SINDA Connections November 2023 by SINDA

OUR STUDENTS' AWARDWINNING WAYS

MCI (P) 085/03/2023

SINDA CONNECTIONS

NOVEMBER 2023 01 Welcoming SINDA's New Chairman

04 Valuing our Volunteers and Partners

07 Joint Tuition Awards: Two Decades Strong

CEO’S MESSAGE Dear Friends of SINDA, As we approach the final few months of 2023, it is with gratitude that we look back on what has been a fruitful year. We’ve broken new ground with impactful initiatives, seen transition in our leadership, and strengthened our resolve in supporting the wider Indian community. One of the key changes we’ve seen this year has been the transition in leadership of the Chairman of SINDA’s Board of Trustees. We welcome Minister K Shanmugam as our new Chairman, who succeeds President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as he takes on his new role as President of the Republic of Singapore. SINDA is grateful for the guidance and wisdom President Tharman provided us in his 15-year tenure and we look forward to seeing him continue in his journey of serving the nation. We look forward to having Minister Shanmugam, who has been at the core of SINDA’s work since its inception, lead us into the next chapter of service to the community. His vision and passion will steer us well into the future. Amidst these changes, SINDA's core mission of supporting the community remains at the heart of all our endeavours. It is a mission that is made possible by the unwavering dedication of many individuals, groups and organisations. Each of these elements constitutes the backbone of SINDA's work, and we cannot overstate their significance. To express our appreciation for these vital contributors and enhance support for our volunteers, we recently hosted the SINDA Appreciation Ceremony and organised the first-ever SINDA Volunteer Conference. The ceremony was a heartfelt recognition of the selfless contributions of our volunteers, the steadfast commitment of our community partners, and the symbiotic relationship we share with our schools. This event celebrated their collective efforts, which drive our vision for a better community. Simultaneously, the inaugural Volunteer Conference, a groundbreaking initiative, provided our volunteers with tools, knowledge and resources to further enrich their contributions. We recognise volunteers as the lifeblood of SINDA and we look to empower them to continue their invaluable work and inspire others to join our cause. Our commitment to collaborative efforts extends beyond our immediate circle. We recognise the importance of working together with other Self-Help Groups who share our vision for a stronger community. This collaborative spirit has yielded remarkable results, as demonstrated by the Joint Tuition Awards, celebrating the outstanding performance of students nurtured through these collaborations whose achievements you can read more about in this issue. As we approach the end of the year, I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to work alongside SINDA and contribute to the betterment of our community. The year ahead holds boundless potential and, together, we can forge a brighter future for all. Let us continue our journey, hand in hand, as we work towards a year of even greater impact and transformation.

Anbarasu Rajendran, JP CEO, SINDA 04 | Programmes & Events

CONTENTS 01 | Looking Back 02-03 | A Pick of Programmes for Young People

Valuing our Volunteers and Partners ■ What's New for Volunteers ■ Packing in the Programmes ■ Joint Tuition Awards: Two Decades Strong ■

08-09 | Our Students' AwardWinning Ways 10 | Programmes & Events What Went Down at the SYLS (And Who Rose Up!) ■ Secrets to Solid Starts ■

16 | Quiz-O-Mania 17 | One of Us

PUBLISHER Singapore Indian Development Association EDITORIAL TEAM Corporate & Marketing Communications Division Chief Editor Dhanasegaran Narayanasamy Deputy Editor Manesh Rangarajan Production Editors Ameer Hamzah, Parameswari Kunnasegaran DESIGN & LAYOUT Green House Design + Communications PRINTER HoBee Print Pte Ltd, Licence No: L001/09/2022 TO SUBSCRIBE to SINDA Connections or inform us of a change of mailing address, send your updated home or office address to connections@sinda.org.sg. TO CONTRIBUTE towards the SINDA Fund (to start contributing or increase contributions), please contact us at 1800 295 3333, or visit www.sinda.org.sg.

| Highlights

Looking Back Education, of which he was a member. Since then, he has been an active advocate for the Indian community and has guided SINDA’s many initiatives. Mr Shanmugam’s association with SINDA spans 32 years since 1991, and he served as President of the SINDA Executive Committee from 2002 to 2009. He led the organisation through challenging years, which covered an economic slowdown as well as the SARS outbreak, enabling us to continue supporting those in need. Career placements and training were among SINDA schemes which benefitted over 2,000 Singaporean Indians then. The Back To School Festival, which provides disadvantaged students with school essentials, was also launched during his tenure.

