MCI (P) 051/07/2019
MARCH 2020
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AARTHI, SINDHURA, VAISHNAVI
Women of
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7 Ways To Ace Your Revision!
Pumped Up, Prepped and All Packed for School
All Abuzz with the President Aboard the SINDA Bus
CEO’S MESSAGE
Dear friends of SINDA, With this first issue of SINDA Connections in 2020, I hope that your year has been off to an excellent start! 2019 ended well for SINDA as we bade farewell to the year with yet another successful and meaningful initiative – the Back To School Festival (BTSF). From one centralised venue to three venues in 2018, we extended our engagement in 2019 by having BTSF ceremonies in four various zones. This was done so that students and their parents could come to the venue nearest to their homes and partake in the celebrations. In total, we gave out BTSF kits to 3,500 students, a thousand more students than in previous years! 10-year-old Raphael Rab Kevinesh is a student and a first-time recipient of the BTSF kit. He and his family had not previously come forward to seek assistance and receive it. However, we were able to identify Raphael through our multi-agency collaborations. Besides receiving the BTSF kit, he and his family are now being supported by
our SINDA Family Service Centre’s holistic intervention to overcome their challenges. Moving forward, our hope and prayers are that we are able to further engage the community so that no one is left behind—this is something we are working very hard to achieve. I am also happy to share that SINDA was fortunate to host our President, Mdm Halimah Yacob, in January. President Halimah witnessed firsthand our efforts in a number of areas, including pre-school education, children's enrichment, volunteer-led initiatives and community engagement. A number of members from our very own SINDA Youth Club (SYC) also presented their proposals and ideas for community betterment. Many of these youths’ passion for serving our people shone through as they spoke with President Halimah with great enthusiasm! Just like the SYC youth, other youths in our community have also been inspirational. In fact, in this issue of SINDA Connections, you will read about a number of our young adults making
waves—either in an area of personal growth or by channelling their dedication and passion towards serving the community. Young or old, I strongly encourage you to be a part of SINDA’s programmes. We will help you pursue your path of passion or experience growth in an area that you need additional support in. As we progress into 2020 and roll out more programmes, the current COVID-19 outbreak is at the top of all our minds. As a community, we must practise self and social responsibility in ensuring that this virus is contained and we return to normalcy. At SINDA, we have implemented some precautionary measures as the well-being of all beneficiaries is our biggest priority. You can learn more about SINDA’s health safety measures by scanning the QR code below. As the year progresses, I look forward to engaging and benefitting more of you as we work towards a progressive society. From all of us at SINDA, I wish you the very best in your way forward! Anbarasu Rajendran CEO, SINDA
CONTENTS 01 Looking Back 02–03 Editorial • Ensuring Mental Wellness is Key to a Strong Society
10–14 Event Highlights
15 D.I.Y
• Pumped Up, Prepped and All Packed for School
• Toy Aeroplane
• All Abuzz with the President Aboard the SINDA Bus • Helping Parents Help Pre-Schoolers Bloom • SINDA Youth Awards 2019
05–07 Interview
• IBR and Beneficiaries’ Fabulous Deepavali Celebration
• Women of Shakti
• Youth Leaders Unite
• Early Steps on the Road to Code
SCAN ME
16 Quiz-O-Mania 17 One of Us • Sivasubramaniam Selvalatchmanan
• Lifting Up Leaders at Every Level
08–09 Tips
• Project Aspire Inspires
• 7 Ways to Ace Your Revision!
PUBLISHER Singapore Indian Development Association EDITORIAL TEAM Corporate & Marketing Communications Division CHIEF EDITOR Ravindran Nagalingam, COO, SINDA DEPUTY EDITOR Dhanasegaran Narayanasamy PRODUCTION EDITORS Priyaa Vasudevan, Manesh Rangarajan, Nathiyaah Sakthimogan DESIGN & LAYOUT Green House Design + Communications PRINTER Stamford Press Pte Ltd, Licence No: L022/04/2012 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 KUDOS TO OUR TUTORS Some 180 tutors and auxiliary personnel—staff behind the scenes who have contributed to the success of our programmes—were recognised for their outstanding efforts in 2019. The event was held on 4 October 2019 at SAFRA Toa Payoh. They received their Long Service Awards, with several taking the stage to share about their experiences with SINDA. EDUCATORS GET READY FOR 2020 With the new year comes a new plan. On 4 January, SINDA’s Education Division Workplan 2020 was rolled out to 400 tutors, STEP centre principals, mentors, pupil management officers, centre administrators and other staff. The Tutor Workplan Seminar is an annual session to orientate those involved in our education programmes with organisational directions and expectations for the year. A Mentor Appointment Ceremony was also held, along with the presentation of Certificates in Performance for Coaching. This year’s seminar was held at Woodlands Ring Primary School.
