SINDA Connections - Jul 2013 by SINDA

Shabir Tabare Alam

MICA (P) 096/09/2012

JULY 2013

the music man

The Buss About Pre-school PSLE A Family Affair A Chance to Soar

02 thought leadership series

13 a chance to soar

16 sud-o-mania

Contents

CEO’s Note

• CEO’s Note

• Sud-O-Mania • About Us

02 • Thought Leadership Series • In Conversation Series 2013 • Boys to Men — Managing the Change • Star Leadership • Helping Build More Dreams

08 • COVER STORY Shabir Tabare Alam: The Music Man

21 • Infographic : Enrol Your Child in Pre-school Today!

Publisher

10–15

• Project Teach in the Spotlight • Scoring – at Soccer as well as in School

• Bizarre Bazaar • Marvellous Science! • A’s the Race

• Jr Challenge Back — Bigger and Better • Unlocking Young Minds • Value-O-City

• SYLP in Cambodia

06 • Justice of Peace • Our Happy Time-table

07 • Partners for Progress

• PSLE — a Family Affair • Visualise This • A Chance to Soar

Singapore Indian Development Association EDITORIAL TEAM Corporate & marketing communications Division, SINDA advisor T Raja Segar, CEO, SINDA Chief Editor Ravindran Nagalingam production Editor Dhana Narayan design & layout Green House Design + Communications Pte Ltd printer

• Ready, Steady...Baby! • Raise the Roof • Ministerial Dialogue with Minister Heng Swee Keat • Improved Programme Gets the Thumbs Up • Paving the Way • 3-in-1 Maths and Reading Fun

Stamford Press Pte Ltd License No: L022/04/2012 TO SUBSCRIBE SINDA CONNECTIONS To receive SINDA connections, send your home or office address to connections@sinda.org.sg To inform us of a change in mailing address, send your new address to connections@sinda.org.sg SINDA E-NEWSLETTER Send your email address to e-news@sinda.org.sg TO CONTRIBUTE towards the SINDA CPF Fund: (to start contributing or increase contributions) Tel: 1800 295 4554 www.sinda.org.sg

Work with us, not against us... S

ocial media is a part of today’s landscape and its impact can be both positive and negative. I’d like to share two recent instances which reflect this. The first being that SINDA actively uses social media to uncover what our community and more specifically our participants feel about SINDA’s programmes. The posts also gave us a better understanding on how students feel about their lives. What bothers them? What are their concerns in life? Valuable insights that are useful considerations in designing our future initiatives and programmes. Used this way, social media becomes an important platform to foster positive change. The second has to do with unjustified online comments about SINDA. Please do not get the wrong idea. SINDA welcomes constructive feedback and even more so complaints that keep us in check. We need the voices from the community to fix what is not working well and to keep us in-sync with the community’s needs. Unsubstantiated postings on Facebook and Twitter, which stem from personal dissatisfaction usually does not represent SINDA fairly. Such comments also tend to draw responses from others who are not directly involved or affected but find it fashionable to throw their bit into the melee. An individual recently questioned via Facebook on what SINDA was doing to help those in the community that needed assistance, as he was aware of individuals in dire circumstances who had not received aid. SINDA replied via the same platform that it would be most helpful if he and others could come forward and highlight those who needed help to us. I wish to reiterate that we try to help as many individuals as possible. Through our community engagement and programmes, we reach many, but it is impossible to reach everyone that needs help, especially those we may not be aware of in the first place. This is where we seek the assistance of the community. Your efforts would mean a lot to us. If you do know of a student or family that needs SINDA’s assistance, write to me at ceo@sinda.org.sg to let me know their name and contact details. I do not promise that all problems can be solved by SINDA but we will definitely try our best to alleviate their situation.

We are set up to provide assistance in key areas such as educational support, youth development, family services, parental guidance and counselling. For other areas, we rely on well-established government schemes that are already in place, and we serve as the referral agent for our clients. Where required and when such government intervention is not possible, we do intercede on a case-by-case basis. We do want to do more. All the efforts are certainly bearing fruit, particularly in recent years. More students, youths and parents are participating in our programmes. More of the students are performing better at school and national examinations. Youth are more focused on what they need to do. Parents are willing to learn and apply good parenting techniques to reduce stress and strife in the family. With enhanced programmes and growing participation, we strongly believe that we will grow to be a much stronger community within a decade, But to do that we need more resources. We need more volunteers, contributors and donors. We need more funding. We need the Indian community organisations to include, as part of their programmes, an element of motivation and inspiration. Then, we will be a better community that stands together with the other communities in contributing to the progress of Singapore.

