapore, and we hope that you will continue to help us grow this network.
   

Introduction

2. As we look from SG50 to SG100, after what we have achieved in the last 50 years, what should we do next as Singaporeans to leave our legacies for the next generation and the generations after? Earlier, when we were planning SG50 and seeking feedback on the icons that define Singapore, suggestions like durians, the Esplanade, using tissue to chope seats at hawker centres, traffic wardens who make their rounds floated up. What I really would like to see in future when we are designing the icons is to show that we are caring, united, resilient, warm-hearted, generous, kind and that we care for our neighbours and families, and more importantly, the impact that we have made in society. If we can define Singaporeans in those terms, we would have really been successful, and the effort towards that day starts from today and from everyone.

3. South West CDC has been an advocate and driving force of volunteerism and philanthropy. You’ve rallied corporates, individuals and non-profit organisations to support the less fortunate in our community. I’m glad the CDC is also dedicating this evening towards recognising the invaluable contributions of the volunteers here.

Giving back to society

4. I believe that a hallmark of success for a nation goes beyond having a strong economy or achieving prosperity. A nation is successful when there is a widespread culture of contribution. And when we have a community whose people care for each other, and feel a shared responsibility for the common good, this is what defines us as a successful nation. In doing so, you are also helping to build a resilient and strong community that looks out for one another. Not just in good times, but also when things may not be so good.

5. The SG50 year really brought home the importance of cohesiveness and community for me. I saw many Singaporeans coming forward to celebrate our nation’s birthday and progress, and the Singapore Spirit came alive at the high points, at our SEA Games and the NDP, and also during the sad passing of our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.  Remember the moments during the seven days, where Singaporeans just stepped forward to help out - giving out breakfast and cold drinks for people, sheltering them with umbrellas – all self-organised from the ground, and this is the real Singapore Spirit.

6. As we move on together, there are new and emerging divides: the difference between classes, between locals and foreigners, between those with different values and beliefs. Looking back the past 50 years, most of us didn’t have very much. We grew up in the same environment, we attended the same schools, our parents worked in the same kind of profession, so we shared a lot of common experiences.

7. Going forward, this may not be the same. There are opportunities that benefit the highly-skilled more, there are some who are able to tap on globalised markets, being more economically successful than the rest. On the other hand, there are some of us who may lack the necessary skillsets to make the changes on the technological front. Hence, the gap between the haves and have-nots could widen if we are not careful, and that might spark potential conflicts or tensions. These are all new divides – the haves and have-nots, the foreigners and locals, people with different values, religious and atheists – and they might be potential tensions that might pull us apart from one another. We must stay as a society together, strong and inclusive, and as a society that cares for and looks out for each other.  In MCCY, we see volunteerism as an important “social glue” because there is a larger cause that we volunteer for, and when we care for and look out for each other, the lines between us are erased.

8. In SG50, many who lauded Singapore frequently praised us for our beautiful city, safe neighbourhoods, top-notch public housing, economic progress and social harmony.  In SG100, I hope that the praise will foremost be about the character of our people – how Singaporeans are a cohesive and engaged citizenry; that we collectively want to give back to society, to collectively want to do good, that we believe in caring for one another, and to make Singapore a better Home for all.    

South West CDC Volunteer Network

9. To get to SG100, the hard work has to start now.  I’m very heartened that South West CDC is starting a volunteer corp network pilot. This volunteer network will help to build, and keep, the kampong spirit alive by strengthening partnerships between volunteers, corporations, grassroots organisations, and VWOs in this district. 

10. My Ministry has a special interest in this network. As our young adults transit into their working phase in life, they face competing demands for their time from their family, interests and work. Having supportive employers who understand the importance of volunteerism is helpful. It is even better if the employer proactively encourages employees to contribute together, thus building strong positive values amongst staff. The corporation will have a strong team of committed staff, the staff in turn feels a sense of achievement from doing good work, and the community benefits from strong social bonds between employees, corporations and the beneficiaries.  The CDC is well placed to engage corporations, who can then serve an extended area because of their scale.

11. At the Committee of Supply 2015, MCCY shared that we would be starting a senior volunteerism pilot initiative with South West CDC. We wanted to make it easier for our seniors to keep active and engaged. Our plans for the pilot project eventually evolved into plans to build the Volunteer Corp Network that is being launched today. This allows more people and partners to get involved, and I’m sure that our seniors will benefit from being part of a broader group of volunteers and resources.

12. Under this network, senior volunteers above the age of 50 can tap on a training grant. The grant will enable seniors to take up courses that will equip them with skills that can benefit the community, such as befriending and language expertise.  We started this grant because many seniors told us that they wanted to keep learning, for life, so that they could in turn contribute to the community as volunteers.

13. This community network is also important in that it shows how the people, public and private sector can come together to do good for the community. This includes the West Coast Grassroots Organisation and seven VWOs, who have joined the network. The 300 new volunteers who will be recruited will have a wonderful array of volunteer opportunities to choose from. They will benefit from tapping on the expertise of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and other partners on the network.   

14. I’m also very glad to see corporate partners on the network. Franklin Offshore and Hewlett-Packard, who are here today, have committed to lending their skills and time to this community. Both of them have been very active in the South West District, cleaning homes in rental blocks and helping out at health screenings for beneficiaries. It’s great to see corporates helping the community around them to flourish.  

Conclusion

15. Thank you all for being pioneers of this network. You are helping those in need; importantly, through each of your efforts, you are building a strong, caring and cohesive community. Mayor had earlier shared on many statistics on the CDC programmes and volunteers. Statistics are important benchmarks, but what I really like about South West CDC is that people here truly wants to do good.  I thank Mayor Low and the CDC for embarking on this programme. I think it will strengthen the CDC’s mission of assisting the needy. MCCY, too, will learn from this pilot project, to see how we may strengthen our support for corporations. We are very keen in the immediate year or two, to look at supporting corporate philanthropy, both in giving financially and in energising and galvanising employees to participate in community projects. We need your support, as this is our home and if we all can play a part in making a positive impact, our future generations can have a brighter place to live in, we would then have left a legacy for ourselves. Thank you all once again, and wishing everyone a very happy year ahead.