salt_2004_07_08 by SALT NVPC

No. 4 Jul-Aug 2004

For Volunteers, Donors and Non-Profits

Blinkers Off Informed

Giving Matters

Curtain Call Funding

The Accidental Clown Knik Pang

the Arts

Major Mayor

No Escape from Mayor Yu-Foo Yee Shoon

Ivy Singh-Lim What Every Boss Should Know!

Dial Up Conscience SingTel Connects

Without Prejudice Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society

contents

SALT No. 4 Jul-Aug 2004

ON THE COVER

DEPARTMENTS

The multi-talented Knik Pang juggles many roles – clown, social conscience, therapeutic counsellor, social worker. This former “at-risk kid” has turned his earlier rebellion into a positive force for change. Story on page11.

CURTAIN CALL

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LETTER FROM SALT

MAILBAG

NEWS BRIEFS A wrap-up of events, programmes and activities in the People Sector. PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Appointments and new postings in the People Sector.

11 VOLUNTEER PROFILE Send in the Clown: The surprising Knik Pang.

13 PEOPLE SECTOR PEOPLE Without prejudice: Lee Kim Siang, Chairman of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, explains the practice of unconditional help.

25 WALK THE TALK SingTel dials up a social conscience.

The thorny debate between government and arts funding jabs again. DAVEN WU watches from the wings.

The informed giver is the new ingredient in the charity mix. BRENDA YEO probes the fuss behind “iffy” fundraising methods and how charity dollars are spent.

28 SALT AND PEPPER The outspoken Ivy Singh-Lim says Singaporeans have lost control of their lives. All they appear to do, or want to do, is eat, breathe and work. Bosses, step forward.

29 SALT TALKS Kevin Lee examines the 30% fundraising efficiency ratio and wonders if a one size fits all approach is still revelant.

31 NEW SALT SALT SHAKERS AND MOVERS

Major Mayor

This is one cheerful bulldozer and extraordinary “people mobiliser” you won’t forget on meeting. Indeed, Mayor of South West CDC, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, won’t forget you especially if you can be useful. MARGARET THOMAS of TODAY barely escapes.

Promises from the young and hip volunteers at PromiseWorks, work.

32 SCENE AND SEEN 34 CALENDAR 36 A DASH OF SALT

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

L E T T E R

F R O M

S A L T

SALT is a non-profit magazine with a managed circulation for members of non-profit organisations, grant-makers and companies in Singapore. Those interested in receiving a copy, please email salt@nvpc.org.sg. We regret that the print run prevents fulfilling all requests. International readers please email subscriber requests and mailing details. There will be an annual postage and handling charge for all international subscribers.

MANAGING EDITOR Monica Gwee

EDITOR Daven Wu

EDITORIAL COORDINATORS Gayle Koh Winnie Koh

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE Epigram SALT is published bi-monthly by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre 7 Maxwell Road #05-01 Annex B, MND Complex Singapore 069111 Tel: 6550 9595 Fax: 6221 0625 Website: www.nvpc.org.sg Email: salt@nvpc.org.sg Copyright is held by the publisher. All rights reserved. Production in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The views and opinions expressed or implied in SALT are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Printed by Fabulous Printers MITA (P) 197/11/2003 To advertise, please call Cynthia Tay at tel: 6292 4456 Email: cynthia@epigram.com.sg or Gayle Koh at tel: 6550 9564 Email: gayle@nvpc.org.sg

he latest figures on giving to tax-deductible causes are out, and there is reason to rejoice. Donations to Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) rose 30% to $512 million in 2003, and we are not even talking of giving to non tax-deductible causes (eg religious bodies). On the volunteering side, NVPC estimates that volunteer contributions based on 2002 figures amounted to $1.5 billion, equivalent to 1% of GDP. It is sizeable, the value that is being poured into and coming out of the non-profit sector. That’s the good news. The bad news is that given the growing size of the market, precious little has changed to regulate and improve the state of giving in Singapore since independence. SALT turns the spotlight this issue on informed giving, an area brought sharply into focus because of recent media reports on fundraising methods and spending of charity dollars raised. Our main feature asks questions such as: What is an informed giver? What does an informed giver need to know? Why even the need for an informed giver? And why all the fuss now? Any wonder then that our signature “SALT Talks” dissects the 30% fundraising efficiency ratio, to investigate if a one size fits all approach is still relevant in this time and age. An informed giver is certainly aware of the diversity of causes and giving to the arts is one of them. With direct funding to individual arts groups perceptibly reduced in 2004, this issue also looks at the struggle of these groups which now have to aggressively fundraise for themselves. Not easy, as donors traditionally have been more prepared to give to the education, health and social service sectors. Lest readers think SALT is all about money, the rest of the issue pretty much highlights the case for volunteerism. “Social monitor” Ivy Singh-Lim leads the charge at employers and young professionals. PromiseWorks walks the talk with teens, and womb-to-tomb multiservice agency Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society’s chairman Lee Kim Siang, states categorically that “we shouldn’t do it for the name, gain or fame”. SALT’s Shakers and Movers is the indefatigable Mayor of South West CDC, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, a great people mobiliser if ever there was one. Such is the authority and respect she commands, you can’t say no to the lady. She is making volunteers and givers of many of us. The non-profit sector, this gentle giant, is stirring. The world outside had better watch out for it.

Tan Chee Koon Executive Director National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre

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DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? We welcome your letters, news of upcoming events and pictures. Please send them to SALT, 7 Maxwell Road, #05-01 Annex B, MND Complex, Singapore 069111; or email salt@nvpc.org.sg. Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Letters and articles may be edited for space and clarity.

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Dear SALT, have often wondered and hoped for one, but did not know that there was actually a magazine out there which touches on the subject of charity. I recently came across SALT magazine in my workplace and derived much joy and respect for those individuals and organisations that make volunteerism and philanthropy a personal or corporate agenda. In a modern city like ours with a relatively high cost of living, coupled with materialism, SALT, through its publication, provides heartwarming reassurance that humanity is indeed alive and thriving in Singapore. I hope SALT can eventually reach out to our entire population as well as beyond our shores. It may be helpful to post on your website or on a centrespread page, a permanent pull-out section of all verified charity organisations (with their contact details as well as the work they carry out) so that individuals can relate to the particular cause they feel compelled to contribute to.

Alex Bay Managing Director, Associates Delivery Services

Ed’s Note: Many thanks for your suggestions. We have begun work on a web resource database and hope to update readers soon. Keep the good ideas coming!

Dear SALT, any thanks to SALT, we are now given an insight to the non-profit world. I’m sure this is stirring up a growing interest in volunteerism and philanthropy matters in our society. Keep up the good work!

Teo Hee Hwee

Dear SALT, ust a note of congratulations on your publication, SALT magazine. It’s really a wonderful initiative for the non-profits and a great reason to celebrate!

Dear SALT, his letter is belated. But I would like to thank you and your team for doing a memorable launch of SALT magazine at the Arts House at Old Parliament in November last year. I thought that the stories of how various cultures viewed salt and your own perspective on why salt is so versatile and yet essential for everyone, combined with the overall atmospheric theme of the launch really locked in the name of the magazine among the guests present. I will always tie the magazine to NVPC, and its role in promoting philanthropy and volunteerism. I have read the magazine from cover to cover and found the contents interesting and informative – it is a good magazine and one that fills a much needed gap. I do hope that it would be made available online sometime in future if possible. It would be a great outreach tool if we could make it available on the web.