T Raja Segar CEO, SINDA

At a Glance Thought Leadership Series Indian youths are learning that their thoughts count. The third instalment of the Thought Leadership Programme on 6 April engaged 15 youths from diverse backgrounds in a riveting discussion with guest speaker Mr Janadas Devan, Director of the Institute of Policy Studies and Chief of Communications at the Ministry of Communications and Information. Issues of integration and social mobility were the focus of the day.

Project Teach in the Spotlight

In Conversation Series 2013 The first session of the In Conversation Series for the year kicked off on 7 April with Mr Balaraman Venkataratnam, CEO of Boardroom Advantage. 18 youths gained an insight on how personal branding helps in a competitive world, as Mr Venkataratnam shared his experiences with them.

Boys to Men — Managing the Change

roject Teach pupils at St Anthony’s Primary School got a chance to interact with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam when he visited the school on 27 April. DPM Tharman, together with other SINDA Trustees and Executive Committee Members, caught Project Teach classes in action to see how SINDA’s programme has successfully brought up the level of Mathematics for Indian students in the last couple of years. Read more about DPM’s visit on Page 14.

48 secondary school boys under SINDA’s Guidance and Mentorship soccer programme learnt to navigate puberty, through an engaging talk on 20 April. The closed-door forum provided a good opportunity for the teenagers to openly discuss and clarify issues on sexuality and puberty. The content for the 45-minute session was endorsed by the Health Promotion Board.

Star Leadership Self-esteem and study skills are the focus of this 8-session school-based motivational programme. 73 students from four schools, Huamin Primary, Xingnan Primary, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Primary and Jurong Primary, are currently on board for 2013. In the final component, their parents will join in to learn how they can support their journey towards academic excellence. Also, for the second time, SINDA tied up with the National Junior College Indian Dance troupe to mentor 25 Primary 4 and 5 pupils from February to April this year. The “Refuse to Sink” scheme is part of the Star Leadership programme.

Helping Build More Dreams Indian students now have more to aspire to, with SINDA signing two new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with FTMS Global and TMC Academy. Sponsorships and scholarships for Diploma and Degree courses are being offered to spur our youths to achieve their tertiary qualifications and realise their dreams.

Scoring – at Soccer as well as in School S

INDA’s STEP tuition students learn soccer techniques at the Bend It Like Sundram soccer clinic series jointlyorganised by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and SINDA. This clinic, piloted at 3 soccer clubs with close to 50 students, is wholly-sponsored by the FAS.

SYLP in Cambodia The SINDA Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) 2013 Community Engagement & Study Trip, ‘Understanding Social Leadership’, was organised for our youths to learn the dynamics of Social Enterprise. It also helped them internalise the essence of Social Leadership.

youths between the ages of 18 and 24 were launched on a life-changing journey on 19 March, spending five days in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The eyeopening trip included a visit to a school in the middle of a slum; an encounter with a Khmer Rouge survivor at the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum; an insight into the production centre of social enterprise Villageworks; a sharing session by Ms Diana Saw, the Singaporean founder of Bloom, a non-profit social enterprise; an

16-year-old Yaazhini, a participant from NUS High School, certainly spoke for the group when recounting, “The trip to Cambodia truly changed my views on life. It has not only made me appreciate the things around me more but has also opened my mind to pressing social issues in the world, and equipped me with the skills to approach these issues as an individual.” She added, “On top of putting others before self, we must also learn to put ourselves in their shoes to be able to truly help them.” SYLP is the flagship programme of the SINDA Youth Club, which aims to develop the next generation of young leaders. This trip is a critical complement to the SYLP ‘Act to Change’ programme, in which participants will initiate, design and deliver a community project in Singapore.