GAMES DAY@SINDA YOUTH HUB Several young people discovered not just the range of programmes for youth that SINDA offers, but also a community of like-minded, fun-loving peers at our Games Day on 31 January. Swapping strategies and sharing much laughter, these new-toSINDA youths took on brain-teasers and new games like Chope and Werewolves besides old favourites like Jenga. After a successful FIFA PS4 tournament in January, this was the next event of the year at SINDA Youth Hub at Jurong Point 1. This will be one of many such activities to reach and engage 13-to-25-year-olds at the drop-in centre, where they can be connected to other suitable SINDA programmes and services.
CHOCOLATE-MAKING WORKSHOP They’ve gone over to the dark side—of chocolate, that is. A hands-on workshop at AnjaliChocolat, an artisan chocolatier, on 20 December 2019 turned children aged 5 to 12 into little connoisseurs, adept at crafting their own confections. Counting, weighing and measuring added a mathematical ingredient to the activity, with a sweet sense of accomplishment and increased self-esteem adding a smooth finish!
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EDITORIAL
Ensuring Mental Wellness is Key to a Strong Society By Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Education and President, SINDA
Mental health is not something we talk about very often. Yet, it is becoming increasingly necessary to have a conversation about it. Mental health has become a global issue and in Singapore, we too have seen its growth. The underlying reasons for the worldwide rise in mental health issues have not yet been definitely identified. However, the fact that it is widespread indicates a wider and broader cause than just the conditions or circumstances which may be specific to any one particular country. The stresses and strains of modern living and the pace of work could be one reason. Another factor could well be the Internet and the rise of social media. Unlike before, things we say or that are said against us can go viral in a blink of an eye, bringing with them a flood of communication that can be toxic or vituperative; we are exposed to cyber-bullying, online harassment, doxxing or simply the pressure of invidious comparisons online.
It affects both young and old but the young are more vulnerable due to their limited life experience. If we want to be a strong society, it is important that we look after not just our physical health but our mental health as well. Strategies to ensure mental wellness include having a good understanding of the issue, knowing when and where to seek help and having a strong protective environment that can help those with mental illness and their families to better cope. The first thing to understand is that mental illnesses cover a wide range of disorders. Some are less serious and easier to treat; others are more serious, requiring greater intervention. They include: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, alcohol abuse and dependence, certain addictions and other disorders, or any combination of these.
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Those who suffer from mental illness are often reluctant to seek help or open up, for fear that they may be regarded as crazy or be discriminated against. Friends and family may not know how to help them. In my dialogues with young people, the issue of mental health often comes up and one consistent response is that young people want to know how to help their friends who suffer from mental illness. They also say that it is difficult to talk about it publicly due to the stigma attached. Hence, if we want to tackle mental illness effectively, we must learn to have more open conversations about it and remove the stigma associated with it. We should see mental disorders as not dissimilar to physical illnesses—they are simply medical conditions which need to be treated. Likewise, if treated properly, people can recover and lead happy and fulfilling lives.
I therefore encourage those with mental health issues to not be afraid to seek help. In schools, students can approach the school counsellors or their teachers. Adults can approach the Institute of Mental Health or other mental medical practitioners. The key thing is to understand that you are not alone in this battle. If you reach out, help is there. This requires the ability to admit there is a problem, but such an admission is also the first step to overcoming the problem and moving forward for a better life. At the same time, we must also build up a protective environment. This includes helping young people build up resilience and robustness in their early years so that they can better cope with situations that might lead to mental stress, for example, bullying. Friends and family can provide a supportive and loving network so that mental health sufferers do not feel isolated and alone.
Employers can help too, by being willing to employ those who disclose mental health conditions—provided, of course, it does not jeopardise their ability to carry out their jobs— and, where necessary, by giving them the time and space to seek treatment and provide supportive workplaces. The community can play a part as well, by changing our attitudes and mindsets about mental health. We should learn more about the different mental conditions and how to interact with those who have them. What hurts those with mental health issues most is rejection, derision, mockery or scorn. By being open, accepting, encouraging and educating ourselves on the topic, we can together promote mental wellness and resilience in our society.
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For th e la oppo test job r with g tunities over n ment suppo bit.ly rt, visit: /MCF nov19
LOOKING TO ACHIEVE YOUR
#CareerGoal?
Take charge of your career with Workforce Singapore’s suite of programmes and services. Three individuals share their testimonials.
