MICA (P) 186/06/2009
Teach the Child and not Just the Subject
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Project Teach Scores ‘A’s
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V is for Victory!
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More Opportunities, More Collaboration
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s ’ S S V P Va d i ! D E L A E V E R T SECRE 3 1 e g a p > >
JUNE 2010
Find out how she went from an
F9
to an
A1! >>page 03
SINDA connections gets a makeover… more stories… more updates on our community
e c n a l G s at a
Event
ril y - Ap anuar
2010
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20 March Student leaders and young professionals at a dialogue session with Minister Tharman on the Economic Strategies Committee’s Report
23 January JC Pathways workshop for students to learn more about and plan their academic path to junior colleges and subsequently universities
20 March visit SINDA beneficiaries and volunteers Resorts World Sentosa
6 February Youth Empowerment Programme beneficiaries visit Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin
17 April IT workshop for adults and senior citizens in i-Clickz Club at NorthEast Tampines West IT Centre
24 March Volunteer Circle for volunteers to share experiences and provide feedback
23 April SINDA Annual General Meeting
27 March CEO’s visit to a Project Teach centre at Concorde Primary School
29 April Members of the online Yahoo! group Indians-sg visit SINDA to learn more about our programmes and services
contents 01 Events at a Glance 02 Letter from the CEO 03 Maximising Educational Opportunities for All 07 Nurturing More Enlightened Families 09 Strengthening Partnerships, Community Engagement and Outreach 11 Special Feature 13 Celebrity Tips with Vadi PVSS
Errata The following error was made in the February 2010 issue of SINDA connections. The editors of SINDA connections apologise for the mistake. Angel Vaishilee d/o Balakrishnan was reported as having scored 20 points for her ‘O’ level examinations. Her actual score is 11 points. Angel is currently pursuing a Diploma in Accountancy and Finance at Nanyang Polytechnic. The course only accepts students with high aggregate scores for their ‘O’ level examinations.
Angel Vaishilee d/o Balakrishnan
O E C e h t m o r f r e t Let “Keeping Together”
The title of my message comes from the famous Henry Ford quotation, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” I believe that it is not sufficient to come together as a community; we need to keep together and work together. The spirit of the words “keeping together” refers to being united. It refers to strength in unity. United, we can achieve the things that smaller units of the community cannot. May it be a family, a community, an army, a company, an organisation or even a nation, so much time and effort is spent on team building, family bonding and national events that increase patriotism only because problems will disappear like dew
in the morning sun once we all see ourselves as one. Similarly, it is time for the Indian community to work in unison to face some of the challenges so that the future of the community is brighter and we can hold our heads high within multi-racial Singapore. SINDA alone cannot achieve the targets of reaching the national average in Maths and Science. We seek the partnership of parents and teachers to spur the Indian students forward. Educational performance is a visible indicator of the health of a community. Success in educational performance not only assures a path of progress but also indicates that the student is focused, the parents have their priorities right, the environment provided for the student is conducive and all support structures are in place. Family members, especially parents, are powerful forces that bring about a change in their children’s lives. Parenting may be difficult but one cannot give up on a child no
02 matter how frustrating it becomes. Responsible parenting entails commitment of the parents till the child finishes the educational journey and starts a career. My appeal to parents is this. Set higher standards, do not choose softer options, do not pander to your children’s excuses for not putting in the daily hours of studying. Focus on what the children should predominantly do during their free time such as homework, revision and relevant practice. Work out a timetable, switch off the TV when children are studying, make them go to sleep on time, wake them up at a decent time during weekends and stop watching too many movies. Do not discourage them, praise them when they achieve, encourage them when they are trying harder, send them to extra classes at school, attend parent-teacher meetings, go for school functions when invited and finally, be there for them when they need you.
T Raja Segar
Editorial Team Advisor | Mr T Raja Segar, CEO, SINDA Writers | Orbital Group Editors | Corporate Communications Team, SINDA Printer | Stamford Press PTE LTD
Special Thanks SINDA would like to thank all contributors to the SINDA CPF Fund. Your contributions are the key driving force behind the work that SINDA does.