Here’s what other participants had to say:

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— Kripesh Aishwarya, 17, Anderson Junior College

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“I realised I was in a country where the people have strong willpower and want to improve themselves. From them I learnt that if we are motivated and believe in what we do, we will definitely succeed.”

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— Greeshma Chandran, 17, National Junior College

— Sri Divya Bharati d/o Mohan, 20, National Technological University

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“I saw a little girl picking up rubbish to be sold at the market. It’s quite a sight to see children doing that instead of going to school. The enthusiasm of the kids at Transformation House for study and the effort they put in is really amazing.” — Tinesh Kumar s/o Murugesen, 17, Nanyang Polytechnic

“At each stop, my discoveries were inspiring, enriching and sometimes truly shocking. One of the deepest impressions I had was of the locals. I was surprised that those living in such harsh conditions seemed to be happy and highly contented. The Singaporean mentality of taking things for granted and complaining about trivial things should change.” — Annapoorani Chidambaram S, 21, Republic Polytechnic

From Ms Diana Saw of Bloom, I learnt that as a social leader you need to be brave and take risks, and that it is passion which helps leaders to survive a stressful environment and emerge as winners. I also learnt to aim high but be prepared to fail – it is important for a leader to be able to adapt to various difficult situations.

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orphanage; as well as an awe-inspiring walk around the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat.

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“It was a trip that had a profound impact on me. I understood the government’s urgency to provide education to everyone. I also understood the importance of my role (in SYLP) in impacting change within the Indian community in Singapore. It was reminder to take a step back and be aware of the needs of the people around us.”

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“What struck me most were two things: 1) the resilience of the locals; and 2) the innocence in their eyes, which spoke of joy. The example of Pol Pot taught me how powerfully the actions of a leader reverberate across time and space, be it positive or negative. My key takeaway from the trip was deciding to be an agent of change.” — Kanitha d/o Jagatheson, 22, National University of Singapore

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Justice of Peace

Partners for Progress

INDA warmly congratulates Mr Naseer Ghani on his recent appointment as Justice of Peace. The appointment by President Tony Tan is the latest recognition for Mr Ghani’s long standing work in the Singaporean Indian community.

It was a celebration of a strong partnership that has reaped gratifying rewards – considerable improvements in the pass rate at all national examinations for Indian students.

Mr Ghani has served on SINDA’s Executive Committee and is perhaps better known as president of the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League (SKML), a position he has held since 1991, when he became SKML’s youngest-ever office bearer to hold the post.

n 21 May, SINDA hosted the second SINDAMOE Partnership Appreciation Ceremony at ITE College Central to honour the teachers and principals who have supported SINDA’s programmes. With the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s help, SINDA now has a presence in over 300 schools. A total of 6,047 students were enrolled in STEP Tuition, Project Teach, Star Leadership, Senior Victory, Project GuidE and Saadhana in 2012.

As a teenager in the 1970s, Mr Ghani was a keen participant in SKML’s Tamil Oratorical and Story Telling Competitions, an association which deepened when he later became an SKML committee member. Having had a strong interest in community work even then, Mr Ghani has since extended his involvement through various senior and executive capacities with MUIS, MENDAKI, West Coast CC, and more. A supporter of SINDA from its early years, Mr Ghani facilitated the collaboration with SKML on many SINDA projects, including the distribution of Festive Gift Packs to those in need during Eid, and garnering donations for Project Give. Mr Ghani is currently the Head of Department (PE & CCA) at New Town Primary School. The father of four attributes his achievements to his wife and family, calling them “an immense support and pillars of strength.” He remains unassuming as he shares: “The journey has been educational, fulfilling and challenging, as much as it has been a very satisfying one.”

In recognition of the 246 volunteer SINDA Liaison Officers (SLOs) who are school teachers, Mr T Raja Segar, CEO of SINDA lauded their invaluable work in coordinating SINDA’s programmes in their schools.