Lim Ming Foong

Editor’s note: We will be producing a special on-line edition of SALT shortly. Watch this space!

Flora Chung CEO, Agency for Volunteer Service, Hong Kong

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• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

GOOD DEEDS

N E W S B

A WRAP-UP OF HAPPENINGS AROUND SINGAPORE

Care-full Steps Caregiver Madam Wong, who looks after her bedridden uncle, enjoyed a well deserved day of pampering massages, hair styling and yummy food.

hat a simple idea… Do a good deed in your lifetime. Just one. And like the ripples caused by a stone in a pond, the effects will be multiplied.‘One Deed, One Lifetime’ is a community project by Channel NewsAsia to restore faith in the basic good of humanity. The organisers stress that the deed can be something as simple as a smile, anything that has a positive impact on another individual. And in turn, the recipient of the good deed, pays it forward and does a good deed for another person. And so the cycle goes. The success of the project obviously depends on willing participants. Channel NewsAsia is hunting for people interested in launching the project island-wide. If that sounds like you, contact programming @channelnewsasia.com.

EYE SPY aregivers. They are the unsung heroes of the community, the ones who provide physical and emotional support for a family member or friend who is frail, has a disability, chronic, life-threatening condition or mental illness. In many cases, it’s a 24/7 responsibility. To create a greater awareness of this group, Caregivers’ Week was launched on 13 April by Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Community Development and Sports. The event was held at the National Council of Social Service Centre Auditorium. To celebrate the work of caregivers, a charity group comprising CityCab drivers, SHATEC trainee chefs, Kimage hairstylists and masseurs from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, dropped in on 40 caregivers with a pampering treats menu of food, hair cuts and massages.

LIGHT THE WAY he settling evening around Tampines Central flickered into life on 16 May as hundreds of candles were lit to remember those who have died from AIDS. This year’s theme was ‘Turning Remembrance into Action’, and for the first time in 13 years, the annual Singapore Aids Candlelight Memorial was taken into the heartlands. The reason, a startlingly poor level of awareness among heartlanders of the disease and its methods of transmission and prevention. More than 300 people from members of the public and Red Cross workers, to families and friends of Aids sufferers, took part in the ceremony which included interreligious prayers and speeches. Last year, 242 people were infected from the disease, the highest since the first recorded infection in 1985. To date, nearly 800 have died.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

ince 1915, Helen Keller International has been continuing the good work of its famous founder, dedicated to ocular education and saving the sight of the vulnerable and disadvantaged. One of the world’s oldest international NGOs, the organisation recently set up home in Singapore at China Court. The launch of its regional office, held on 20 May, was organised in collaboration with the Singapore National Eye Centre and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. Delivering the welcoming speech, Guest-of-Honour Prof K Satkunanantham, Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, paid tribute to the organisation’s role in improving eye health, nutrition and the economic conditions of populations in developing countries in the Asia Pacific. Eye health experts from Europe, America and the region attended the launch and the half-day seminar on blindness, malnutrition and intervention strategies.

Photo by Dianna Ashenden

Keeping Abreast of Things Letting it all hang out –

t seems that straight-laced Singapore is finally shedding its the women of the Expat Wives Calendar. inhibitions… and clothes, all in the name of charity. First there were the rugby boys from Brewerkz Bucks (SALT Issue 1). Now, it’s the girls’ turn as 11 expatriate women stripped for the Expat Wives Calendar 2005. The calendar was a 50th birthday present to Marianne Paisley by her selfless friends. All proceeds from its sale will go towards Ms Paisley’s favourite charity, the Breast Cancer Foundation. Already, 200 copies of the first print run have sold out and the second run of 500 copies is going fast. Mark the calendar for this one! To buy a copy ($15 each), contact the Breast Cancer Foundation at Tel: 63526560 or email enquiries@bcf.org.sg.

CALL FOR WINNERS Calling all Non-Governmental Organisations in the Asia-Pacific region. This is your chance to be recognised for your efforts and to promote your respective causes. Citigroup recently launched The 2004 Asia Pacific NGO Awards to distinguish notable NGOs with strong corporate governance and to highlight their contributions. Together with Resource Alliance, the international non-governmental and charitable outfit, Citigroup hopes to help NGOs overcome challenges such as low credibility and visibility. The awards are open to non-profits in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. First prize is US$10,000 while the top five winners will take part in an all-expenses paid regional workshop in Manila in September. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.resource-alliance.org and nominations close 15 July.

SPRAY FOR HELP

SENIOR CLASS

t was creative painting with a difference when 20 youths from the Giant Trampoline Project were able to express their creativity through graffiti. The project, a community effort organised by Yayasan MENDAKI, targets youths-at-risk with educational, social and recreational programmes to help keep them in the educational system. (The trampoline refers to the metaphorical safety net that helps youths bounce back if they fall.) The graffiti workshop was guided by volunteers from Project Burnerz, uncovering the history and techniques of graffiti. The youths learnt spray techniques including can control, choosing colours and spray testing and at the end of the workshop, were able to proudly exhibit their efforts.

Colour fast: One of the artistic grafitti designed by the participants.

e live in an ageing population. In a bid to better understand the ageing process among seniors (aged 65 and above), the Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE) recently released the findings of its five-year study of elderly people in Toa Payoh. The results, captured in a striking red volume titled Long Lives, were canvassed from nearly 3,000 residents and, hopefully, will provide much needed pointers for Voluntary Welfare Organisations, the healthcare industry and policy-makers. The key findings included an increased level of depression from loneliness among seniors, and increased cases of vascular dementia. The book is particularly relevant since the number of seniors is expected to increase from 235,000 (7% of the population) in 1999 to about 796,000 (or 19% of the population) by the year 2030. Copies of Long Lives can be obtained from SAGE, 19 Toa Payoh West. $15. For mail order, call 63537159.

PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Jennifer Yee has succeeded LTC (Ret) Joseph Cheong, PBM, as the Executive Director of Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore) from 1 June 2004. Cheong has retired after more than eight years’ of service with Lions Befrienders and is now the Organisation’s Consultant. During her university days, Yee volunteered at the then Tiong Bahru Family Service Centre. After graduation, she joined the Centre as a Social Worker and subsequently moved on to join her alma mater, NUS, in its Registrar’s Office. She obtained her MBA from the University of Western Australia in 1999. Yee first joined Lions Befrienders as the Operations Manager in 2003. Her primary task in her new role is to lead her team in meeting the increasing needs of the growing number of lonely, elderly poor, with the help of volunteers and the community. Tel: 63758601, email: jennifer_yee@lionsbefrienders.org.sg Braema Mathi is the new President of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). She hopes to make Aware more relevant for women in the heartlands, girls and boys in schools, and also to men. Ms Mathi believes Aware needs to make itself known for its advocacy role as such work is not as tangible or visible as direct services. A former journalist with The Straits Times and a former teacher, Ms Mathi is a Nominated Member of Parliament. She sits on several committees including The Working Committee 2, a civil society group involved in the issues of foreign domestic workers. Ms Mathi works at Alexandra Hospital as Head of Corporate Communications. Her main interest is still Literature and she would love to find a way to mainstream it in schools! She can be contacted through Aware at aware@pacific.net.sg or 67797137, or at braema@starhub.net.sg Pastor Andrew Khoo is the President of the New Hope Community Services (NHCS). NHCS aims to provide assistance, counselling and training for underprivileged individuals and families. It also runs a Men’s Three-Quarterway House and distributes free supplies of vegetables to halfway houses. Pastor Khoo graduated from the Singapore Bible College with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. He was a director at the Salem Welfare Services for about six years, where he was actively involved in pastoral care at the Rehabilitation Centre for the Elderly at Yishun. Tel: 67555560, email: info@newhopecs.org.sg