Maximising Educational Opportunities for All
Teach the child and not just the subject greater SINDA places tor emphasis on tu 0. training for 201
The Tutor Orientation Programme (TOP) held at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre on 23 January 2010 brought STEP and Project Teach tutors together to share teaching methods and tips. “Teach the child and not just the subject” was the rallying cry for this TOP. The focus of the TOP was on English, Maths and Science. Tutors participated actively in discussions which were led by SINDA’s curriculum writers and educationists like Ms Selvarani, a former school principal and
Mrs Rani Mano, Master Teacher (Maths), School Cluster West 3. During the session, tutors were encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new initiatives introduced by SINDA which included revised curriculum materials and Interactive Tutor Tools. SINDA’s training of tutors does not end here though. To further enhance the teaching practices in STEP and Project Teach classes, all tutors will undergo 10 to 15 hours of specialised tutor training courses in 2010.
Taking Great STEPs
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
Is it possible to go from an F9 to an A1 in Maths? In the case of Secondary 5N student Malini, it was.
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She was a disobedient youth, constantly getting into trouble because of her many ear piercings and sloppy uniform. “I wouldn’t accept any of the school rules,” she says. In fact, her teachers and discipline masters were concerned about her future. In Secondary 3, Malini started to realise that her negative attitude in school was not helping her carve a good future – she decided that she had to ‘buck up’. Although she had never gone for tuition classes before, she decided to enrol herself in SINDA’s STEP classes.
Her least favourite subject had always been Maths but that was until she met her STEP tutor, Mohan. The unassuming Mohan was a ‘human calculator’ who shared his love for Maths with the class. “I wanted to be like him. To be respected and liked by everyone around me,” she said. Malini started working on the subject on an almost daily basis. She also began to spend more time on her school work and less time hanging out with friends. Time management was the key as she maximised her days in school and at the STEP tuition
centre. Amidst this, she also found time for leisure activities such as surfing the net and using Facebook. Her efforts paid off when she went from scoring an F9 in Maths to an A1 for her ‘N’ level – she credits this achievement to the help of her tutor Mohan and the support from her family. “If I can make the near impossible (going from an F9 to an A1) happen, I am sure I can make my dream of becoming a crime scene investigator come true,” Malini said enthusiastically.
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Wish to bene t from STEP? What is STEP? SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP) is a holistic programme designed to help students at primary and secondary levels perform better in English, Maths and Science. Taught by trained and paid tutors, STEP is a quality programme that is available at highly affordable rates. In 2009, more than 3000 students benefited from the programme. Some key features of STEP
1 6 hours of tuition per week 2 Small class sizes of less than
15 students which allow tutors to provide individualised attention to students
Board of , SINDA hairman P Centre C d TE n S a ary ce ing Prim for Finan R r s te d n is la in am, M to Wood mugaratn g a visit an Shan ent durin Mr Tharm racts with a stud inte Trustees, . rch 2010 a M 5 n o
STEP Tutor shines a s ie d u t s n o t h ig L Funny
3 MOE-trained or highly qualified tutors 4 Regular class tests and centre-level examinations
5 Provision of curriculum materials or assessment books
New Initiatives for STEP in 2010
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Flexible choice of subjects – choose the subjects in which you need the most assistance
2 Science offered at Primary 3 3 Reading programme for Primary 1 and 2 students
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Mass seminars for PSLE and GCE ‘O’ level students Semester 2 of STEP classes will be starting on 28 June 2010! Register at any one of the 21 STEP centres located islandwide or online by logging on to www.sinda.org.sg! For more information, call us at 1800 295 4554.
ds humour Y. Asaithamby ad to his classes.