“WSG’s Career Matching Services helped me secure my next job role”
“Thanks to Career Trial, I found my dream job”
- Ajoy Dasgupta
After two years in Supply Chain, Jeyaragini d/o Davindran realised that it wasn’t what she wanted. “Children have always held a special place in my heart,” shares the degree holder in Bachelor of Mathematics and Economics, who was fascinated with the development of young children while watching her baby nephew grow up. She decided to make the switch into the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector, with the help of WSG’s Career Trial programme to ease into the industry. “I signed up for a two-week trial with Mulberry Learning Centre as an Assistant Teacher Trainee, where I got to observe, learn and engage with pre-schoolers,” she says. “I loved every minute of it.” Since then, Ms Jeyaragini completed a part-time WSQ professional diploma in ECCE and is now a full-time teacher. “Making the leap was scary but I’m glad I made the career change.”
Ajoy Dasgupta was at a loss when he was out of work for the first time, in over 40 years. The 62-year-old felt that age was a barrier to being re-hired. “I was worried my professional experience was being overlooked and would go to waste as employers focused on my age,” he shares. He was recommended to connect with Ingeus, a Career Matching Service provider of WSG, where he met with a Career Coach regularly and attended career workshops. “Having my Coach as a sounding board, guiding me, helped me realise I wasn’t alone and to keep going.” Shortly, he was offered a Business Development role at Gaintech Engineering. “It feels great to be at work, using my past experience while learning new skills too.”
- Jeyaragini d/o Davindran
“I was able to hire an experienced PMET with the Career Support Programme” - A S Sundaram CEO of Pisces Technologies, A S Sundaram, found it challenging to hire the right talents. When Thiyagarajan Renganathan came along, Mr Sundaram found his background in mechanical design and project management, and overall knowledge of industry and systems useful to the company. “We were fortunate to find Thiyagarajan and shortlisted him as we felt that he displayed strong potential, he shares. “I knew PMETs like him bring a wealth of experience and transferable skills.” With the help of Career Support Programme, Mr Sundaram was able to defray salary costs that helped with the company’s hiring needs. “We were able to set aside time to train him for the job before evaluating his performance.”
INTERVIEW
AARTHI, SINDHURA, VAISHNAVI:
WOMEN OF SHAKTI
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Three young women discuss their efforts to create a support and empowerment network for South Asian domestic workers in Singapore. Please introduce yourselves… V: I’m Vaishnavi Naidu, a marketing associate. I am 30. A: I’m Vaishnavi’s cousin, Aarthi Achuthappa, a civil servant. I am 26. S: I’m Sindhura Kalidas, 31, a teacher with a leading tuition provider. I met Vaishnavi and Aarthi through Women of Shakti (WOS). What is Women of Shakti about? A: Women of Shakti is Singapore’s first female empowerment group for South Asian foreign domestic workers (FDWs). In 2019, 20% of Singaporean households employed some 258,000 FDWs. We estimate this to include about 12,000 women from various parts of South Asia. It is a substantial minority, but migrant worker non-government organisations like Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) have had difficulties reaching out to these South Asian FDWs. Many of the women come from harsh backgrounds and have experienced poverty, marital and gender-based abuse. V: WOS’ aim is to make these FDWs' time here a little bit better. We are a lean team of Tamil-speaking local volunteers collaborating with FDWs from India and Sri Lanka, many of whom have been working in Singapore for decades. S: WOS provides greater access to healthcare and opportunities to attend English classes as well as writing, storytelling and dance workshops. We also organise social events, like poetry recitals and documentary screenings and teach them their employment rights. We currently function as a wing of HOME and are partnered with A Good Space, a community-led initiative run by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre. We are also supported by SINDA Youth Club.
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From left to right: Vaishnavi, Sindhu and Aarthi.
WOS was established in 2018. What was your inspiration? A: Sindhura and I grew up with South Asian FDWs in our households. Reflecting on our childhood, we came to realise how important these women were—and still are—in supporting our families. When we were presented with an opportunity to give back to these women through WOS, we took it up! S: In this day and age, it is so easy to be consumed by work and other commitments. It has become very glamorous to say “I’m so busy”, or “I have no time for anything”. But all three of us were at a point in our lives where we wanted to spend our free time more meaningfully. We have had the privilege of meeting many individuals who have devoted time to volunteer work, especially in the migrant advocacy community—these are the people who keep us grounded and motivated.
What keeps you motivated? V: Many FDWs regularly share and express their gratitude towards Singapore, sometimes even describing their time here as their second chance in life, so we feel a sense of responsibility to be worthy of that gratitude. S: We love it when the women tell us they feel empowered by the skills they have learnt through WOS, or when they tell us they feel more emotionally secure having found a ‘family’ in WOS. What do you hope to achieve through WOS? V: By forging solidarity with other migrant worker groups, we are working towards co-creating safe spaces where migrant rights abuse can be acknowledged, leading to more wellinformed and sustainable opportunities for empowerment at grassroots levels. In this way, it may be possible to mitigate the realities that many FDWs face when trying to achieve their aspirations.