180 educators attended the ceremony, which highlighted the increased outreach and benefits of the collaboration. Guest of Honour, Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) and President of SINDA, Ms Indranee Rajah acknowledged that this success “would not have been possible if not for our schools’ continuous support.” She noted that “through better collaboration between the schools, families and SINDA, we can do more to enable each child find joy in learning and discover their talents and potential.” Ms Lau Wan Tze, Principal of East View Secondary, shared, “Our 18-year partnership has indeed been a fruitful one for the school. We certainly look forward to continue working together to support our students more holistically. Together, we can do more to help them grow and fulfil their potential.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ISTA NA

Our Happy Time-Table Timetable of ________________and ______________ <parent’s name>

<child’s name>

Your child faces varied forms of stress every day - be it juggling with homework and co-curricular activities, preparing for exams, or managing peer-to-peer relationships. Setting aside some time to communicate with your child can help him/her cope with such daily stressors in life. Here’s a simple example of a happy time-table that you and your child can share! Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Family Day! Let’s go outdoors and play together!

Looking ahead? Let’s set our goals!

Did something happen? Let’s talk about what you enjoyed in school today.

Mid-week blues? Let’s get sufficient rest.

Feeling stressed? Let’s try something new!

TGIF! Let’s celebrate everyday!

Kids see, kids do. Let’s be a positive role model.

 Cultivate healthy lifestyle habits to keep your and your child’s bodies strong, and increase your ability to manage stress.

 Set realistic goals so your child can better manage his or her time. Help your child prioritise schoolwork and activities that require more attention.

 Extend a listening ear and encourage your child to share his/ her feelings with you.

 Maintain a regular bedtime and ensure your child gets enough sleep every night.

 Explore different coping strategies with your child when he/she feels stressed. Try listening to music or taking a stroll in the park together.

 Make an effort to praise your child for a good effort made, and celebrate what your child has done well!

 Show your child how you handle stress in a calm and effective manner, so that he/she can learn from you.

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her gu s Indranee and ot SLOs pose with M This article is brought to you by

The Music Man

Not many can say, “work is play for me”, but popular musician Shabir Tabare Alam, who puts in more than 12 hours most days, has much to share with the secondary school students he is mentoring in SINDA’s GAME Lite 2.0 music programme. What were your growing-up years like? My parents separated when I was four. My mother worked full time with another two part time jobs to put food on the table for my two older brothers and me. I was a lonely kid with no friends. I suffered from low self-esteem. In my teens, I associated with wrong company but thankfully moved on. I read many books, and that opened my eyes to a bigger world.

Who has been the main influence in your life? My eldest brother Ilyas, who is 10 years older than me. He took on the role of father, guiding us and teaching us. Once, he told me, “If you see rubble on the path, remove it so that it does not hurt anyone”. I practice that to date.

Tell us how your career in music developed. I grew up listening to 80’s Ilayaraja songs as Ilyas was an aficionado. He would explain the intricacies of the lyrics to us – I think those were my first lessons in writing music! Ilyas wrote some pretty neat music; my brother Abbas too. I wrote my first song when I was 12. When AR Rahman entered our airwaves, I loved the way Tamil sounded with all that synthesized music and immediately connected to it. I borrowed a keyboard and not long after was playing in a band called QonsepT. I have had many inspirations – Kitaro, Metallica and Wyclef Jean among them – but as an artiste I just wish to be myself. There is space for one Shabir Tabare Alam in this world so I would like to make good use of that space.

You are only 28, and you’ve achieved much. What are some of your high points? It started with Vasantham Star and then came my first album Alaipayuthey in 2006, TraffiQ in 2008 and Swasam in 2012. I won the Best Actor award at Pradhana Vizha 2011 and Most Popular Soundtrack in 2012. That year, I received the prestigious Kannadasan Award from the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers, which was a real honour.

I have won a Derana TV award for Best Music Video in Sri Lanka and early this year in Chennai I received the Edison Award for Best International Artiste. This year also marks my Kollywood debut with two songs for the movie Vathi kuchi , produced by A.R Muragadoss. I consider Edhugai , my songwriting movement to elevate Tamil songs written in Singapore, as seed for future generations. Something unforgettable is that a fan named her son Shabir and her shop Shabir Empire. That is the best compliment! The biggest highlight must be writing Si ngai Naadu for Singapore’s National Day last year. It was well received and even the Prime Minister mentioned it on his Facebook page.

Do the accolades motivate you? The awards mean people trust you and expect you to scale further heights, fly the flag higher. That motivates me. I still have much to learn and achieve.