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Helen Keller International officially launched its Singapore operations on 20 May. Dr Martin W Bloem, 48, has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Helen Keller International (HKI), a US-based international non-profit technical assistance organisation since 2003. He has also been the organisation’s Asia-Pacific Regional Director since 1998. Based in Singapore since September 2003, Dr Bloem oversees a wide range of programmes in vision and health undertaken by HKI globally. In his 15-year career with HKI, Dr Bloem has served as director of two of the agency’s largest country programmes in the Asia Pacific, Indonesia and Bangladesh. A physician by training, he has been a consultant to various international organisations, including the US Agency for International Development, the Canadian International Development Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization. Tel: 62361972, email: mwbloem@singnet.com.sg

Aarti Hemnani is the new Volunteer Coordinator at Art Outreach. She was previously based in Hong Kong where she worked with a children’s theatre company in both a teaching and coordinating capacity. A volunteer for several years, Aarti is keen to pass on the altruistic spark for not-soaltruistic reasons – “giving can be fun and feels great!” Art Outreach strives to promote art literacy and appreciation within Singapore’s local schools. The programme also enables Aarti to combine her two great passions: children and the arts. Tel: 68739505, email: vc@artoutreachprogram.org

SingHealth has appointed Dr Ivy Ng as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She takes over from Dr Jennifer Lee. A paediatrician and geneticist, Dr Ng has been with the hospital since its establishment in 1997 and before that, with one of its predecessors, the SGH Department of Paediatrics. Besides her prominence as a clinician and researcher, Dr Ng has had a progressively growing leadership and management role in KKH in her responsibilities, successively as Head of the Paediatric Genetics Service, Head of the Department of Paediatric Medicine, and most recently Chairman, Medical Board (CMB) since April 2003. Tel: 63942319

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

Jungle Book

o support this year’s President’s Challenge, seven infocommunications companies will be digging deep for Junglathon! A mammoth task: CEOs on 28 August at the Singapore Zoological Gardens. become ‘zookeepers for a day’ during Junglathon, The fund-raiser hopes to raise $800,000 as corporate part of events for the President’s Challenge 2004. honchos bite and claw their way, Survivor-style, through a series of physical jungle challenges. At stake, a zoo animal adopted in the name of the winning team as well as seven beneficiaries including Care Corner Counseling Centre, Rainbow Centre and MINDS Tampines Home. Competing for honours are teams from Accenture, Cisco Systems, Ericsson Telecommunications, HP, M1, Siemens Singapore and StarHub. For more information, contact Belinda Lim on 6390 3367.

Left to right: Ms Lim Hsiu Mei, Hon Secretary of HCA; Tan Kin Lian, CEO of NTUC Income; Dr Seet Ai Mee, President of HCA; Dr Akhileswaran, Medical Director of HCA.

TAILOR MADE HEALTH t’s the ideal every doctor and patient hopes for – a health plan specifically designed for the individual, taking into account racial background, family history, genetic predisposition. The goal of public healthcare cluster, Singapore Health Services, is to turn that ideal into a working reality. Enter, the SingHealth Foundation launched on 21 May. This not-for-profit grant-making entity raises funds for critical research programmes that might not otherwise receive funding. These include heart disease, cancer, diabetes and the neurosciences. Specifically, the Foundation will invest in future healthcare by developing preventive treatments targeted at each patient’s individual genetic background. This year, the Foundation aims to raise and disburse $10 million. SingHealth has already committed $5 million to the effort, with the balance to be raised from corporate donors and organisations.

FAMILY TIES t was a surprising but welcome piece of news as the Hospice Care Association (HCA) revealed the results of a recent survey titled ‘Project Alive’. Delving into the attitudes of young Singaporeans towards the elderly, sick, and dying, most of the 720 students from eight education institutions surveyed, indicated that they could, should and would care for the old and sick. Challenging factors preventing care included misconceptions on non-contagious conditions such as cancer, not knowing how they can show care in specific ways and a fear of losing someone they have cared for. For HCA, the survey results show how youth are likely to accept responsibility if they understand the importance of their role, and are given the opportunity and are shown ways how to care. At a joint press conference with HCA to release the survey results, NTUC Income announced a $100,000 donation to HCA to help cover expenses for services to NTUC Income policyholders and their families. For more information, contact Lavinia Waterhouse at lavinia@exposurepr.net or tel: 96825291.

FIRST IN LINE n amendment to the Societies Act was passed on May 3, allowing societies to be automatically registered. Societies that do not pose law and order and security concerns can be fast-tracked on the day their application fees and documents are received by the Registrar. Eleven types of societies are exempted such as religious, ethnic or political groups, or those with foreign links.

O FF R O

Jolly Good! t’s a somewhat strange journey, from a rebel youth to dressing up as a clown in an outlandishly colourful outfit, makeup and a honking red nose to entertain intellectually disabled children. But for Knik Pang, clowning around is serious business. The 29-year old social circus trainer and founder of the Caring Clown Unit, Pang wears his heart on his sleeve and, even sans make-up, hangs a bright ever-ready smile on his face. “Sometimes, it’s hard,” he says. “Some people don’t believe in what we do. Taxis don’t pick me up when I’m in costume. Some people tell us to please put on our make-up somewhere else.” But adversity tempers the steel and Pang is a sterling example. “I am an accidental clown,” he says. “I was a prop maker at my church and one day, they said they needed a clown for a children’s show. I didn’t feel very good because I thought I looked quite ugly and scary in my costume. But after I did it a few more times and met some families and saw the kids’ reactions, I thought that clowning could be a powerful tool to reach out to people.” Not that clowning is always sunshine and flowers. Behind the painted smile and clever juggling tricks lies a long process of self-discovery. “I was training as a fine arts student at LaSalle but in my last year, I got into a fight with my Dean and was kicked out.

period,” he reveals. “That’s when the secondary school kids are out of school and hanging around, before their parents come home.” By engaging young people during this period, Circus Outreach distracts the teenagers from less than civic activities. For many, unicycling, acrobatics, stiltwalking and juggling, deliver a much better high. “The teenagers do learn,” Pang says. “The programmes are achievable. You can learn juggling in 10 minutes. This boosts their confidence, showing them that with a bit of effort, they can succeed.” A couple of years ago, Pang set up the Caring Clown Unit. He was inspired by his stint at Clown Camp, a scholarship programme at the University of Wisconsin with a clowning syllabus directed towards community outreach activities at hospitals. Aside from his job as a social circus trainer with Caring Clown, Pang dons his clown persona, Jolly Joey, and heads for a hospital where he entertains just for the sake of it, bringing cheer to the sick. “We work with the children at the National University Hospital every other Sunday,” he says. “But I’m planning to expand to other hospitals. Hospital visits are challenging. I do the rounds like a doctor, dispensing humour instead of medicine. Everyday, these kids are giving something away to the doctors or their families. But our job as clowns is to give the children something back. We put them on centrestage.” Meanwhile, Jolly Joey is also hard at work juggling other balls in the air. Up next is a new, and as yet unnamed, entrepreneurship programme for school leavers, due to be launched in September. For Knik Pang, aka Jolly Joey, aka social circus trainer, it’s been, to date, a rich, rewarding and rollicking performance. We can’t wait for the second act. ✩ For more information, contact knik@circusoutreach.org. Photo by Works of Wonder

Clowning is serious business. Just ask accidental clown, Knik Pang. Behind the painted smile and juggling tricks, lies a long process of self-discovery. By DAVEN WU.