Y. Asaithamby
Y. Asaithamby, a STEP tutor since 1992, finds his role as a tutor very fulfilling. Currently, he is tutoring at the Marsiling Primary STEP Centre. Sometimes, it is a challenge to get students to pay attention at tuition after a long day at school. However, Asaithamby who teaches English, Maths and Science, knows how to keep his students hooked. “Humour is the secret,” he says. Asaithamby enjoys using humour to help his students relax so that they are more comfortable in asking questions. His fun and lighthearted teaching style has helped
students understand their subjects better as they feel comfortable clarifying their queries. Through the years, Asaithamby has seen many students from different backgrounds benefit from the STEP programme. He feels that students who are seen generally as troublemakers need extra guidance to channel their energy into studies. He constantly motivates these students with success stories of his ex-students. Asaithamby is one of the many dedicated tutors who has positively impacted the lives of STEP students.
Maximising Educational Opportunities for All
Project Teach S Scores
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
nce. ost students’ confide Improved results bo
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When Mohd Imran was in Primary 6, seeing ‘C’s and ‘D’s on his report card was normal. “I used to feel frustrated when my classmates compared their marks and grades with mine.” School was starting to be a drag and Mohd Faizal, his friend and classmate, felt the same way.
the two boys experienced a whole new way of learning from their Project Teach tutor Mrs Chandran. Mrs Chandran’s primary aim was to ensure that the academic performance of her Indian students improved. However, these better results also yielded a bonus – self-confidence.
This was until both Imran and Faizal were selected to attend Project Teach, SINDA’s schoolbased remedial tuition programme. It was during these classes that
“Mrs Chandran did not just teach us, she motivated us to excel and gave us more confidence!” said Faizal enthusiastically.
My parents are really glad that I enrolled in the Project Teach programme. Thanks to the programme and dedicated teachers like Mrs Chandran, my grades have improved greatly! Mohd Imran, Ex-Project Teach student
“ My parents are really glad that I enrolled in the Project Teach programme. Thanks to the programme and dedicated teachers like Mrs Chandran, my grades have improved greatly!” added Imran. Faizal and Imran, both currently studying in Secondary 2 at Bendemeer Secondary School, credit their good performance at PSLE to Mrs Chandran and the moral support from their families. Till today, they remain in touch with Mrs Chandran, who provides them with constant encouragement and motivation.
06 Mrs Chandran with Mohd Imran (left) and Mohd Faizal (right)
Mrs Saraswathi Chandran has been involved in Project Teach since the early days of the programme. She has taught in Bendemeer, First Toa Payoh, Greenwood and Stamford Primary Project Teach schools since 2003 and has positively impacted many students like Imran and Faizal.
5 Tips to be Awesome at Maths Whether you are a Math-a-phobic or love Maths, these 5 tips will show you how to get that tricky Maths problem right at the first try.
1 Practise,
practise,practise.
About Project Teach Project Teach is a schoolbased programme that targets primary school students who score below average grades in English, Maths and Science. The programme is conducted either before or after school hours by specially trained and paid facilitators. In 2009, more than 1000 students benefited from the programme. Some key features of Project Teach
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Small class sizes with a tutor to pupil ratio of 1: 7
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Special emphasis on motivating students to perform better
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Intensive engagement of parents
Practice does make perfect! Think of it like keeping yourself fit. You need to do Maths problems regularly to train your mind just like you need to exercise regularly to stay healthy.
minds are 3 2 Two better than one. Get a studybuddy! It’s easier and more fun to work out Maths problems together. Plus, you can teach each other what you know.
Don’t refer back to the textbook immediately. Read through formulas and methods from your textbook but don’t refer back when you work on a bunch of questions. This gives you a chance to recognise how much you really know.
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Be honest with yourself. When you grade yourself at the end of each exercise, be honest about your mistakes. If you’re with your study-buddy, get him or her to help you grade your answers.
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Don’t give up when you make a mistake. Select at least two other Maths problems that are similar to the ones you’ve gotten wrong. The goal of studying for Maths is to try to get all your answers 100% correct. Don’t give up! Source: eHow.com
Maths Mischief! Student: “What is seven Q plus three Q?” Teacher: “Ten Q.” Student: “You’re Welcome!”