Who would you attribute your success to? My wife is my pillar of support; my children Ameera and Alesha give me energy; my mother inspires as the epitome of hard work and determination. I also have some amazing friends and the Almighty. My wife keeps me sane and focused. She has always believed in me. Sometimes all you need is for someone to believe in you.

As an Indian, have you had to work extra hard to prove yourself in the industry? Being an Indian in Singapore has one major limitation specific to the music industry – a small market. My solution is to build an international audience, using the Internet. I see this as an opportunity to improve myself. I’ve learnt that hard work with a good strategy pays well.

How has it been, working with the students in SINDA’s GAME programme? I am impressed; they have some very cool ideas. The students have a different energy which I absorb every week when I meet them. As much as they are learning from me, I am learning from them.

What advice do you have for young people who are torn between taking up something they love versus a career which is seen as more grounded? You must be determined to face enormous challenges. Ask yourself, can I live happily with my choice 10 years from now? Find what you love and make that a part of your life. That will give you all the inspiration to excel.

What values guide you? Respect for all, and humility. Stay hungry for knowledge, because knowledge is power. A cliché but true.

Capture this QR code on your smartphone to watch this exclusive video of Shabir in his studio!

A Bizarre Bazaar

Unlocking Young Minds

Who doesn’t love shopping? And if it boosts your Maths skills, well then so much the better! The objective was met when 150 Primary 3 and 4 students were set on the prowl at Yew Tee Point on 16 March.

My frog can jump further than your frog! It was hopping good fun for over 50 Primary 3 students on 25 May, when they attended a Science and English workshop, “Alohomora” – named after the “Unlocking Charm” from the Harry Potter magical universe. Making their own paper frogs and experimenting with how far they could leap was just one of the Science activities designed to stimulate the pupils’ minds. Equally fun was the English component, which boosted their confidence and their creative writing skills.

he outdoor learning programme involved a host of fast-paced activities, with the “shoppers” armed with challenge booklets directing them to shops where they were tasked to solve mathematical problems in simulated scenarios including currency transactions and purchases. “The idea behind the Maths Bazaar was to show students how fun Mathematics can be, and help them understand that Mathematics is part of almost all our daily actions,” explained Ms Sivakami Chinniah, Assistant Director of SINDA’s Education Programmes Unit.

Jr Challenge Back – Bigger and Better

The creative concept proved a hit with the children, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves — a sure formula for success!

Marvellous Science!

A’s the Race

47 Primary 4 and 5 students embarked on the Marvellous Adventures of Captain Discovery on 20 April, and discovered new insights into Science.

he learning journey under SINDA’s Project GuidE brought the budding scientists on an adventure into the world of research, with volunteers from information management company EMC leading them in a morning of experiments. After lunch, the students piled into buses to visit Bollywood Veggies and Qian Hu Fish Farm, where they enjoyed an up-close introduction to local flora and fauna. Enthused Thanga Akalyaa Devi, a Primary 5 participant, “I enjoyed tasting flowers, doing experiments and learning new words!”

t’s heartening to note that more of our youngsters are entering junior colleges and centralised institutes, and SINDA is backing them all the way to ace the ‘A’s (‘A’ Levels)! Over two days on 21 and 22 March, 35 youths from various junior colleges were equipped with essential skills to help them succeed at this stage in their education. Organised by SINDA in conjunction with the National University of Singapore’s Indian Cultural Society, the seminar served up a holistic range of modules, from academic tips and strategies to note-taking techniques; memory principles and personality profiling, to choosing a university. Now, a second phase is underway. 23 students have been matched one-to-one with trained NUS undergraduates under a 7-monthlong mentoring scheme, which will see them through to the ‘A’ Level examination. When the community comes together to support our students like this, we can certainly look forward to more academic breakthroughs!

The annual SINDA Junior Challenge saw a stepped-up version launched this year on 22 March. The popular contest pitting various STEP Centres against each other attracted double the 2012 participation, with 202 pupils from 18 STEP Centres putting on their thinking caps in a spirit of camaraderie. Also for the first time, this year’s programme included a parents talk by Mr K Balakumaran, Principal Coach of The Thinkers Learning Centre, which drew 56 parents. The pupils ranging from Primary 1 to 6 descended upon Sengkang Secondary School to showcase their skills in spelling, Mathematics and Science. “The SINDA Junior Challenge introduces children to the benefits of healthy competition,” said Children Division Manager Mr Manoharan. He added, “such activities help motivate the students and build their confidence.”