“I was an at-risk kid. So I can empathise with kids with problems. Most of our activities and performances are concentrated between 2 pm and 5 pm, which is the peak delinquency period.” I was an at-risk kid. So I can empathise with kids with problems.” Which explains the origins of Circus Outreach, a non-profit organisation that takes circus arts out of the realm of pure entertainment and uses it as a tool to reach out to disenfranchised and disaffected kids. Consider it teaching youth life skills through circus skills. It’s social intervention with a twist of humour, juggling and a good dose of sly creativity. “Most of our activities and performances are concentrated between 2 pm and 5 pm, which is the peak delinquency

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

E O O PP LL EE

The Moral of the Story The Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society doesn’t mess around with other people’s religions or cultural beliefs. It promotes “good, universal values, to build moral trustworthiness”. DAVEN WU tracks Chairman Lee Kim Siang’s journey of tolerance.

hat is Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society and why does it have over 700 staff? The Chairman of the 25-year old Society is the ever genial Lee Kim Siang. Speaking to him, you get the distinct feeling that much of society’s problems could be solved with the application of just a little thoughtfulness for one another. Which is no small order. Lee’s world-view, as fed by the Society, is carried by a deep-seated conviction that could otherwise be viewed as laughably naïve and innocent if the results weren’t so compelling. A practising lawyer for the past 40 years and Chairman since the Society’s founding in 1978, Lee has increasingly found himself devoting more and more time to social work. He recalls his early, youthful efforts at small fundraising projects. “It’s always just been this feeling that we can all do something to improve things around us. To make things better. When I was younger, I was ambitious but now I’m more at peace. I just want to lead a simple life.” It’s a philosophy that has attracted a great number of like-minded people from all walks of life (including captains of industry, politicians, high-ranking professionals) and helped mould much of Thye Hua Kwan’s programmes. The Society has around 200 members, ranging in age from 20-somethings to those in their 60s and 70s. There are around 700 staff on the payroll. Which sounds like a lot of employees for a charitable organisation until you realise just what is involved. The roll call of the Society’s good

United we stand: Lee Kim Siang at the Moral Home for the Disabled. A regular visitor for the past 14 years, he spends time with the children, teaching them good civic courtesies.

work is humbling in its breadth and depth. At last count, it runs over 50 facilities and charity womb-to-tomb programmes, ranging from providing the Health Ministry’s community health screenings, to setting up homes for disabled adults, to family support services for the Sikh Community and providing loan funds to tertiary students from poor families. The Society’s goal is to promote “good, universal values, to build moral trustworthiness”, however amorphous that term may be. In the end, it’s a gut feeling, an innate understanding of what should be done versus an apathetic ennui. And today, according to Lee, “there is a greater need for our sort of work than when we first started 25 years ago.” He is particularly concerned with the state of today’s young and the role of parents. For the latter, Lee’s concern is over what he calls ‘misdirected love’. “Many parents today have abandoned their duty and right to have children. We need to educate our children otherwise they will grow stunted; we must tell them when they’re wrong, irrespective of the consequences. These

days, youngsters can’t take the pressure, simply because they’ve never had to. So suddenly when they start work, they cannot ‘tahan’ the pressure.” Part of this education process and growing up includes teaching children (and a fair number of adults) to cast a jaundiced eye towards any attempt at compartmentalising. Lee is quick to point out that the Society’s work is non-discriminatory; its services available to everyone regardless of race, age, sexual preference and religion. “Society should not be fragmented this way. All our services are inclusive, promoting good harmony. We look at the needs of the beneficiaries rather than our agenda. Charity means helping those who need help, but in the way that they require it, taking into account cultural and linguistic sensibilities.” On this point, Lee has harsh words for the more opportunistic charitable organisation. “Charity should be about self-realisation. We shouldn’t be in it for the name, gain or fame. Nor should your services be dependant on your own requirements. Otherwise you are dividing the social service sector into walled services based on religion, creed, race and so on. This is very divisive. The Society doesn’t mess around with other people’s religions or cultural beliefs.” And for Lee Kim Siang, in the end, tolerance is the true moral of his story. ✩ For more information, visit www.thkms.org.sg.

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‘Informed giving’ is philanthropy’s latest mantra. It advocates donors to sit up and say to charities,‘Tell me more’ before demonstrating their largesse. This means charities must be able and willing to tell all in their pitch for donor dollars. By BRENDA YEO.

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iving goes both ways. It’s a lesson that both donors and nonprofits are learning. Recent months have seen regulators and industry watchdogs banding together to point both donors and charities towards more enlightened giving (and receiving). Case in point: Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) – non-profits authorised to receive tax-deductible donations – have been required since January 2004 to disclose their accounts and activities online to keep that privilege. Yet, searching for current and specific financial information is still hard work, even for the web savvy. Also in January 2004, the Council on Governance of IPCs was formed. Among its core aims – to get IPCs to be more transparent and accountable in money matters. Chaired by Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development (MCDS), the Council has nine other members – all head honchos from the public, private and people sectors. NVPC, represented by its Chairman, Willie Cheng, will play advocate for informed giving and donor education by the IPCs. The Council’s recommendations are expected before the end of the year. As part of this multi-party push for informed giving, NVPC is also working on an online portal providing essential information on nonprofit organisations as a resource for donors and charities. Clearly, a platform for informed giving is taking shape. Information to guide givers will be there for the taking.

“Charities must dare to be transparent. Show me there are no skeletons in your closet. Give me more and true information.Whether I read the information and decide to give or not, at least you are giving me a choice.” KENNY YAP, Managing Director of Qian Hu

But why the push for charities to keep donors in the know? Has public trust been eroded in light of recent events? Consider the Independent Society of the Blind’s (ISB) direct mail appeal, mass mailed with household power bills in January this year. The ISB is neither a registered charity with tax-free status, nor an IPC able to issue tax deduction receipts to donors. The society raised about $100,000 from that appeal. Recall also, the case of Father Joachim Kang, the priest who was charged with pilfering millions from his flock. Then, there was the very public interest played out in the media, over the size of the National Kidney Foundation’s reserves. The ensuing public debate seemed to strike a nerve for more transparency by the donating public. These cases suggest Singaporeans are a trusting lot. And they are. “I can ask questions about the charities I give to. But to me, giving to charity is in many ways a leap of faith,” says Ms Yap Aye Wee, a senior executive with a leading airline.

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“I still give to my church without question,” says Miss Francesca Chan, Director of a speech and drama centre here. Some donors are however beginning to ask more questions in the light of the ISB and other cases. Giving is good, say proponents of informed giving. But informed is better. “It’s very much about practical considerations. With anything that we buy, we calculate in our minds whether it is value for money. Why should donations to charity be any different?” asks Mrs Tan Chee Koon, NVPC’s Executive Director. “The 50 cents that you gave to the student collecting for a charity with a tin can, is a drop that made the mighty ocean of $202 million in individual donations to IPCs in 2003,” Mrs Tan points out. “When we give, it’s in our interest to ask some basic questions. Questions are also a means of putting pressure on the people raising money to get their act together, to be professional,” she adds.