Nurturing More Enlightened Families
! y r o t c i is for v Senior Victory helps students triumph. Coming Out of His Shell Before joining Senior Victory, Nelson, aged 15, found it difficult to interact with his group mates during a project. “It was hard for me to communicate because I didn’t really know how to get along with many people,” explains Nelson. However, joining the programme gave him the opportunity to engage in team-building activities which improved his communication skills. Nelson now enjoys working on team projects and finds it easy to make friends with many students in his school. A New Outlook on Life At first, Nathish was reluctant to join Senior Victory because he was not sure of what to expect. When he found out that the activities were targeted at helping students build life skills and set goals, Nathish became open to the experience. “The activities they conducted made me realise how certain things happen in life. For example, there are games that show you how miscommunication can hurt someone. I’ve also learnt how to respect the feelings of others,” he says. When asked about this eye-opening experience, Nathish states, “We are taught to see what the important things in life are.” Heartening Work Lolita Pillai, the Senior Victory facilitator for both Nelson and Nathish, is one of the hearts of the Senior Victory programme. She challenges students to grow positively and develop their individual identity. What drives her passion is knowing that she has the ability to influence students to make a significant difference to their lives. “As we interact with them, we help them process life experiences so they can grow emotionally and gain the inner strength to stand on their own.”
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
Palani Pillai gives students a peek into the advertising world.
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Inspiring In Conversation
Fancy an advertising campaign in which car decals were designed to resemble bird droppings? This is just one example that illustrates the creativity needed to reach out to and get the attention of your desired target audience in today’s world that is flooded with advertising messages. This was just one of many tips shared by Palani Pillai, CEO of Crush Advertising and a wellknown figure in the advertising field at the SINDA Youth Club’s In
Conversation Series (ICS) held on 10 March 2010. More than 50 students from Millenia Institute, Jurong Junior College and Pioneer Junior College were entertained and inspired by the talk about the profitable yet demanding industry of advertising. Many expressed interest for similar future events. Durga from Millenia Institute remarked, “Getting to know about the journey of the speaker in advertising was very motivational.”
Project Victory and Senior Victory a Quick Glimpse Project Victory and Senior Victory are school-based motivational programmes for Indian students from Primary 4 to Primary 6 and secondary levels respectively. Some key features of Senior Victory
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Well-trained and paid facilitators guide students through planned and structured activities that help them redirect their focus toward education
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The programmes are conducted in two hour sessions, every week, for a period of 8, 16 or 24 weeks depending on the schools
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Facilitators regularly update parents with their children’s progress and address any concerns that the parents may have
Want to be a better Dad? Get some heartfelt advice from a proud father. >> Read more on pages 11 and 12.
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ITE Students Inspired by Road Show Kathaminisa Bte Haji Gulam Graduate ITE College West (Clementi Campus) Kathaminisa is no stranger to hard work. In fact, she was working till 9pm the night before starting her first day at Temasek Polytechnic, where she is now pursuing a Diploma in Leisure and Resort Management. From the age of 15, work and study was ‘the norm’ as she strived to supplement the family income. Following her ‘N’ levels, she pursued a NITEC in Service Skills (Office) and scored a GPA of 3.8 before attaining her Higher NITEC in Business Administration. The lure of cash might encourage many secondary school students working part-time in the retail industry to quit school and take on a full-time job. However, she says “The thought has never crossed my mind. Money comes and goes but an education never leaves you.” She looks forward to pursuing a degree which she admits would be difficult financially. “If I can get a scholarship after I finish my diploma, it will be ideal. If not I’m planning to work for two years, save up and go to university.” How does this determined young lady balance studies, work and even travelling to Hong Kong and China for an ITE exchange programme? The key, Kathaminisa believes, is strong family support and time management.
ruar y The SINDA-ITE road show held on 26 Feb revealed the secrets to success in studies. About 300 students from all ITE colleges located islandwide attended SINDA’s second ITE Road Show titled ‘Secrets to Success’ on 26 February 2010 at the sprawling ITE College East campus. Popular artiste from Vasantham, Vadi PVSS, hosted the show and kept the students engaged throughout. ITE is a world-class organisation delivering excellent vocational education. With facilities that rival most universities around the world, ITE offers a unique opportunity for students to craft a path towards a successful career. However, not all students see their ITE education as a stepping stone to a successful future; there are students who drop out in their first year for various reasons.