Value-O-City V

arious stations around a “city” each taught a lesson in values to the 149 Primary 5 and 6 students who took part in this “Amazing Race”-styled event. 61 Raffles Institution (Junior College) student facilitators hosted the kids at Sentosa on 16 February in an effort to instil perseverance and responsibility, among other values, in students and support their academic journey. A skit performed by the students underscored the importance of these values, and added a sprinkling of fun to the day.

Ready, Steady… Baby!

PSLE – a Family Affair

At some time or other, all first-time parents would surely have been caught in a situation where they thought, “I wish someone had told me about this!”

For both parent and child, the PSLE year can be a stressful one. Some parents, though, have become more prepared after attending the ‘Just-in-Time’ workshop on 26 May.

or four couples who are expecting their first child, SINDA provided just this learning opportunity with the “Joy of Parenthood” workshop on 11 May. These parents-to-be spent the afternoon at the Orchid Country Club, taking notes from Family Life Educator Ms Evelyn Khong of Fei Yue Community Services.

reating a social and emotional environment that is conducive for learning goes a long way in helping students, as does providing him or her with a nutritious diet to keep them at the peak of mental and physical health. Tips on how to accomplish all this were shared with over 300 students and 60 parents at the interactive event, along with pointers for achieving academic excellence, especially in Maths.

Practical tips were the order of the day, not just for useful parenting skills, but also in understanding the financial framework and baby bonus packages available. The couples also learnt how to prepare themselves– individually and as a pair –for the mental, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of parenthood.

With these tips for the entire family, students can now take on the PSLE with confidence!

Visualise This Dare to dream! 42 ‘O’ Level students were challenged to dream big, at the three-day, power-packed ‘Beyond O’ study camp from 19–21 March.

hoenix EduHub debunked myths about enduring success, taught Secondary 4 and 5 students to recognise their learning barriers and strengths, and fuelled the dreams of the graduating cohort. The dynamic sessions also encompassed academic strategies, and demonstrated in dramatic fashion the power of visualisation with a makeover photo-shoot that saw the participants decked out in graduate gowns and mortar boards. Ms Irene Tong, Chairman of the Braddell Heights Community Club’s Women’s Executive Committee which supported the event said, “It is a great opportunity to reach out to the younger generation. Education is close to many mothers’ hearts.” The programme held at Braddell Heights CC, was also supported by the Southeast Community Development Council.

A Chance to Soar T

he SINDA-Raffles Institution (RI) Eagle’s Eye programme has taken flight once more, with a third batch of Primary 5 Singaporean Indian students joining the one-year mentorship scheme. At the launch of 2013’s programme on 3 April, four academically promising pupils from neighbourhood schools and humble backgrounds met their RI mentors, all high-achieving Year 5 students. Together, they will work towards excelling in the PSLE, and building a successful future. A total of 20 students have graduated from the Eagle’s Eye so far. Many of them have gone on to prestigious schools such as National Junior College, Cedar Girls, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and St. Joseph’s Institution, with one winning a scholarship to Raffles Institution.

Calling all Primary 4 students!

If you are doing well in school, apply now for the Eagle’s Eye programme for 2014. The programme will mentor you and put you on the way to your dream secondary school!

To apply or for more information, please contact Narayanan at 6393 7226 or email narayanan@sinda.org.sg today. Terms and conditions apply.

Being well-equipped for the transition from couplehood to parenthood leaves these new parents free to relish their anticipated bundle of joy and embrace their new roles as father and mother with confidence. The workshop is one of the strategic initiatives of the SINDA 2020 Review, which highlighted family resilience as an area for improvement.

Raise the Roof A rallying call for a new generation of community leaders to rise up, Raise the Roof (RTR) is a new initiative by the SINDA Youth Club (SYC), held exclusively for Secondary 1 students.

icking off the initiative was a two-day camp for 30 high-potential students from 16–17 March, with an exciting array of sports and games to inculcate leadership skills in them. The enrichment and motivational workshops woven in, such as personal effectiveness and time management, were conducted by High Achievers Training Consultancy, and will go a long way in raising the teens’ profiles.