CAN WE HAVE MORE, PLEASE ? Whether inclined to question or not, donors say they are happy to support charities that are forthcoming and show some initiative. “Who to support, and what and how to give, are not issues that I wake up in the morning thinking about. The charity has to take the initiative. If they come to me and tell me more about themselves, make me feel for their cause, I would support them,” adds Ms Yap. Consider also, Qian Hu, a listed company in the ornamental fish business. “We get a lot of appeals. We give to the underdogs, new charities that we have not supported before, and charities we think need our help more urgently. Sometimes we respond based on how many tears we shed when we read an appeal letter,” says Mr Kenny Yap, Managing Director of Qian Hu, not entirely tongue-in-cheek. “But a charity must give me a good reason to give. Don’t tell me you bet on horses, lost money and now need funds! Charities must dare to be transparent. Show me there are no skeletons in your closet. Give me more and true information. Whether I read the information and decide to give or not, at least you are giving me a choice,” Kenny Yap argues. And choice is what informed giving is all about for him. He says he donated $10,000 to the ISB some years back because “we felt they were doing a good job”. Today, Qian Hu has two concurrent community programmes running. One is a monthly deduction from staff salaries, which the company matches dollar for dollar. The funds raised are used to buy goods which staff then take on visits to homes for the aged. The second, is an annual ornamental fish exhibition organised for charity, which typically raises between $20,000 to $40,000. Proceeds are distributed to selected charities. Jackson Goh, Chairman of Keppel Group’s Keppel Volunteers Committee, reviews reports to find out more about the financial status of charities Keppel is considering. He also wants

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Put your hands together: Through the annual “Give A Hand!” roadshows, Community Chest tries to raise awareness of community fundraising and volunteerism. Picture by Community Chest

Gift-wrapped giving? Shopper Annie Tan does her bit for The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund with a small donation for a Christmas gift wrapping service at Wisma Atria mall. Picture by The Straits Times

Starting young: Students from Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School do their bit for charity. They designed toys and trinkets, using Lego’s Clikits, for sale. Proceeds were donated to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. Picture by The Straits Times

Know where your money goes: SMRT commuters donate their lunch money to the MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Fund during the Share-A-Meal fundraiser. The Fund helps needy children and teenagers with medical treatment, therapy, education and counselling. Pictures by SMRT Corporation Ltd

“If charities want donor support, its not enough to say ‘go visit our website’. Beyond making the time to explain the cause, how the pitch is made is critical. Always go prepared. You must know 110% about your charity and how it operates and be prepared to tell it all.” PETER KHOO, Chairman, ST School Pocket Money Fund

to know how they raise funds, who else supports the charity and of course, what the charity does for the community it serves. The Keppel Volunteers Committee, which co-ordinates the Group’s volunteer efforts, has an adopted charity, the Association of Persons with Special Needs (APSN). The Keppel Group has donated substantially and commits almost 5,000 volunteer hours annually to APSN. Information, Mr Goh says, ensures that Keppel really adds value to any charity it supports. “If an organisation has $10, another $1 from me is not going to do very much. If the organisation shows me a long list of sponsors that tells me it is well supported, why should I help and what more can I really do?” Information, he asserts, helps him design community programmes that make a real difference to Keppel’s chosen charity. “If we know the charity, chances are we develop a programme where we see synergy from day one between our capabilities and resources, and what the charity needs. That happens and it’s more likely that we can sustain our involvement. It’s just smart giving,” he states. Donors are clearly in favour of being informed. But what of charities who have to build resources for donor education? What’s in it for them?

PULL IN THE CASH . . . Peter Khoo, Chairman of the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, for one, is convinced that it pays to inform givers. The Fund raised about $3.4 million last year. Mr Khoo, Vice-President & Head, Editorial Projects & Branding at Singapore Press Holdings, has a motto for the Fund and its force of all-volunteer fundraisers: Inform, Educate, Inculcate.

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FINDING ANSWERS hen you choose a cause, how can you weed out the bogus from the bona fide? How best to satisfy yourself that you’ve made the right investment in your community? Here are some starting points:

NVPC ➛ www.nvpc.org.sg Find: Helpful hints for both donors and charities. • Tips for donors on how to choose, who to give to, ways to give and the “Wishing Well” – a listing of organisations in need from across sectors including the arts, health, education, welfare and sports. Also details what the charities are asking for and contact information. • Tips for charities on what donors look for and how to raise funds. Charities may also submit their wish-list for inclusion in “Wishing Well”. Call: 6550 9595 • Hotline: 1800 325 0965 IRAS Website ➛ www.iras.gov.sg Find: Information on registered charities and IPCs (definitions, full listings of both registered charities and IPCs, links to the charities’ websites and accounts), information on setting up foundations, tax deductions on your donations and more. Information is also available from Central Fund Administrators for the specific sectors. For eg: National Council of Social Service (NCSS) ➛ www.ncss.org.sg Activity and accounts information on voluntary welfare organisations. And information on the Community Chest Directory of National Sports Associations ➛ www.ssc.gov.sg Contact details and links to all registered sports associations National Arts Council ➛ www.nac.gov.sg Contact details, information and links to individual arts groups. People’s Association ➛ www.pa.gov.sg Financial Statements for all PA’s Welfare & Education Committee Funds Ministry of Health ➛ www.moh.gov.sg MOH Health Endowment Fund and Health Research Endowment Fund National Youth Council ➛ www.nyc.gov.sg Singapore Environment Council ➛ www.sec.gov.sg Don’t stop there! Follow the hyperlinks available to charity websites to find the information you want. Better still, make the most of the contact details you find. A call can reveal a great deal. At the very least, you will get a sense of how committed or well trained the organisation’s staff are in answering your questions or providing referrals.

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“One time, I wrangled a talk at one of our local schools. I went, I told the kids and the staff all about the Fund, then I left. No one approached me after the talk and I had no idea if I had made any impression,” recalls Mr Khoo. “Four months later, a 10-year old pupil from the school called. He had discussed it with his Mum and wanted to do something for the Fund. That 10-year old raised $2,000. That 10-year old, inspired his mates and teachers so much, the school rallied behind his effort. They eventually raised $42,000.” “That’s the power of informing and educating givers,” says Peter Khoo. Mr Khoo notes that informing givers is not to be approached lightly. If charities want donor support, its not enough to say ‘go visit our website’. And beyond making the time to explain the cause, how the pitch is made is critical. “Always go prepared. You must know 110% about your charity and how it operates and be prepared to tell it all,” he insists. “Only then will people feel assured that they are giving to the right cause and that their money is going to be well used.”