Thus, the objective of the road show was to convince students that they are at the right place and motivate them to stay on and finish the course even if it is not their chosen field of study. To reinforce these points, three students from past cohorts shared their experiences in ITE and answered questions posed by their juniors - all three of them emphasised that no knowledge they gained was wasted and that they have all moved on to reap the benefits of a quality ITE education. Host Vadi PVSS, motivated the students to focus on their studies through his sharing of anecdotes, personal experiences and motivational videos while Vasantham Star 2009 winner Vickneswaran and Mediacorp artistes Rameshwara Dancers entertained with song and dance numbers.
Workshops held for parents and students (Top Row)
6 February p for Dollars & Sense Worksho rammes mothers from SINDA prog geting and to learn more about bud managing their finances
13 March Values-Based Parenting W orkshop provided mo thers with tip s on effective paren ting
26 March A parenting talk for parents and motivational workshop for students were held at St Margaret’s Secondary School
Visits by representatives of external organisations to the SINDA Family Service Centre (FSC) to share best practices (Bottom Row)
21 Januar y Visit by stude nts from St Th omas University, M inneapolis
22 February Visit by Daybreak FSC
23 February Visit by National University of Singapore (NUS) Social Work students
Strengthening Partnerships, Community Engagement and Outreach
More Opportunities, More Collaboration SINDA and Narpani Pearavai unveil 201 0 plan to forge stronger ties. Whether you are re-entering the workforce, looking for a new career path or learning skills for the first time, the SINDA-Narpani (People’s Association Indian Activity Executive Committee’s Council) Engagement Forum held on the 20 February 2010 has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing your employability. Since 2009, more than 1000 Singapore Indians have attended the career road shows and job fairs organised through the SINDA-Narpani partnership. The community can look forward to more job fairs, career skills workshops and even job preparation and career exploration programmes in 2010.
SINDA benefited from the strong presence of the Indian community at Narpani events. Through the extensive Narpani network of grassroots associations located island-wide, SINDA was able to reach out to the residents of respective districts. 2010 plans are ongoing to continue reaching out not only to the job-seeking segment of the Indian community but also children and families via exciting events and motivational talks. A new initiative to integrate locals, new citizens and Permanent Resident (PRs) via nature and heritage trails is also underway to promote a more unified Indian community.
SINDA is doing “Narpani” (good work) and Narpani is doing its part in Indian development. In a large and practical way, we overlap considerably. This partnership is powerful! T Raja Segar, CEO, SINDA
Chairman of Narpani optimistic about SINDANarpani partnership
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
The Chairman of Narpani Pearavai, Thirunal Karasu PBM, shares his views about the SINDA-Narpani collaboration.
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The Chairman of Narpani Pearavai, Thirunal Karasu PBM, is confident that the SINDA and Narpani Pearavai partnership will serve the Indian community. “SINDA has the resources and Narpani Pearavai has the richness and depth of the Indian community,” says Thiru. The two organisations are coming together to form one big family. “This allows us to better serve the interests of the Indian community.” Thiru elaborates on how SINDANarpani continues to explore more ways to help the community, “For instance, we hold dialogue sessions to understand what the citizens
require so that we can tailor our programmes to their needs.” Thiru is positive about the potential of the SINDA-Narpani partnership. The Indian community can look forward to more effective future efforts involving the two organisations.
Background Information A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Narpani Pearavai and SINDA in 2009 to primarily work in partnership to address the continuous skills training and employment issues faced by the Indian community.
SINDA has the resources and Narpani Pearavai has the richness and depth of the Indian community. This allows us to better serve the interests of the Indian community. Thirunal Karasu PBM, Chairman, Narpani Pearavai
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Key Driving Forces behind SINDA SINDA Liaison Officers (SLOs) play key role in
Going the extra mile Ratha Pichai Odayar, a dedicated SLO since 2002, is confident of the benefits of SINDA’s programmes. “There are many meaningful activities provided by SINDA and I feel that students are missing out on these opportunities. So I create as much awareness as I can.”