S: The rapport we have built with FDWs through our classes has helped us understand the lived realities of Tamil-speaking domestic workers and their needs. We acknowledge that we can never fully empathise with their circumstances but feel strongly that we can at least make their time here a bit better. A: As third and fourth generation Singaporean Tamil women, we are still attempting to unlearn the entrenched contradictory structures of power, patriarchy and privilege. Unlearning and relearning what this means in our lives has allowed us to engage honestly and respectfully with these women. In turn, these deeply intimate encounters have compelled us to lend our voice and use our privilege in different ways in order to be heard. Tell us about some of your more rewarding experiences. S: We find the smallest things rewarding, like when a student in our English classes understands the difference between the words “what” and “how” after many weeks. There was also an FDW who had been working in Singapore for 15 years, who finally found the confidence to walk into a restaurant and order something in English. A: We also organised a human library event where our members became human ‘books’ and were able to share their stories with the public for the first time in their lives. Many shared that they felt like a burden was lifted off their shoulders in sharing some of their most harrowing life experiences.
What can our community do to help South Asian FDWs in Singapore? A: The local Indian population is wellpositioned to support South Asian domestic workers, given our shared cultural, historical and linguistic backgrounds. Our Indian community, specifically, should acknowledge the entwined histories we share. S: We can start by respecting the work domestic workers do and the sacrifices they have made. Domestic workers disregard the lack of their personal space in order to live with and work for other families. Even as we benefit from their labour, there is much that we can and should do. V: We should ensure they get fair wages and employment conditions and grant them their employment rights. We can also offer them more opportunities to develop skills that build their employability and contribute towards interpersonal development.
What advice do you have for someone who is keen to help the community but is finding it hard to do so regularly? S: When you have found a cause that resonates with you, figure out the level of commitment necessary to contribute to that cause in a meaningful way. For instance, evaluate how much time you can commit and the accessibility of other resources that you might need. It’s important to remember that you can always leverage the community around you to tap on shareable resources. A: The road to a fair, just and dignified existence for all is a long one. Remembering to acknowledge this, time and again, keeps us going as we trudge on towards creating a progressive world where no life is devalued. We urge others who are on this journey with us to keep this in mind so that you can stay grounded.
What are some upcoming plans for WOS? V: We hope to connect with local writers to publish an anthology of stories and poetry written by our members. We will be running a fourth series of English classes, working with HOME to conduct rights awareness workshops, and conducting a research study on challenges faced by Tamil FDWs in Singapore. We are also focusing more on mental well-being.
Photo credit: Women of Shakti
V: Most recently, we were also invited to present at an International Tamil Feminist Conference—Oodaru 2019. It was the first time a domestic worker was represented at an event like this as a speaker herself! We were able to connect with women’s rights NGOs from all over the world. It was a phenomenal experience. How do your families support what you do? S: Our families understand when we occasionally have to skip family lunches and other gatherings to run WOS events on Sundays, which are precious days for all of us. Sunday is family day, after all.
Photo credit: Women of Shakti
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Teachers to the Rescue Revision is about refreshing what you’ve already learnt, not teaching yourself something from scratch. If you’re really struggling with a particular topic, don’t try to get to grips with it on your own—seek advice from a teacher who will be able to help you make sense of it far more quickly and easily.
Get Sufficient Sleep When you are tired, go to sleep. Trying to study when you are sleepy is less than optimal. On the other hand, getting enough sleep revitalises you for further study the next day.