. . . AND KEEP THE $$$ COMING For charities, informed giving can also help grow goodwill and sustain giving. “A donor today has many choices – there are 1,7000 charities out there. Donors will set priorities,” says Mr Gerard Ee, President of the National Council of Social Service. “First, donors are going to give to the causes that move them. Beyond that, surely they would choose the organisations in which they have the greatest confidence?” In the race for a piece of the charity pie, the more forthcoming and transparent non-profits are those more likely to pull ahead. “An organisation that can show donors how well it is run, that it has the proper structure, well trained staff and beneficiaries who are happy with its services, will instill confidence in donors and get its fair share of the pie,” says Mr Ee. Mrs Tan agrees. “Charities engage donors when they make the effort to educate donors on their activities, and even financials. And that will likely get them more sustained and involved support, in cash or kind.” Informing givers is certainly not the answer to all of the challenges faced by non-profits in fundraising. The gold may not be divided with an even hand. And non-profits that make the effort, may not get as good as they give. Consider Teen Challenge – a voluntary welfare organisation that runs services and programmes for recovering addicts, young offenders, teen gang members and their families. “I’m all for educating givers, but it only gets me so far. The fact is that some causes will always be more palatable to donors than others,” observes Reverend Sam Kuna, Executive Director of Teen Challenge. The good news is that not all of Rev Kuna’s efforts have been in vain. Transparency has brought some cash support from large corporates. Shell for example, chose to direct proceeds of about $8,000 from the sale of Christmas cards to Teen Challenge. So, big or small, charities benefit from clarity and accountability. But the fact remains that informing and educating donors can be a heavy burden, particularly for the more modest and less resourced charities. This dilemma is not lost on the NVPC. “We don’t want to shut out the charities that don’t quite cut it. We want to work with them to help bring them up to scratch. This is their chance to be the early birds that benefit from a growing pool of discerning and demanding donors,” Says NVPC’s Mrs Tan. And she is optimistic that the buy-in to the idea of informed giving from both charities and donors will be strong. “That’s the thing about Singapore. Once we put our minds to something, we leapfrog.” ✩

Curtain Call

It’s one thorny issue – Arts funding and the government’s role in growing the arts. The recent National Arts Council grants allocations set the stage for another round of debate. DAVEN WU watches from the wings.

‘‘I

don’t know of any arts group in the world that’s happy with its level of funding,” laughs Benson Puah, CEO of Explanade – Theatres on the Bay. The comment is telling not least for its trenchant commentary on the human condition but also for the context it creates for the ongoing debate about arts funding in Singapore. “It’s a fallacy that funding for artists and arts companies has declined over the years,” says Mr Lee Suan Hiang, CEO of the National Arts Council (NAC). The Council’s 2004 operating budget increased 21.6% to $34.62 million. “From FY1993 to FY2003, we have seen a four-fold increase in funds disbursed to artists and arts companies including grants for projects, arts housing, commissioned works and direct expenses for promotion and overseas touring. Total support for the arts community last year amounted to $11 million and is projected to increase by 5% this year,” Lee notes. Because the NAC has included other spending, such as overseas touring and grants for projects and arts housing from its increased coffers, in real terms, direct grants to individual arts groups fell across the board to $3.568 million. Who then, is receiving these grants? At last count, there

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were around 500 registered arts groups and companies in Singapore, of which roughly 100 are active. Of this, 21 receive direct funding from the NAC while the rest receive assistance on an ad hoc or project basis. Almost without exception, any thriving arts community anywhere in the world benefits from government funding. The average figure hovers around 1% of the national budget. In Singapore, it’s around 0.2%. Here, any adequate discussion on broad numbers is hindered by many hidden factors. For instance, direct grants are capped at 30% of a company’s operating costs. The balance of funds must be raised by the company through ticket sales and donations, sponsorships and subscription drives. For many arts groups, the issue has less to do with the success of their funding applications, and more with the principle of success breeding success. And on this point, Ms Traslin Ong, Manager of the Singapore wing of TheatreWorks, refers to the “general perception that the arts is less deserving than, say, education”. And that, as we all know, is one circular chicken-egg-oromelette argument.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? The burning question then is this: How much funding is enough? Is it enough when a company’s financial situation becomes so dire that an employee’s personal funds are injected to keep the company afloat? Mr Kok Heng Leun, the artistic director of Drama Box did just that. As did Mr K P Bhaskar, the 80-year old artistic director of Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society, Singapore’s only professional Indian arts company. He made personal financial loans and donated paintings from his private collection for sale to raise funds. For many arts companies, funding received from the NAC is clearly inadequate. For the Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society, the amount is not enough to cover rent. TheatreWorks, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, has been in the red for most of the past seven years. Other companies like Chinese group Drama Box, receive ad hoc funding from NAC which accounts for only 10% of its operating budget.

we have for distribution is not enough. We wish we could give more to everyone, but we just have to make the best of it.” That said, 60% of all funding applications from Singapore arts groups are successful compared to the world average of 30%. Another question: should the government be the deep pocket on which the success or failure of an arts company depends? More importantly, are the arts companies doing enough to help themselves? Says Loh, “When it comes to funding, artistic merit is fundamental and this is judged by a panel of industry experts. We also want to see artists make some efforts to develop and educate audiences. Is there sound financial planning? Artists will be artists. When it comes to financial management, they wish someone can do the job for them as they are not very good at it!” The NAC is also committed to developing what CEO Lee identifies as “critical areas to grow the arts further.” He acknowledges the integral part played by artists and arts companies in the arts ecosystem. “But there are other areas such as widening and deepening our audience base, developing infrastructure and creating international platforms,” he points out. The NAC also has its work cut out towards forming strategic alliances for networking and marketing. These less visible factors are as significant and the NAC wants to work with the stakeholders – the arts community, public and private sectors, sponsors, media and audiences – to build a vibrant arts scene. “We believe that artists will do well, and even better in such a sustainable arts environment,” Lee argues.

DOING THE MATHS But what defines funding? Does the hardware – specifically, the performing venues – count? Some arts communities, such as the Indian and Malay groups, traditionally perform in the open air, so for them, a swanky five-star performing arts centre is not directly beneficial. Or should the focus be purely on operational costs? Should indirect funding be included in the balance sheet? Around 90 performing arts groups receive rental subsidies – should this be regarded as funding? Not many in the arts community think so, according to Susan Loh, the NAC’s Director of Audience & Market LOST IN TRANSLATION Development Division. For her, this is The flip side of the argument for one of the important elements almost The show must go on: A performance more funding is equally compelling. always forgotten in the debate. by the local Chinese arts company, Adding to the frustrations of the arts “The older generation of artists think Drama Box. Picture courtesy of Drama Box companies is an impression that their that today’s artists never had it so good!” voices are not being fully heard. she says. “But to be frank, the budget Take the Malay multi-disciplinary arts group, Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts, which suffered a 5% cut in funding. “It’s frustrating when the reply to an application for funding is a ‘Not Successful’ and that’s it,” says Adel Ahmad, the group’s General Manager. “It would be nice to also know why the application was ‘Not Successful’ and how it could become a ‘Quite Successful for minimal funding’ or ‘ Super successful for full funding’. We’re not being ignored but we’re not fully heard.” The consensus is that everyone is making the best of the situation. Tie-ups with corporate sponsors are fast becoming the norm. Fundraising drives are increasingly innovative. Susan Loh Arts companies are signing up for courses in marketing and NAC’s Director of Audience & Market Development Division business development.

“Is there sound financial planning? Artists will be artists. When it comes to financial management, they wish someone can do the job for them as they are not very good at it!”