Keeping the Competitive Spirit Alive Gunavathy Ponniah is a passionate SLO who encourages students to stay on track with their education.
About SLOs SLOs are school teachers appointed by principals to serve as a point of contact between SINDA and the school. Introduced in 2007, the SLO scheme enables SINDA to tap on teachers to educate and create awareness among students and parents on SINDA’s programmes and services. Weaker students are identified by SLOs and given the opportunity to participate in programmes which can help them improve. Many students and parents have benefited from the timely intervention provided by SLOs and SINDA.
Ratha Pichai Odayar
Gunavathy Ponniah
Gunavathy is dedicated to helping needy students who cannot afford private tuition. “I want to encourage them to remain competitive,” she says. “And SINDA’s programmes are convenient for students because lessons are conducted within the school premises.” Gunavathy is passionate about helping weaker students keep up with the education syllabus. She shares her knowledge with other teachers and facilitators about students’ learning capabilities to improve the speed of the students’ progress.
One of the challenges Ratha faces is trying to reach the parents of the students. She goes the extra mile by helping illiterate parents with the administrative procedures. When parents are too busy to come down for talks, Ratha takes the time to personally call them to share more about the programmes. “I want to help uplift the Indian community so I feel I should do what I can to help,” says Ratha.
Special Thanks We would like to express our sincere thanks to all our SLOs for promoting our programmes and for participating in our activities.
Changes to Come Reading Centres undergo a revamp. The Reading Centre Programme is a collaborative venture between SINDA and People’s Association Indian Activity Executive Committees (IAECs). This year, the programme is moving forward by revamping its operations framework to benefit the students of the Reading Centres. SINDA and IAECs held a networking session on 10 April 2010 to discuss changes
helping SINDA reach out.
to improve the programme’s components. Plans include enhancing training for volunteers and changing the types of resource materials used. SINDA will handle the training of volunteers and provision of resource materials for students while IAECs will handle the registration, recruitment and day-to-day operations of the Reading Centres. IAECs will also ensure 80% Indian students’ participation in each centre.
About Reading Centres The Reading Centre Programme helps cultivate the reading habit in children between the ages of four and nine. Some key features of Reading Centres
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Small group reading session with a volunteer to child ratio of 1: 5
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Classes are conducted for one to two hours weekly and run for at least six months
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Creative and fun methods are employed by volunteers to encourage reading
Special Feature
>>from Page 07
l ia c e p S g in r e Fath or aspiring father, Whether you’re a young, old on! this section is for you. Read Did you know that as fathers, you play a very pivotal role in shaping your children’s lives? Studies have shown that children whose fathers’ have played an active role in their lives and served as role models and friends, have done better in school and life in general. However, a recent Fatherhood Perception Survey conducted by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in 2009 revealed a rather alarming fact. 66% of our Indian fathers almost never or seldom engaged in school-related work or participated in learning activities with their children. This is a cause for concern! As a dad, when you are more involved in nurturing, playing and spending time with your children, they are more likely to
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
• Have higher IQs • Have fewer behavioural problems • Have higher levels of academic performance • Have higher aspirations • Abstain from substance abuse, truancy and stealing in adolescence
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These are just some of the many benefits that your child will reap from a quality father-child relationship. However, more than anything, by playing an active role in your children’s lives, you impact their lives forever and build a strong friendship and bond that last forever.
M. Govindaraju, a father of three successful children, is one such dad who is reaping the benefits of what he sowed during his children’s childhood years. He is an exemplary father – someone all fathers should seek to emulate. Dear Dad M. Govindaraju, or better known as ‘Captain’ among the Indian community and as MaGo on Facebook, is a retired army officer who is doing relief teaching now. He is the moderator of the online Yahoo! group Indians-sg and has written several articles on parenting in Tamil which have been published in his book ‘Ithu Eppadi Irukku’. MaGo’s three children wrote heartfelt letters to their father in 2009 to express their appreciation for his unconditional love.