The enthusiasm of the participants was

palpable, and facilitators warmly described them as “vastly talented and mature”. Following this, another seven months’ worth of booster sessions will be conducted, up till September. These will reiterate the points picked up at the camp, and see more leadership and fun elements included to spur the youths on to aspire towards a leadership role in the community.

Ministerial Dialogue with Minister Heng Swee Keat Who better than the man who helms Our Singapore Conversation, to headline SINDA’s Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS)?

t was indeed a dynamic session on 8 June where 60 youths engaged with Minister for Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat on the theme ‘Leaders, Pioneers, Activists & Changemakers: Young People and Our Contribution to Singapore’s Next Chapter’. A platform to exchange of ideas and opinions, the dialogue threw up constructive insights into a range of topics, including how to encourage Singapore youth to value education. Minister Heng urged the youths, “Look at what you are interested in doing, build up skills…keep learning.” The DSS also captured the perspectives of the participants – youths from post-secondary institutions to young professionals – to be included in the Singapore Conversation process.

discussions. “I’m very encouraged by how our young people are very passionate about how they can play their part in taking Singapore forward in the next phase,” he said. At the dialogue, the minister also stressed the need to “recognise people for who they are, not necessarily just their achievements”, adding that “this makes for a more inclusive and more vibrant society.”

Paving the Way O

n 16 March, 370 parents and 204 Kindergarten 2 students came together at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre, all anxious about entering a new phase — primary school! Because the first year of formal schooling is inevitably intimidating for both parents and children, SINDA together with the Ministry of Education (MOE) organised this seminar for parents to clarify doubts and allay any fears.

Essentials, such as the registration process and an overview of the primary school education system, were also covered, along with information about SINDA’s programmes. Practical advice was plentiful, from coping with challenges to enjoying a balanced lifestyle. Participant Nallammai Palaniappan, 40, said after the event, “I understand more about the holistic development of the child.”

Top of the agenda was showing parents how to ease the transition for the kindergartners, and understand the social and emotional issues involved. Rani Kuppusamy, a parent, said “It gives us a lot of clarity about setting expectations for ourselves and our children.”

Meanwhile, the little ones got to experience a simulated Primary 1 classroom environment which introduced English, Maths and project work through fun activities that stoked their enthusiasm for school. They left the session brimming with excitement about the new school year ahead; indeed a bright start to their academic journey!

The DSS is a flagship event of the SINDA Youth Club, which looks into the intellectual enrichment of our Indian youths. Previous distinguished speakers include the sixth President of Singapore, Mr S R Nathan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam. One of this year’s inspired participants, Ramasamy Chockalingam Jr, 21, quoted Sir Isaac Newton, saying, “’If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’. Where else can I learn about policy decisions first-hand, if not from an event like the DSS?”

Mr Heng described the session as “very useful”. During the two-hour session, he fielded several questions from the participants, which triggered stimulating

Improved Programme Gets the Thumbs Up

3-in-1 Maths and Reading Fun

Project Teach classes at St. Anthony’s Primary School were all abuzz on 27 April, when Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid a visit. The youngsters, excited yet shy, spoke with him and even asked for autographs.

A year ago, our little ones enjoyed a choice of three pre-school enrichment programmes with SINDA — Reading Circles, Project Read and Fun with Maths — all of which garnered much praise from parents and grassroots members. Now 2013 brings with it a fresh improvement, by merging the three into one comprehensive package.

DPM

Tharman, who is also Chairman of SINDA’s Board of Trustees, toured classes, witnessing first-hand how the programme runs. The initiative has seen an enhanced curriculum since the SINDA 2020 Review two years ago, and is already reaping the rewards. Last year, more students passed the PSLE after being enrolled in Project Teach. St. Anthony’s Primary School Principal Ms Christina Teo shared how much Project Teach has helped her students. She added that the strength of the programme lies in its small class size, which allows for close monitoring of the students’ performance. Enrichment activities and interactive elements feature strongly in Project Teach, and outside the classroom, innovative IT initiatives such as the SINDA School website (http://www.sinda.org.sg/school/) are available to further boost the Indian student community.