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Singing and dancing for their supper: (L) “Arabian Night” (Pesta Raya, Malay Festival of Arts) and (R) a folk dance performance by Apsara Arts, Singapore. Pictures courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay

“Singapore is the envy of many arts communities around the world,” says Benson Puah. “I think we have to engage the community more so that we can create more justification for more funding. We have to do our own bit instead of just complaining.” What the debate has done is to shed some light on a dynamic often taken for granted in the sometimes heated and disgruntled collision of judgement calls. And it’s the enduring commitment individual arts companies have to their cause and to the community in general. “Every year, it’s a struggle, but we will not allow budget cuts to affect the quality of our productions,” says Traslin Ong of TheatreWorks. Perhaps Bhaskar of the Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society says it best: “We are artists. We have to perform irrespective of the government’s support. We don’t know anything else.” In the end, it’s a necessary process of compromise, of agreeing to disagree on certain points, and then moving on. “The relationship between the NAC and the arts community has always been like a marriage!” Susan Loh concludes, suggesting perhaps, a union of two equally strong-willed partners. ✩

“We are artists. We have to perform irrespective of the government’s support. We don’t know anything else.” K P Bhaskar Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society

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Who got a piece of NAC’s $3.568m pie this year? Action Theatre Singapore Dance Theatre Singapore Repertory Theatre The Necessary Stage Theatre Practice TheatreWorks Bhaskar’s Arts Academy Chinese Theatre Circle City Chinese Orchestra Dance Ensemble Singapore Plastique Kinetic Worms Sculpture Square T’ang Quartet Teater Ekamatra The Arts Fission Company The Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore Singapore Lyric Opera The Substation Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble Wild Rice Young Musicians’ Society

Dial Up Service SingTel Connect might just as well be the name of the telco’s corporate giving programme. Demonstrating how telecommunications hardware and diligent heartware can connect employees to the community, DAVEN WU listens in.

ou know the edict: if top management doesn’t buy into any corporate giving programme, it never really works. Ever. So consider the quiet shifts in perspective at telecommunications giant, SingTel. “We want to be good corporate citizens – wherever in the world we operate,” says Mr Lucas Chow, SingTel’s Executive Vice President (Consumer Business) and CEO (SingTel Mobile). It’s a global connection that SingTel is passionate about, resonating at all levels of the organisation. But it’s not just about pumping in money into a charity drive, though that certainly does happen. It’s about making sure that everyone, from junior employee right up to CEO Lee Hsien Yang, is connected to the message of giving. And to use Chow’s words, “giving meaningfully”. “We want to make sure that we provide financial support,” says Chow. “But we also want to make sure that SingTel employees participate and understand the cause. Previously, we were involved in community work on an ad hoc basis. We’ve since decided that we need to be more focused.” The good corporate citizen is a theme that crops up repeatedly with Chow, although it may be difficult to pin down a precise profile of this citizen. It includes the employee, certainly. But for SingTel, the net is cast further. “Our Touching Lives Fund is a good example,” says Chow of SingTel’s fund aimed mainly at needy and disabled children. “There, we went beyond just raising money. We involved our employees, our families, customers, suppliers and even our corporate partners.” That was an unusual level of commit-

ment and support. In 2003, the Touching Lives Fund alone raised $1.7 million. Additionally, the company has raised an average of $1.5 million a year for other causes. Well aware of the pull of its brand name and the media exposure SingTel can bring to any event, even by association, SingTel works closely with the National Council of Social Service to pin-point charities or causes needing attention or support. Mainly, the company tends to target the young, for the simple reason that they are, “the future”. And so, there have been a host of other philanthropic and volunteering initiatives involving staff and the community including charity golf events, raising funds through folding paper hearts and washing cars. During last year’s SARS crisis, SingTel also took the initiative by installing a complex network of phone lines and video phone services in hospitals so patients and their families could communicate. Because of SingTel’s holistic embrace of community causes, Chow detects a sense, among SingTel employees, of belonging to the company, and of a company connection to the community. It’s a connection that continually builds on its successes.

The benefits are as intangible as the financial succour the company’s corporate giving brings to needy beneficiaries. “The worst kind of volunteerism is to show up once a year,” says Chow. “That kind of effort is not useful. Which is why we’re implementing a more Call collect: structured volunteering SingTel staffers connect with programme. We want to the community during a flag promote volunteerism day event. on a corporate basis.” The new programme will be rolled out in full this year. It will include training and full briefing sessions on individual causes and what might be expected of employee participants. It will also include the 3 Rs – Recognise, Renew and Recruit. The first acknowledges individual efforts, the second sustains enthusiasm and the third replenishes the ranks. “Our employees often do volunteer work over the weekend, or they take days off from annual leave,” adds Mr Ivan Tan, SingTel’s Director for Corporate Communications. “There’s potential for more to get involved. All we’re providing is the back-up know-how and a nudge to get things going.” And for a company whose core business is connecting people, SingTel knows better than anyone else that, in the end, sometimes all it takes is a nudge. ✩ This year marks the 125th anniversary of telecommunications in Singapore. For every dollar raised from the public, SingTel will match the amount with $1.25.

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S A L T S H A K E R S & M O V E R S

Major Mayor You need skates to keep pace with Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, aka the Mayor of South West Community Development Council. Guest Writer MARGARET THOMAS, Associate Editor of TODAY, barely escapes the cheerful clutches of this tireless people mobiliser and veteran politician.

e’ve barely had time to say ‘Hello’ when she’s on her feet again. “Have you seen it? My flea market. No? Come, come, I’ll show you.” She strides back into her office, a spacious corner room on the upper floors of The JTC Summit, pulls back the blinds and points to the empty space around the Jurong East MRT station. “That’s where it will be. We’re going to call it The Village Place. Anybody can come and set up a stall. I want to get back the old kampong spirit and give people a place where they can sell their cookies and so on. Or they can come and perform, or just have a coffee and chat.” She beams as she speaks and her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. It’s infectious. Soon you are offering ideas of what else can be done, and she pounces on the suggestions, excitedly asking her colleague to note them down. This is the enormous charm of Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Mayor of the South West Community Development Council (CDC). She is a veteran grassroots leader, having joined the labour movement after leaving university and then entering politics in 1984. You mention that she’s been described as a great “people mobiliser” but, with typical modesty, she brushes this aside with a laugh. “No lah, no lah. It’s just sharing. After all, you share my idea, right? After this, you better not just talk. You must go and do. You must help me,” she says. Not giving you time to come up with an excuse, she presses on.

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“I accepted this interview because it’s the volunteer centre, and we need people to come out and volunteer to help. “Singapore today – we have very strong government and a very effective civil service. But we also must have a strong people. If not, the people will lose the skill of survival. I feel that it’s my duty to arouse the people and their spontaneous involvement.” Spontaneous? She can coax a snail out of its home to help out another snail with a broken shell. Which may explain the number of influential and high profile individuals the Mayor has roped into her CDC as Councillors. Many of them don’t even reside within her precinct! Just to rattle off a few names – philanthropist and hotelier Alfred Lien,

who chairs her Corporate Relations Committee; Kay Kuok from the Kuok Family group in the Arts Committee; Environmentalist Dr Geh Min, on her Environment Committee, Mr Liak Teng Lit, CEO of Alexandra Hospital, who chaired her SARS Committee for Public Education. “The joke among us is that when Yu-Foo Yee Shoon calls, you’re either going to be out of time or out of money!” says Liak laughing. “She’s quite a demanding, challenging and fun person to work with. But she’s quite sincere, which is why it’s almost impossible to say ‘No’ to her.” Other names resonate with the length and breadth of their social, business and professional networks, their financial