“Appa, You are an unsung hero. You are our greatest hero and will always remain so. Words are my only help in describing the impact you have had in my life. With or without mentioning, we have been taking your life as a lead to handle our challenges.” Second son who is a Manager in a private financial services firm
“Thanks for the faith in me Appa! You have been telling our friends, relatives and the rest of world that I will not lie... so much so that I started believing that I am not able to lie! Thanks for the mental conditioning, you are a great psyche!’’ Eldest son who is hosting talk shows and acting in Tamil films
“Appa has not been a next door daddy who commands respect and talks with an upper hand. He has always been a friend. He has created the kind of relationship where we could talk about anything under the sky with him.” Youngest daughter who is a graduate teacher
Govindaraju Mr and Mrs
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3 Ways to Be a Better Dad As a father, you play a very important role in your children’s lives. SINDA connections offers 3 simple tips that you can easily stick to. When asked for advice to share with other fathers, MaGo first expresses his gratitude for his supportive wife. “I could not have been a good dad without the support of my wife.” MaGo explains that a husband’s love for his wife has a deep effect on the children too. A father and mother, who respect each other and demonstrate this respect, teach children the importance of a close-knit family and provide a secure environment for them. When children see their parents respecting each other, they are more likely to feel that they are also accepted and respected. MaGo shares another secret to raising children. “Be a role model. Lead by example.” MaGo emphasises that fathers are role models to their children whether they realise it or not. A girl who spends time with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect by boys. Fathers also teach their sons what is important in life by demonstrating honesty, humility and responsibility. He also shared that being a friend and talking to children regularly is essential. This provides an avenue to understand and address any problems faced by them. “If children know they can talk to you about everything, there are lesser chances for them to take the wrong path”. For MaGo, being a father is not a second job at home. “I enjoy being a dad. I let my children grow in their own way and discover their own talents. I want them to be happy.”
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Spend time with your children How a father spends his time tells his children what’s important to him. Kids grow up so quickly. Missed opportunities are forever lost.
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Take time to listen to their ideas and problems Often the only time a father speaks to his children is when they have done something wrong. Begin talking with your kids when they are very young so that difficult subjects will be easier to handle as they get older.
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Discipline with love All children need guidance and discipline. Punishment should be set to reasonable limits. Fathers who discipline in a calm and fair manner show love for their children.
The Fatherhood Public Perception Survey 2009 conducted by MCYS in 2009 revealed the following
66%
91%
23%
of Indian fathers almost never or seldom engaged in school-related work or participated in learning activities with their children.
of Indian fathers almost never or seldom volunteered at their children’s school.
of Indian fathers almost never read to or with their children. This is significantly higher compared to the 12% national average.
Interested to know more? For more tips and resources on fatherhood, you can visit www.dadsforlife.sg. Dads for Life is a national movement to inspire and involve fathers to be good influencers in their children’s lives... for LIFE. Also, look out for and participate in parenting talks that SINDA organises in partnership with the People’s Association Indian Activity Executive Committees at community clubs and SINDA Liaison Officers in schools.
Celebrity Tips with Vadi PVSS
h t i w S P I T CELEBRITY VADI PVSS
di PVSS and educator Va ty ri b le ce ith w t We cha s and fame. about balancing work, studie From acting in Calefare on Channel 5 to teaching Economics, what have you been up to these days?
Currently, I am studying Law at Singapore Management University (SMU) and teaching the module ‘Writing for Media’ part-time at Singapore Polytechnic. I still make time for acting, hosting and writing scripts for local television programmes. Looks like the learning never stops! Give us a killer study tip of yours. (chuckles) Killer study tip? I suggest really listening to everything your teacher says in class. Then revise your work immediately each day. It saves you time. What do you think is the secret to success? It is hard to define success…I think I am still on my way there. For me, a strong family background was the key. My father was very enlightened about education and the arts. That gave me the drive to do well in school. The other important point is to have thick skin. We cannot succeed all the time but also, we cannot fail all the time. What’s essential is that we should always learn from our mistakes and move on.