Parent Vivien Nathan affirmed that Project Teach has sparked a positive change in her two daughters, aged nine and 12. “There is a lot of ‘teaching through play’ that gets them more interested,” she explained. Since the start of Project Teach in 2001, more than 9,000 students have benefited from the programme. To date, SINDA has partnered 56 primary schools and 7 secondary schools to run it. DPM Tharman’s visit ended on a high-note with a dialogue session with parents of Project Teach students.

he new Numeracy and Literacy Programme (NLP) retains all the creative methods and fun activities of the previous programmes, as well as a standardised curriculum across 25 community centres. The children will benefit from trained and experienced pre-school teachers, while our SINDA and IAEC volunteers who conducted the sessions previously will continue to provide support for tots needing additional help, including weekly home visits. Customised accordingly for nursery and kindergarten-going children, the programme

comprises two-hour sessions running over 24 weeks. The NLP commenced in its new format on 22 February, and now has 487 students across the island.

Sud-O-Mania Fill in the grid below with the right numbers to win! Every row, column and mini-grid must contain the numbers 1 through 9 once.

Winners will be contacted by SINDA to collect their prize and the winners’ names will be published in the next issue of SINDA connections.

3 correct entries will each win a $50 voucher. The winning correct entries will be picked in a lucky draw. The judges’ decision is final.

Please submit your entries together with your particulars, to SINDA Children Division, No 1 Beatty Road, Singapore 209943 by 10 September 2013.

This contest is only open to children in Primary Schools in Singapore.

Name:

Congratulations to the winners of the previous issue’s contest!

School:

BC No:

Contact No:

School Level: Address:

4 3 2

7 8

1 7

Harshini Latha d/o Jayakumar Primary 5, Peiying Primary School K P Sri Dhurga Primary 5, Temasek Primary School

Praaveen s/o Sivakumar Primary 5, Edgefield Primary School

5 2

9 6

Enrol Your Child in Pre-school Today!

The correct answers were:

OUR KIDS ARE...

? Curious They wonder, question and explore the world around them

Pre-school provides the right environment, and a strong foundation

3 Chichen Itza

Colosseum

Machu Picchu

WHAT THEY’LL LEARN

B Aesthetics and Creative Expression

VALUES Respect, our culture Integrity, our foundation Service, our promise Excellence, our pursuit

Discovery of the World

Motor Skills Development BOARD OF TRUSTEES Patron Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Chairman, Board of Trustees Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Life Trustees Prof S Jayakumar Mr S Dhanabalan Mr S Chandra Das Mr J Y Pillay Mr Sat Pal Khattar Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Mr K Shanmugam Dr N Varaprasad

Term Trustees Mr Inderjit Singh Ms Indranee Rajah Mr M Rajaram Mr V Shankar Mr Ravi Menon Mr R Jayachandran Mr Hsieh Fu Hua Mr Girija Pande Mr Gautam Banerjee MG Ravinder Singh Justice Judith Prakash Mr K Kesavapany Advisors Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Mr S Iswaran Mr Hri Kumar Nair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Ms Indranee Rajah Vice Presidents Mr Viswa Sadasivan Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai, PBM Secretary Mr Sarjit Singh, BBM Treasurer Mr Shekaran Krishnan Members Mr V P Jothi Mr R Rajaram Mr Puvan Ariaratnam Dr Joshua V M Kuma Mr R Subramaniam Iyer Mr P Thirunal Karasu, BBM Mr Aaron Maniam

Language and Literacy

123

ABOUT US MISSION To build a well-educated, resilient and confident community of Indians that stands together with the other communities in contributing to the progress of multi-racial Singapore

They can learn almost anything with the right help

They learn best by doing!

VISION To build a strong and vibrant Singaporean Indian community together

Competent

Active

…which all helps our kids become…

Numeracy

SOCIAL A loving child who gets along well with, respects and appreciates others

ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS Innovative, and an effective team worker

Social and Emotional Development

CONFIDENT Having a strong sense of right and wrong, adaptable, resilient, independent and happy

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNERS Responsible, questioning, persevering

For more information, visit www.sinda.org.sg/preschool today!