Welcoming Our New Chairman SINDA is pleased to welcome Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, as our new Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Mr Shanmugam has been a Life Trustee since 2010 and he will continue to serve alongside the current Life Trustees.

Mr Shanmugam takes over from Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who relinquished his position as SINDA Chairman following his inauguration as President of the Republic of Singapore. Mr Tharman served in the role for the last 15 years. He has been closely involved with the organisation since its founding in 1991, following a report by the Action Committee on Indian

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development and President of SINDA, said that Mr Shanmugam “is strongly connected with the Singaporean Indian community, has in-depth knowledge of SINDA and its work and is wellpositioned to take SINDA to the next level.”

STEP Centre Visit

“Taking Flight” Programme Takes Flight

Minister Indranee Rajah and SINDA Executive Committee members visited the STEP Centre at Woodlands Ring Primary School on 3 August, meeting some 60 tutors, students and parents there. A classroom tour gave a look at the various teaching approaches in action and parents could attend a workshop on screen addiction as well.

The SINDA Youth Club (SYC) recently partnered with the SG Leaders Network to inspire and guide young Singaporean working adults to pursue opportunities overseas. On 13 July, 50 youths engaged with 10 industry professionals in a “worldcafé” setting. Singaporean youth are empowered through our education system to be self-sufficient, innovative and globally aware. Taking Flight encourages them to take on the transformative and enriching experience of a career overseas. With international perspectives, youths can better tackle the challenges in an interconnected world.

Over 4,000 students attend STEP programmes each year at STEP centres island-wide. These students’ classroom lessons are complemented by e-learning modules while interactive games strengthen their understanding of mathematics and science concepts in an enjoyable yet impactful way. Beyond academics, STEP also develops students holistically and includes wellness initiatives and confidence building. 1

| Education Highlight

A Pick of Programmes for Young People When it comes to having breadth and depth of activities, our youths have a whole range to pique their interest. SINDA's youth programmes are designed to inspire them and support their pursuits, because we are nurturing a confident, capable generation. We give youngsters the opportunity to turn indifference into animation, curiosity into passion and a lack of direction into leadership.

R Sri Varshini has been a participant of SINDA's youth programmes for over 8 years. She first started out in the SINDA Football Club, and found herself participating in more programmes, inspired by her peers and the range of programmes available to her. Varshini has since gone on to become a Peer Leader in her own right, guiding her fellow youths and providing valuable support to her younger peers as they pursue SINDA's youth programmes.

“By participating in different initiatives, I honed my leadership skills and gained the confidence to speak in front of crowds. Today, as a Peer Leader, I enjoy mentoring younger participants and am inspired to lead by example. I have seen the positive impact of volunteering and do so whenever I can. I am already looking forward to taking part in more youth programmes!” R Sri Varshini, 20, SINDA Football Club and Guidance and Mentorship Programme Participant

It doesn't matter where your interests lie. Join one of our programmes, because, why not? Discover what life can be outside your comfort zone and learn new ways to express yourself. Develop your potential with essential life skills like communication, time management and critical thinking; but do it with a great deal of fun, through anything from emceeing to music to art to sports. We can also match you to mentors who will help you to grow into your best self. Here’s what our youth motivation and mentorship schemes, available for 13- to 25-year-olds, look like:

Mentor Me

ITEnable

If you’re a tertiary student with dreams, a sustained mentorship can show you the way to achieving them. Enjoy career and corporate mentoring, youth mentoring and skills-based workshops to boot.

When the going gets tough, ITEnable keeps you going! Find motivation in your ITE journey by picking up positive skills and values with great peer support. You can also take up our corporate mentoring to kickstart your career.

Youth Enable Get the right mindset for the win! Designed for secondary-school students, the programme helps you uncover your confident, resilient self to see a difference in your social and academic worlds.

SINDA Football Club

Youth Engagement Programme

Not just kicking around a backyard—SFC will bring out the discipline, resilience and commitment every player should have. Learn more than fancy footwork, with values-based talks and workshops thrown in for a holistic experience. This programme is open to guys and girls alike.

SINDA Youth Hub

At a loose end during weekends and school holidays? No fear— check out this series of activities that will keep you meaningfully engaged and in high spirits.