SINDA connections JUNE 2010
You hosted the ITE road show. What were some of the things you shared with the students?
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I spoke to the audience about time management and balancing their interests such as dance or drama with studies. Also, students should never be afraid to ask for help. Parents play an important part in motivation. Schools and agencies like SINDA can offer study help. The students found your talk very motivational. How did you manage to keep their attention?
preaching event. So I used movie clips such as a scene from a Vijayakanth film to get the point across. Yes, his movies can be quite funny but I think using these popular media products to talk about self-motivation and family values really make a difference. We had celebrities like Rameshwara Dancers, singer and Vasantham Star 2009 winner Vickneshwaran and former ITE students on hand to be accessible role models. Sometimes, students need to see real examples of what is possible. I think in the end, many students felt energised. A few came up to talk to me after the show and mentioned that they had genuine financial concerns about their studies. Through this road show, they really gained awareness about the financial assistance programs available to them and learnt how SINDA could help. You have been acting since the age of 13. How did you balance this with studies? With acting and performing, there is a shelf life of a few years. I mean, even David Beckham can only play football for a fixed number of years…but an education that has no shelf life. In fact I worked harder at studies; I didn’t want to be left behind at school because of my TV commitments. If you could rewind time and talk to the young Vadi PVSS, what would you have done differently? Exercise more! Actually, to be honest I would have taken up law from the very start at university. It may have been very expensive but I shouldn’t have given up on it. But it’s never too late to chase your dreams and at least now I can do it.
I felt the ITE roadshow shouldn’t be a teaching or
Vadi PVSS, a well-known face in the Indian community, is a popular local artiste who writes and acts in dramas and hosts variety programmes on Vasantham. An all-rounded individual who is a role model for young Indians, Vadi taught in a junior college for several years before deciding to make a career switch. He is currently studying law in SMU.
g n i m o Upc
SINDA
14 Events SINDA Youth Club Launch
June Holiday Programmes
jUNE jULY
Volunteers Tea 2010
AUGUST
Project Give Launch SINDA Excellence Awards Ceremony 2010
sEPTEMBER
Self-Help Groups Joint Tuition Awards Ceremony 2010
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About SINDA Vision To build a strong and vibrant Singaporean Indian community together Mission To build a well-educated, resilient and confident community of Indians that stands together with other communities in contributing to the progress of multiracial Singapore Values Respect, our culture Integrity, our foundation Service, our promise Excellence, our pursuit
Board of Trustees & Executive Committee
16
Patron Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
President, Executive Committee Dr Balaji Sadasivan
Chairman, Board of Trustees Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Vice President, Executive Committee Mr Viswa Sadasivan
Life Trustees Professor S Jayakumar Mr S Dhanabalan Mr S Chandra Das Mr J Y Pillay Mr Sat Pal Khattar Mr K Shanmugam Dr N Varaprasad
Secretary Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai
Term Trustees Mr Bobby Chin Yoke Choong Mr Ravi Menon Mr Inderjit Singh Mr Haider M Sithawalla Mr V Shankar Mr M Rajaram Mr Hsieh Fu Hua BG(NS) Ravinder Singh Mr R Jayachandran Mr Gautam Banerjee Mr Girija Pande Advisors Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Mr S Iswaran Ms Indranee Rajah Mr Hri Kumar Nair
Treasurer Mr Subramaniam Iyer Members - Executive Committee Mr V P Jothi Mr R Rajaram Mr Predeep K Menon Mr Aaron Maniam Mr Naseer Ghani Mr Puvan Ariaratnam Mr P Thirunal Karasu, PBM Members - Resource Panel Dr Sivasankaran Subramaniam Mr Mohamed Abdul Jaleel Ms Sabanitha Shanmugasundram Mr P B Desai Mr Sajen G Aswani Mr Sarjit Singh Dr Joshua V M Kuma Mr K V Rao Ms M Nirmala