If at First You Don’t Succeed… Try and try again! When you test yourself, re-do the questions you answered incorrectly, even if you understand where you went wrong. Prove to yourself you can do it. The more times you get something right, the more confident you will feel.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
PUMPED UP, PREPPED AND ALL PACKED FOR SCHOOL There were big grins all around at SINDA’s 12th Back To School Festival (BTSF) last November, with the largest number of participants since the first festival in 2008. Some 3,500 students enjoyed carnival-like celebrations as they stepped up to receive vouchers to help them get ready for a new school year. The large cohort—the result of collaboration with several agencies—meant that for the first time, the annual festival was held over four days at four locations across the island, bringing it nearer to our BTSF beneficiaries. From Dakota to Yishun, cheerful families and children each accepted $60 worth of shoe vouchers and $120 worth of book and stationery vouchers. These students, hailing from low-income families with less than $1,000 per capita income, were invited through SINDA’s partnerships with Family Service Centres, HEB-Ashram, the Tamils Representative Council, Singapore Indian Education Trust, Chinese Development Assistance Council, Yayasan Mendaki, Eurasian Association and Comcare, Ministry of Social & Family Development. HELP IN MANY WAYS SINDA President, Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Education and SINDA President noted that the BTSF kits were just “one example of SINDA’s holistic, multi-level assistance to our students, parents and families.” For Mdm Gouri Palanivelu, a clinical coordinator and single mother of three, SINDA’s aid has been sweeping and impactful. Not least, she has been building stronger and healthier relationships with her children, having found a new perspective through the ‘Triple P’ Positive Parenting Programme. Her son, Ruthra Raj Isaac, plays rugby every Sunday in Project Athena’s sports programme, earning its ‘Most Enthusiastic Player’ award even as he picked up discipline and confidence along the way. The BTSF was very much welcomed by Mdm Gouri who plans to purchase assessment books for Ruthra. “Financially it has been a challenge,” she admits, “so these Back To School Festival vouchers help me a lot.” SINDA has also helped Mdm Gangadevi Arul Thangam, who faced challenges balancing her work and managing her nine-year-old’s behaviour at school. With guidance and
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support from SINDA, she feels more empowered with new parenting skills. Mdm Gangadevi, too, was glad to have the vouchers for her son which she says “help him look forward to school”. A BOOST FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE Indeed, the BTSF proved a winner when it came to encouraging and motivating students before the new school year. The children were as bubbly as the Bubble Magic show on stage and did justice to the games and arts-and-crafts stalls. Kachang puteh, churros and ice-cream all helped sweeten the day. Ensuring students are able to look forward to a new academic year is significant, since “education is the key to better social mobility,” Ms Indranee expounds. She highlighted various government initiatives such as the Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce, or UPLIFT, which she chairs; the Additional Subsidy and Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS); Subject-Based Banding to cater to students’ individual pace of learning; and the Circle of Friends and Facing Your Fears intervention programmes, plus three new special education (SPED) schools for children with special needs. Ms Indranee said she was heartened to see numerous stakeholders working together for our children. Referring to Mdm Gouri and Mdm Gangadevi, Ms Indranee said, “Importantly, what these stories show us is that when there is will and resilience, it is possible for families to succeed despite challenges.” She also encouraged those who need help to reach out, saying, “Sometimes all that is needed is just that little extra boost to help you onto the path to better circumstances and a brighter future.”
ALL ABUZZ WITH THE PRESIDENT ABOARD THE SINDA BUS It was as exciting for young beneficiaries as it was for our youth volunteers, when President Halimah Yacob visited SINDA on 18 January. There to witness how our community is being served, President Halimah enthusiastically mingled with staff, volunteers and participants of SINDA’s various programmes. President Halimah met youths like SINDA Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) participant T Sakthiswaren, who related how SINDA’s programmes have helped build his confidence. “I joined to see a change in myself,” he said, adding that the activities also allow him to share and gain new ideas and perspectives from other youths. President Halimah also spoke to social workers from SINDA's Family Service Centre to understand some of the issues facing the Indian community. A highlight was when President Halimah boarded the SINDA Bus, which serves as an activity hub. Visitors, volunteers and guests alike were all smiles as a KidsREAD session got underway inside the comfortably retrofitted vehicle. President Halimah noted how “SINDA has grown from just providing financial assistance to offering holistic programmes that cut across various types of services for a wide range of beneficiaries.” The President reiterated that Self-Help Groups like SINDA play an important role in building a cohesive society. She said, “Fundamentally, what is very important is education; education of the children especially.”
HELPING PARENTS HELP PRE-SCHOOLERS BLOOM If you are a parent of a newborn-to-six-year-old you’ll know how active and inquisitive little ones can be! The best thing to do is to foster their natural curiosity so that they develop to their best potential. While it may be instinctive for pre-schoolers to learn from experiences, parents often need a little help on how to guide them. That’s why SINDA’s series of Understanding Early Childhood (UEC) workshops has proved so popular—through these sessions, parents are empowered with the techniques and knowledge to help cultivate their children cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally. Participant Shruti Shipra, 35, attended one such UEC workshop on 8 February, titled ‘Children are Little Scientists’. Even as a pre-school teacher herself, Shruti appreciated the tips on promoting process skills such as observation, prediction, investigation and drawing conclusions. She enthuses, “The workshop was very informative and I understood the role of parents in child development. I also learnt how to effectively communicate with my child to guide him to apply inquiry skills.” Why not join Shruti and other parents at other UEC workshops? SINDA holds them monthly; visit www.sinda.org.sg/uec for more information! 11
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
SINDA YOUTH AWARDS 2019 He is now the Assistant Chief Executive of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Ministry of Communications and Information. Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, SINDA CEO, said in his speech that Mr Gaurav was proof that there are no limits to what can be achieved.