Guidance and Mentorship (GAME)

A safe place to hang out that’s got all the right vibes for great activities, positive peer circles and even studying! Find us at Jurong Point 1, #06-03, Singapore 648886.

Ever wanted to try out drumming or hip-hop or film-making or floorball? Those are just a few of the many interest-based activities under GAME! Ever thought you would learn other life skills along the way too? GAME mentors make this an empowering experience that might just change your life!

Visit our website at www.sinda.org.sg/services/youth/ to found out more!

| Programmes & Events

VALUING OUR VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS The SINDA Appreciation Ceremony on 15 July brought many of our supporters together to honour our community partners and volunteers who have made a difference. This third edition of the biennial celebration, held at HomeTeamNS Khatib, was graced by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in his previous capacity as Chairman of SINDA. We were proud to recognise a record number of 236 individuals and organisations with awards for working alongside us. Over the years, SINDA has been able to bring you a wide range of programmes and events through the dedication of our partners - over 300 in 2022. They are also the ones who have brought dialogues to life, hosted SINDA booths to engage the community and galvanised donors in fundraising. They include individuals, community and grassroots organisations, religious and ethnic groups and schools, and their contributions cover both resources and expertise. SINDA’s services and programmes have always been warmly received and that is in no small part due to the generous work of volunteers. They hail from all walks of life, span all ages and have diverse interests, but unite in an unstinting effort to better lives. Last year, more than 550 volunteers put in 2,600 hours to support SINDA’s work. They are our amazing ambassadors, spearheading initiatives like the Book Wizards programme and Door Knocking Exercises.

Book Wizards Who else but volunteers are behind the magic of this popular community-based reading programme? It was conceptualised by volunteers in 2020 and volunteers have been running it ever since. The 16-week programme sees them reading one-to-one with preschoolers, both online and at public libraries (yes! The National Library Board is a partner too!). Our volunteer readers are also trained to check on the well-being of the children and their families, and SINDA’s Family Service Centre follows up where assistance is needed.

Door–Knocking Exercises (DKE) Our tireless volunteers also walk the ground, engaging with Indian residents and bringing care right to their doorsteps. We are not kidding about them being tireless— since they started in 2016 these volunteers have met over 1,000 households all over the island. The DKE is a collective effort, whereby grassroots organisations and community partners identify Indian residents in their precincts. Our friendly volunteers then look in to see if all is well and to share about SINDA's many programmes and services. Many residents who needed help and were unsure where to get it are now supported by us!

Won’t you join the outreach to our community? Find out more at www.sinda.org.sg/ get-involved/ 4

WHAT S NEW FOR VOLUNTEERS With over 500 volunteers helping to keep SINDA’s programmes and initiatives going, we certainly have an indomitable force behind us!

online community of volunteers, and TeamStreamz offered its pro bono services to develop the application and bring it to life. SINDA volunteers can now have self-directed learning options, get real-time updates on upcoming volunteer opportunities and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded folk.

On 12 August 2023, SINDA held our first-ever Volunteer Conference, bringing SINDA volunteers together with our partners from social service agencies, government agencies and community organisations. The inaugural event saw participants exploring strategies to nurture and sustain volunteerism and sharing successful volunteer management practices. Two panel discussions delved into building social resilience through volunteerism and nurturing youth volunteers for social impact. By the end of the conference, the way seemed clear for fresh, innovative efforts.

The App is timely, given our heavy focus on youth volunteerism. We have benefited from the activities of more than 300 youths aged 16 to 30 who are committed to giving back to the community, and we aim to empower them for bigger roles.

Did you know? In 2022, volunteers helped us to reach some 26,000 individuals and families. You know some of their work— the Door Kocking Exercises (DKEs), Book Wizards reading programme and Project Shine, whereby volunteers spruce up the homes of our elderly in time for the festive seasons.

SINDA Volunteer App SINDA proudly introduces our own Volunteer App, having created an online community for volunteers to call their own. Using the NCSS Toolkit, we worked with volunteers from Microsoft who provided valuable insight on building an

Here are some of the key takeaways from the Volunteer Conference!

| Programmes & Events

Packing In the programmes There is always a whole lot to do, when you’re with SINDA! From fun for the jocks to coding in blocks, to profound dialogues and talks, youths found their fix in the mix.