From left to right: Guest-of-Honour, Brigadier General Gaurav Keerthi and Sivaya Subramaniam, Valedictorian of the SINDA Youth Awards 2019.
The ageless actress Sophia Loren once declared, “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.” Within Singapore’s Indian community, then, is an eternal spring, for our young people have not been idle in discovering and using their gifts. At SINDA, we offer them the means to develop their talents and encourage their potential for good. The annual SINDA Youth Awards on 16 November hailed the efforts of 200 teens and young adults—youths who demonstrated marked character development, displayed strong leadership, showed firm commitment or gave their outstanding best in SINDA’s 2019 youth programmes. Honoured, too, were the peer leaders and volunteer mentors who were their guides. Witnessed by family and friends, the ceremony at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre was a proud occasion for all present. Over 2,800 Indian youths have benefitted from SINDA programmes in 2019 and are on their journeys to adulthood and lifelong success. Among those who have benefitted before is one who also received similar awards in his time: the night’s Guest of Honour, Brigadier General Gaurav Keerthi.
Valedictorian Sivaya Subramaniam is another who has gained from SINDA’s support. Although a reluctant Camp Arise participant at first, his interest was piqued enough for him to join other youth programmes, resulting in him spending his teen years “in a more meaningful way”, he said. The former STEP student battled epilepsy to complete Youth Engagement Programmes, the Guidance and Mentorship (GAME) programme and the Peer Leadership Programme, besides playing with the SINDA Football Club. Now a Media Production and Design student at Republic Polytechnic (RP), Sivaya has learned more about different aspects of the media industry through SINDA programmes, from being a GAME emcee to taking up Film Maker, Music, Photography and Videography courses. These gave him the confidence to be stage manager for the Asian Youth Theatre Festival 2018, and the Welfare and Student Director of his CCA at RP. Sivaya urged his peers to “take all the opportunities” provided by SINDA. “You will learn a lot and gain much experience, which will bring you to greater heights,” he told the evening’s audience. Looking ahead, Mr Anbarasu shared that in 2020, the focus will be on promoting a “for youth, by youth” culture. There will be more mentoring and sharing of quality experiences and learning, so that the progress of the community as a whole can continue. With so much talent and potential amongst us, we know the future is in good hands!
IBR AND BENEFICIARIES’ FABULOUS DEEPAVALI CELEBRATION It was the family’s first time at Changi Jewel and for 39-year-old Shamala, it was “an amazing experience” which they thoroughly enjoyed. Shamala and her children were among 100 SINDA beneficiaries and their families celebrating Deepavali with Council members of the Indian Business Leaders' Roundtable (IBR). The much-anticipated outing on 9 November 2019 was the perfect informal setting for all to get to know each other, with the children playing together as they explored the many attractions of Jewel’s Canopy Park. Multimedia sensory games at the Changi Experience Studio and an indulgent Indian buffet topped off an exhilarative day. More of such events are in the pipeline, as IBR plans to continue its engagements with SINDA beneficiaries. 12
EARLY STEPS ON THE ROAD TO CODE “At its heart, becoming a Smart Nation is about the community working together, so that no one—regardless of their age or background—is left behind by technology.” So said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on 4 January, when he attended the launch of Code in the Community 2.0 (CITC) at Our Tampines Hub. Inspiring these children from families in exceptional circumstances, CITC has been held since 2017 as a partnership between Google and the Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It has not only been developing computational skills in the young participants, but also their creative confidence as their innate curiosity and resourcefulness are unlocked. 10-year-old Ramakrishnan Sanjit was one of those who attended the Python course in 2019 and created his own graphical user interface calculator. He said, “Before CITC, there were many things about coding I did not understand, but thanks to this programme I gained new skills and knowledge. I also got to make new friends who share the same interest as me.” Sanjit has already embarked on his next project to create a messaging application, and he shares, “I hope to become a programmer in the future.” To date, about 300 Indian students are among the 900 to have benefitted from the scheme since it began. As one of the SHGs facilitating CITC, SINDA also provides scaffolding for the
programme in the form of coding and robotics classes for pre-schoolers, as well as advanced learning programmes to further challenge students. Even clueless parents are taken care of—there are lessons to help them understand the basic concepts of coding, allowing them to keep pace with their kids. All told, SINDA’s various digital literacy programmes reach some 1,000 pre-schoolers and primary school children. The kids are raring to go and can look forward to what’s next: ‘Code in the Community 2.0’, a new advanced-level applications programme for those who have completed Level 1.
YOUTH LEADERS UNITE Indian youth: full of energy, inspiration and serving in diverse areas, they make up a dynamic and vibrant ecosystem. Now, harnessing their collective aspirations and strengths, some of our most influential young people are rallying together to achieve their desired reality for the Indian community. Connecting the largest cohort of Indian youth leaders recently was the inaugural Indian Youth Conference, organised by the SINDA Youth Club. With representatives from various groundup-initiatives, clubs, societies and youth bodies gathering at The Tree Top at *SCAPE on 2 November 2019, the conference offered an invaluable networking opportunity that saw a lively flow of ideas. To be able to come together to reflect on the challenges and needs in our community, along with other key community partners such as the National Youth Council, Eurasian Association and Singapore Khalsa Association, provided the youth leaders with much deeper perspectives. This then paved the way for collaborative exploration with the sharing of information and resources. It was a fruitful first forum with participants strengthening not just their relationships, but also their commitment to do good. We can only anticipate the kind of collaborative impact it will have in lifting up the Indian community of tomorrow!
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
LIFTING UP LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL It has been a remarkable five years, during which the ITE Leadership Programme (ITELP) has produced some exceptional young Indian leaders from the student body. At the ITELP 2019 Graduation Ceremony on 30 November, some 40 participants from all five batches since its launch gathered to reflect on their journeys and growth through the programme. Recalling how he felt when he first heard about the launch of ITELP in 2015, ITE alumnus Ahmad Askar Ali recounts, “I was super happy that ITE students had great opportunities for leadership development too.” Though he missed out on the maiden series, Askar made sure he was a part of the next one, volunteering as a facilitator in 2016. It was such a memorable experience that last year, though he has left the college, he took on the challenge of leading ITELP 2019 for the five-month programme duration. One of his 2019 team members, facilitator Noor Azhar traces his journey with ITELP since 2017. From being afraid to speak up when he joined that year, he has developed into a confident leader. He relates, “This year, I was able to motivate a participant who was stressed out about performing a random act of kindness for a member of the public…he was grateful that I encouraged him to push through his fears.” Stories like this from participants and volunteers over the last five years have been collected in a commemorative booklet to mark ITELP’s 5th anniversary.
PROJECT ASPIRE INSPIRES What do youths need to be ready for the working world? All was revealed in a one-day interactive workshop organised for youth, by youth. Project Aspire—targeting pre-tertiary and tertiary students as well as those at other institutes of higher learning—gave a welcome headstart to 33 participants preparing themselves to join the workforce. Held on 14 December, the SINDA Youth Club (SYC)-hosted event taught young adults how to draft resumes, prepare for interviews and network, bringing students together with young upcoming professionals from all walks of life. New SYC participant Jagadish Annamdevula, 20, was among those inspired by the “unique insightful experiences” shared by the diverse participants. “This helped me to connect with strangers who later became friends,” he says. The undergraduate also noted Project Aspire “was a great
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platform to learn skills that wouldn’t have been taught in school or university… there were elements that made it fun while imparting knowledge.” Look out for another edition this year!
DIY TOY AEROPLANE
D.I.Y.
You don’t need an aeronautics degree to build this craft, but it’s sure prettier than a paper plane!
MATERIALS NEEDED
Wooden clothes pins
Glue
Foam craft sticks (these are shaped like ice-cream sticks. If you don’t have these, look for coloured foam which you can cut to shape. Or use ice-cream sticks, though they are harder to cut.)
Scissors
INSTRUCTIONS GET CUTTING
1.
2.
3.
For each aeroplane you’ll need two foam “front wings” the same length: a little longer than the clothes pin.
Cut another foam stick about half the length of the front wings. This will be the “back wing”.
You will also need a semi-circular piece to be the “tail” that sits on top of and perpendicular to the back wing. Check out the picture to get a clearer idea!
GET GUMMY
4.
5.
6.
Apply some glue on the top of the clothes pin near one end. Stick the centre of a long front wing onto it.
Flip the clothes pin over and glue another long front wing on the other side of the clothes pin, directly over the first wing. They should be parallel and even.
Glue the tail upright across the back wing. The two pieces should be at right angles to each other.
7. Put some glue onto the other end of the clothes pin and press the centre of the back wing onto it.
Get airborne! Once the foam is well-stuck onto the clothes pin, you can start “flying”! Be super careful when you play—make sure you don’t throw it at another person, out the window or anywhere it might cause trouble…
Adapted from https://diyinspired.com/airplane-clothespin-kids-craft by Dinah Wulf
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Quiz-O-Mania
Read this issue through? Then circle the answers to the questions below, fill up the form and send it in to SINDA Connections Contest c/o SINDA Corporate & Marketing Communications Division, No 1 Beatty Road, Singapore 209943 by 30 April 2020. Three correct entries will win $50 worth of vouchers each. This contest is open only to primary and secondary school students who are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. Winning entries will be picked in a draw and the judges’ decision is final.