Aqua Adventure Who could resist the chance to try out Singapore’s first integrated indoor water park? Our youths whooped it up at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s new facility on 12 August, while exercising teamwork and communication skills in challenging water obstacle courses. Of course they couldn’t get enough. “I hope to have more activities like this!” exclaimed Rohan, 14, from Chua Chu Kang Secondary School.

Let Her Shine! App Design and Web Programming Creating an app about inspiring women in STEM has lit a fire under upper-primary schoolgirls who attended a design workshop on 12 August. A similar enthusiasm for all things digital was sparked in 24 secondary schoolgirls earlier in June, with the Ultimate Guide to Web Programming workshop. “I was really inspired when creating a web page on my female role model,” one teen effused.

ITEnable Conversations SINDA and the National Youth Council hosted ITE students under our ITEnable programme at a Civic Conversation on Race and Religion on 28 July. This offered a safe space for exploration and reflection as the youths unpacked pertinent issues. Facilitator Ranjeta, 20, from ITE Central says, “These conversations are important for us to understand each other and work together towards building a stronger social fabric in Singapore.”

Career Exploration Camps for Tweens – Biomedical Sciences and Internet of Things (IoT) Two groups of 10- to 12-year-olds joined our camps in hopes of furthering their interests in specific fields. On 11 and 12 June, the first group checked out what working in biomedical science is like, through visits to the Lifelong Learning Institute, Singapore Management University and NEWater Visitor Centre, as well as interacting with researchers from the Health Science Authority and NUS Biomedical Engineering. Another batch of students who had a keen eye on the tech field joined us on 16 and 17 June to meet with senior automation engineers from A*STAR, after which they headed over to Singapore Changi Airport to learn how technology aids airport operations. “The camp was really fun and different,” shares Kumaresan Sharan, 10. “I learnt a lot about the Internet and career options related to it." 6

Joint Tuition Awards: TWO DECADES STRONG Twenty years ago, the four Self-Help Groups (SHGs)—the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Eurasian Association, Yayasan MENDAKI and SINDA—united in an effort to give students from low-income families an academic boost. They launched the Collaborative Tuition Programme (CTP) to offer affordable instruction to school-goers, from primary level to the O- and N-Levels. Pupils from all four races have since benefited from the CTP in increasing numbers, as centres sprung up island-wide. From the first 11 centres set up in 2002, there are now 175, ensuring easy access for all. Each year, we celebrate the progress of these students at the annual Joint Tuition Awards (JTA) ceremony. On August 20 this year, the JTA marked its 20th anniversary at the Nanyang Polytechnic Auditorium, where 883 received awards for their academic achievements. Among them, those from SINDA made up the largest cohort in the PSLE category. Well done, to all 296 of our SINDA students who won the awards! For new students interested in taking part in SINDA’s education schemes, register at https://www.sinda.org.sg/

services/education/

"I am honoured to be one of the top recipients at the Joint Tuition Awards. This achievement validates my hard work and assures me that I am on the right track. I’m looking forward to more successes like this in the future!" Muhammad Akhyar Bin Mohiddin, 17 GCE N(T)-Level Category (Best Overall Student)

| Feature Interview

OUR STUDENTS' AWARD-WINNING WAYS Get to know some of our top 2023 Joint Tuition Award recipients: Joseph Raj Sajiv Smith, 12, Best Performer at PSLE; and 17-year-olds Harshini d/o Elangovan and Nijam Mohideen Hardiana, ‘O’ Level winners. Harshini d/o Elangovan, 17 Congratulations on your exceptional achievements! What are you studying now, and what are your ambitions? Harshini (H): I am in Year 1 (Nursing) at Nanyang Polytechnic. I enjoyed volunteering with organisations such as Willing Hearts as part of my VIA in school. It gave me peace and satisfaction, and inspired me to help others by being a nurse. Hardiana (HD): I am doing my ‘A’ Levels at Millennia Institute. I intend to pursue a career in cybersecurity within the Singapore Police Force. I have wanted to be police officer since I was five, inspired by the Crime Watch programme on television. In school, as part of my CCA with the National Police Cadet Corps, I was also intrigued by a project to educate the community about false news in the world of advanced technology. Sajiv (S):

I am now in Commonwealth Secondary School. I hope to have a career in medicine as I have always wanted to help people in need. I’m inspired by my aunt who gives amazing care to others as a medical professional. 8