Name:
IC/BC No.: SXXXX (Please fill in the last four alphanumeric details)
School:
School Level:
Contact No.:
Address:
Email:
Select one answer for each question: (You can find the answers in the articles in this magazine) Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
How many days was the Back To School Festival held across in 2019?
When was Code in the Community 2.0 launched?
How many youths benefitted from SINDA's youth-related programmes in 2019?
a) 2 b) 3 c) 4
a) 4 January 2020 b) 14 January 2020 c) 2 February 2020
a) Over 3,000 b) Over 2,800 c) Over 3,500
Congratulations to the winners of the previous contest! 1) Harveer Gerrad Gill Chong Zheng Primary School
Join us for a meaningful career 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 the other communities in contributing to the progress of multi-racial Singapore VALUES Respect, our culture Integrity, our foundation Service, our promise Excellence, our pursuit
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2) Navaneetha Kumaran Vishnushree Naval Base Secondary School
3) Raikar Aahan Rajesh Tampines Primary School
Empower the Community
Inclusive environment
professional development
Be part of the social service sector and give back through meaningful and engaging initiatives.
Work in an inclusive and positive work environment, which recognises diversity and encourages people to share different perspectives.
We take pride in offering support and opportunities for our people to enhance their skillsets and capabilities with self-directed and continous learning.
view our career opportunities at www.sinda.org.sg/careers BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Term Trustees Ms Indranee Rajah Patron Mr Ravi Menon Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Mr R Jayachandran Mr Girija Pande Chairman Mr Gautam Banerjee Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Mr Ravinder Singh Justice Judith Prakash Life Trustees Mr K Kesavapany Prof S Jayakumar Mr Viswa Sadasivan Mr S Dhanabalan Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai Mr S Chandra Das Mr Timothy Chia Mr J Y Pillay Mr Piyush Gupta Mr Sat Pal Khattar Dr Sudha Nair Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Mr Harjit Singh Bhatia Mr K Shanmugam Dr N Varaprasad Advisors Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Mr S Iswaran Mr Vikram Nair Mr Murali Pillai
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Ms Indranee Rajah Vice Presidents Mr Shekaran Krishnan ​Mr K V Rao Secretary Mr Sarjit Singh Treasurer Mr R Subramaniam Iyer Members Dr Joshua V M Kuma Mr R Chandra Mohan Mr K Ramamoorthy Mr Sarbjit Singh Mr Thambyrajah T Mr Darryl David Mrs Rathi Parimalan Mr Mohamed Nasim Prof Vineeta Sinha Mr Siraj Omar
IN HIS WORDS ONE OF US
What is one piece of advice you have received that you would like to pass on to others?
Sivasubramaniam: ‘Never let any experience dethrone you from your heart, it is your HOME.’ This is a dedication to my friend who showed me the way to my heart.
SINDA FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE'S SOCIAL WORKER
SIVASUBRAMANIAM SELVALATCHMANAN When you find where your heart lies, the way forward becomes clear, and however overwhelming the situation feels, you will eventually overcome it—this is what SINDA’s Family Service Centre’s Sivasubramaniam has learnt and wants to share. "My client view me as a friend, mentor and support system," declared 34-yearold Siva. He works with disadvantaged and vulnerable families at the SINDA Family Service Centre (SFSC), counselling and linking them to the appropriate community resources. It is considered a
challenging job, but then, Siva has always had a knack for helping people solve their problems. “It’s a calling,” he says, for he has found in social work a vocation that makes him feel alive, after five years of working as a technician and concluding that machines are not his cup of tea. Siva relates how everything fell into place when he chanced upon the Professional Conversion Programme offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG). He took up the course, which entailed interning at SFSC four days a week and completing assignments on the fifth. Two years later, the programme graduate became a fullfledged social worker with SFSC. The youth sees importance in his work at both the micro and macro levels, as unrest in any nation usually stems from social issues, he points out.
Photo credit: Social Service Tribe
When asked what drives him, Siva cites the changes that he sees in himself and being useful to people. While he admits that some clients can be tough, he understands that each is in a unique position, so “I try to put across to them that they have potential that makes them special and that they do not have to be victims in their life situation,” he explains. It is an enriching experience. “I have touched many hearts and I have also learnt a lot in return,” he says. “I have matured as a person but I do feel that there are many more experiences yet to come.” Lifelong learning seems to resonate with him. Siva is currently pursuing a Masters in social work, and hopes to bring about a more clinical and therapeutic approach in his work. His heart is in it; that’s why we know his clients at the FSC are in good hands.