You were all students in SINDA STEP Tuition. What have your academic journeys been like with STEP’s help? H: My cousin was in STEP and told me it helped him to do much better, so I joined also. It has played a huge role in motivating me, as my math and chemistry tutors Ms Mada and Mr Satish Balu never gave up on me. They taught me that hard work matters, and celebrated even a C grade because I put in the work. HD: STEP has many centres close to my home, with classes that fit my schedule. Taking STEP classes helped clarify my doubts about some topics. My mentor Ms Thilashinee Arunasalam even guided me via WhatsApp on days when there was no tuition. And the stress and time management talks at STEP were helpful as well. S: I had heard great things about STEP from my friends, and the centre is near my home. It was really helpful and my tutor could explain things in a way that was easy for me to understand. And when I got really anxious about the exams he would tell me to take a deep breath. His assurance motivated me to push harder and be more calm and confident.

How have your struggles shaped you as a person? H: I almost had to repeat Sec 3, which was a wake-up call for me to do better. I had a habit of procrastinating (I still do at times) but now I remind myself to push a little harder. I paste Post-It notes with motivational quotes on my study table. HD: I got only 20-30% for most of my subjects in the Sec 3 mid-year exams, which was demoralising. But I was determined not to give up and to work towards my dream. Meeting my parents’ expectations was a challenge, but once I explained myself to them, they motivated me to reach my goal and gave suggestions for my revision, including planning a schedule, as I was starting to burn out from too many activities. I like this Dan Waldschmidt quote my mom shared before my ‘O’ Levels: “The only thing standing between you and outrageous success is continued progress.” S: I needed to learn to balance my hobbies with my exam preparations. I had to reduce my mobile phone and television time, which really helped with my concentration. I am now more organised in scheduling my activities.

Nijam Mohideen Hardiana, 17

What advice do you have for our readers? H: When I doubted my ability to pass my exams, my parents and best friends reassured me that I could do better and that they were proud of me for coming so far. I would like to tell those taking exams that although it is a stressful period, it is definitely not the end of the world. What matters most is the effort you put in because you can be at peace knowing you did your best. There are many ways to come back stronger; failure is just a step towards success.

How does it feel to attain the Joint Tuition Award? S: This award assured me that I was doing well and has provided a lot of motivation to excel in secondary school too. I will use this motivation to push myself and work much harder. I would like to thank my mother for always being there for me, for being by my side whenever I struggled. I also thank my father for supporting me whenever I felt like giving up.

HD: For the many students out there struggling with time and meeting expectations, one piece of advice that I would like to give is to not study continuously for more than 2 hours. It is not efficient and might be counterproductive. Plan your time ahead and study well, as time is limited and we should use every second wisely. Also, have a study buddy who you can lean on—motivate each other and help each other out! It really worked for me and it may work for you too. When you feel too tense and anxious, stop pushing yourself and take frequent breaks. Most importantly, spend time with your family and friends, as they will always be there to help you through your hardships!

Joseph Raj Sajiv Smith, 12 9

| Programmes & Events

WHAT WENT DOWN AT THE SYLS AND WHO ROSE UP! Every year, the SINDA Youth Club holds its flagship SINDA Youth Leaders Seminar (SYLS). For three days and two nights, tertiary students take up residence together for an intensive, immersive programme of leadership building and community empowerment. This year, the 11th edition of the SYLS was hosted at the National University of Singapore’s University Town from 16 to 18 June. Here’s what transpired—hear from some of those who were transformed!

Day 1 Day 3

…was all about creating connections—bonding with fellow participants, empathy trails to understand vulnerable groups, servantleadership exercises and a Privilege Walk to learn not to take things for granted.

…saw participants flexing their creative chops as only youth can, in an Ideation Challenge. Tasked with formulating sustainable solutions for specific community issues, they partnered stakeholders and organisations, closing the gap between their assumptions and reality. Each group then presented their projects to Guest of Honour Mr Sarjit Singh, Vice-President of SINDA, and other guests.

Rajadharshini Nedumaran, 19, of Victoria Junior College shares: “Day 1 heightened my gratitude for what I have and ignited my desire to pay it forward. Right from the start it proved to be a very fulfilling experience! It also opened my heart by igniting my interest in volunteering and helping our community.”

Singapore Polytechnic students Susitha Sivakumar, 18, says, “Being able to present our ideas to people active in the social service sector was exciting. Overall, the camp helped me improve my interpersonal skills and brought out my leadership qualities. At the same time the saying is true that "We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun"!

Day 2 …was spent exploring various pressing social and community issues. The youths visited MINDS, Thye Hua Kwan Nursing Home and migrant worker dormitories, kicking off a needs analysis and preideation process. 21-year-old Honora Sherlyn Nagle Daniel Wilson Armstrong from the Singapore Institute of Management tells us, “Day 2 pushed us out of our comfort zones and was nothing short of transformative. We caught a glimpse into the stark living conditions of foreign workers, who often go unnoticed. It reinforced the idea that true leadership extends beyond personal growth; it includes a commitment to improving the lives of those who may be less fortunate. It instilled in me a deep sense of duty towards others and inspired many of us to act on the change we want to see.”

So here’s to a new batch of youth leaders rising up on behalf of the community—inspired, committed and empowered!

SECRETS TO SOLID STARTS A new stage in life always brings at least a little trepidation along with the excitement. This is very much so for youngsters moving into a new school to begin their next phase of education—and often, it is no less a nervous time for their parents! As families all over Singapore prepare for pre-school, Primary 1, Secondary 1 and tertiary education, SINDA helps make the transition a little easier for those in our community. The SINDA Starter Series equips parents with all they need to know about smoothing the way for their child and soothing their every worry. Here are a couple of events we recently held:

PRE-SCHOOL STARTERS Unlocking Hearts – Effective Communication with Your Child Setting the stage for effective parent-child communication was a talk on 21 October, offering the keys to unlocking a deeper connection with the wee ones. Empathy and effective listening certainly go a long way in engaging children!

SEC 1 STARTERS Indoor Explorer – Parent-Child Adventure at SuperPark We all know examinations are a significant source of stress for kids. Did you know the anxiety, pressure and self-doubt can escalate after the exam period, too? Mums and dads learnt strategies to support their children in the postexam stretch at this talk on 21 October, while the students enjoyed a workshop of their own.

Stay tuned for more programmes under our Starter series! For more information, visit www.sinda.org.sg/services/family/

Quiz-O-Mania Read everything in the November 2023 issue of SINDA Connections without skipping a page? Let’s see how well you know its contents! This contest is open only to primary and secondary school students, who are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. Three correct entries will win $50 worth of vouchers each. Scan the QR code or visit www.sinda.org.sg/Quiz-O-Mania and complete the quiz by 31 December 2023. Winning correct entries will be picked in a draw and the judges’ decision is final. Winners will be contacted by SINDA to collect their prize and their names will be published in the next issue of SINDA Connections.

Congratulations to the winners of the previous contest! 1) Aditi Ganesh Ram 2) Krishalini B Yew Tee Primary School New Town Primary School

3) Sivalinsira d/o Chinnadura St. Margarets School (Primary)

| One of Us

“We have had so many great experiences and learnt a lot and played a lot. It has made us more confident about trying new things, because we see we can do them even though we are still kids. We can’t wait to see what’s coming up next at SINDA!”

Dheepica and Liccash Siblings Dheepica (10) and Liccash (9) are familiar faces at SINDA events from digital workshops to sports clinics. They share what has kept them coming for a multitude of activities since 2020. Hello! We are Dheepica and Liccash Jayaseelan and we are excited to be featured in SINDA Connections!

discovering new things, too. Sometimes we still laugh about it when we remember all the funny moments from these SINDA outings.

We always look forward to the programmes by SINDA because we can learn something new while having fun. We like trying things that kids our age don’t always get the chance to try, like Artificial Intelligence or song writing. Dheepica has joined more than 50 SINDA activities! Some were really cool like radio control car racing, and 3D printing in the Let Her Shine! programme. We have taken part in 38 courses together, including football, guitar, art and robotics. It’s fun to do things together and have grown closer because of that. We also got to go places with our parents and we can tell they enjoyed playing and dancing with us and

We also take STEP tuition with SINDA, which helps us with our schoolwork. We like that there is more time to understand a topic because sometimes school classes go quite fast. For the last few years, we have been very motivated to start the new school year because we get Back To School vouchers from SINDA which lets us get new shoes and school supplies. But of course, we like all the fun stuff more and hope for the holidays to come faster so that we can take up another activity with SINDA!