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clout and specific talents and skills across all sectors. All busy people engaged in a myriad of causes. And still, they make time for the Mayor. Companies have also found it hard to say ‘No’ to her. She has 300 companies under the CDC’s Corporate Partners Scheme which actively seeks to spread corporate citizenry. “This flea market we’re building,” she continues, returning rapidly with deadly focus on her new cause, “is one way to get people involved and maybe give them a chance to start their own business. I thought of this idea because in the last few years, a lot of people have been coming to ask for some money because they cannot make ends meet – just small amounts, $100, $200. “I asked them how they can survive on $100? One lady, she has four children, she said, “Madam, help me. I don’t want to come for your money. Let me sell nasi lemak at your Jurong East MRT.” Unfortunately, the Environment Ministry rules don’t allow people to sell food cooked in homes. “I felt embarrassed but my answer was ‘no’. What to do? So at our flea market, we will allow them to cook on the spot, or they can cook at the nearby community centre,” said the Mayor logically. Obstacle bypassed. “I think Singaporeans have the skills but the cost of doing business is too high. If they are retrenched, where are they going to get the money to start a business? You need tens of thousands of dollars. But here at my flea market, you can rent a stall for maybe $20 or $30 a day, depending on your business. She would like to give all manner of skills a fair trial. “Say if you’re good at arranging flowers, you can take a stall and arrange with a fresh flower supplier to supply flowers. With the MRT station next door, if you’re good, you can do very well. But someone must help them; train them how to run a small business,” the Mayor points out. In fact, the Mayor believes that as long as people don’t act illegally, she will

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always encourage initiative and its various expressions. The rationale for her Village Place is to summon and see volunteers involved in sharing their skills to help more stallholders set up shop. A sort of fair trade in social needs. With Singapore intent on attracting tourists but with so many cultural and historical attractions torn down – Bugis Street for instance – why, the Mayor asks, are we not developing small attractions like her type of flea market? It can attract not only Singaporeans but also tourists who want to get a taste of ordinary Singapore life.

“I want people to help people. Don’t always expect the government to do things for you. Like the woman who wanted to sell nasi lemak – if everything is cannot, cannot, then what can she do? If she cannot find work in a factory, then she has to go and beg for money. Or she becomes a cleaner. Why must Singapore life be like that?” “Our volunteer groups can help to improve people’s lives. These people who cannot find jobs – give them some guidance to produce things that can be sold at the flea market. Helping people find jobs is especially important to her. Under the CDC Job Facilities Programme, the Mayor engages companies by investigating what problems they face when hiring. “This is my hope – I want people to help people. Don’t always expect the government to do things for you. I don’t want to kill their aspirations. Like the

woman who wanted to sell nasi lemak – if everything is cannot, cannot, then what can she do? If she cannot find work in a factory, then she has to go and beg for money. Or she becomes a cleaner. “Why must Singapore life be like that? I am trying to develop this sector. It may be a little messy but it can work. The key thing is the volunteer groups. They can organise training for people to run small businesses, things like cash flow management. I don’t mind funding this training. More people need to share what we have.” She talks about how she tries to get this message across to the students who sometimes come to learn about her work at the CDC and as a Member of Parliament for the Yuhua area. They seek her out because of her extremely hands-on approach – nothing like direct lessons on moving people towards shared goals and community effort. “Students come to my Meet The People sessions and they realise that there are so many people with problems. Sometimes they help me to write letters, or they just observe, or help the Ah Sohs around. “I tell them everyone is important in my branch, even the doorman. Without him, no one is there to open the door. They are all volunteers. So I tell the students, ‘Don’t just talk to me, talk to all of them.’ I always tell them that I am just a facilitator.” By the way, the tagline for her CDC ward is “Owning the Community”, just in case you were wondering what she makes people focus on. Her secretary comes in again, looking almost desperately at the clock. It’s late. The mayor, the facilitator and people mobiliser, is needed elsewhere. “Okay, okay,” she says as she gathers her things, adding just before she rushes away: “Thank you, and you must come and help, you know.” And you can bet she won’t forget the follow-up. ✩

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

The Chain Gang

Outspoken activist and social monitor, Ivy Singh-Lim, wonders why today’s generation finds it so difficult to volunteer for worthy causes. BY

IVY SINGH-LIM PRESIDENT N ETBALL S INGAPORE

am 55 years old and I know I have lived a fortunate life – a life where I have been in control of what I wanted to do for myself, my family, my friends and for the less fortunate in society. I could do all this and more because in the times that I lived in, there were a lot of people like me – we had control of our lives. When I became Vice President of Netball Singapore way back in 1985 (but actually, 19 years was not really that long ago!), the Chairman of the company I worked at actually congratulated and praised me for my involvement in this community service. In fact, all my bosses would ensure that I never missed any meeting required by the association or the Sports Council. And when I eventually became President of Netball Singapore, my Vice President who also worked for the same company, was given an equal level of support. However, it’s a different story today. I find that even with less committee meetings and better planned meetings, people seem to find it hard to give their time to do anything apart from work! In fact, all people appear to do, or want to do, is eat, breathe and sleep WORK! This strange phenomenon seems to have pervaded the lives of the working population only in recent years. Somehow, I find that most people have lost control of their lives – they can’t make a forward date anymore. They

Salt and pepper shakers courtesy of a private collector

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

don’t have dinner with their families anymore. Worse, they can’t book in their diaries the need or responsibility to volunteer anymore! I am therefore not the least bit surprised by the low level of volunteerism in Singapore when compared to some of the other developed countries. And yet, when there is a need and a call to give money via telephone or any other means, the response can be quite staggering. Just look at Fabric of the Nation and the NKF show. Why this dichotomy? It’s clear that Singaporeans are not unkind people who do not volunteer. It is simply because they are not in control of their lives. They control their phones and cheque books, so they are able to quickly and generously give money, but when it comes to time – well, they can’t!

“It’s a different story today. I find that even with less committee meetings and better planned meetings, people seem to find it hard to give their time to do anything apart from work!” And this is because a lot of the bosses today are simply that – bosses! They are no longer leaders who understand that there is a way to rule

where your workers have a life! As bosses, perhaps, we should all pause a while and ask ourselves some of the following questions? Has working life truly become so different in Singapore that it is so difficult for people to volunteer some time for other people who truly need you? Will businesses really collapse if your staff takes on a role in society? Can you not afford that charitable time in your company? Does your staff really have to work from 9 am to 9 pm every day? Can you not afford a 5-day week so that your staff has time for family and some voluntary work, if they so wish? Can you not give them back some control of their lives so that they can volunteer? Can you not give our employees a life besides work? Is it really that difficult? Perhaps, if every employer reading this article can take a moment to pause and think about how volunteering can enhance the life of your employees, then perhaps we can have that proverbial “win-win” situation. After all, an employee who volunteers immediately gives a good image of your organisation and, more importantly, you as a great boss! That employee could also be able to advertise your organisation’s business and start a completely new network which he wouldn’t otherwise be in, if he was stuck in the office all day! Volunteering also enhances the “feel good syndrome”, which could ensure that your workers are healthier and happier people. I strongly believe that the vicious cycle of work, work and more work pushes our employees’ attitudes into a rut. Unless they are encouraged to relax, do something which makes them feel good, it’s likely that they will not take that extra step to help the organisation too! ✩

T AA

KK SS

Making Sense of the 30% Rule It takes money to raise money for charity. What measure can be used to gauge fundraising efficiency? KEVIN LEE discusses the 30% rule on fundraising. BY

KEVIN LEE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SECTOR DEVELOPMENT NVPC

litzy gala dinners. Golf tournaments in posh country clubs. Televised shows. All for charity. Detractors may ask: “If charities have so much money to organise such elaborate events, surely they don’t need my money?” The fact is, it takes money to raise money. Even for events like flag days, someone has to pay for the flags and the collection bags, even if no one pays for the labour of the volunteer flag-sellers. One measure that has often been used to indicate whether fundraising expenses incurred make economic sense is the “fundraising efficiency ratio”. This is the ratio of fundraising expenses to donations received, expressed as a percentage. All else being equal, a lower percentage indicates higher efficiency. In Singapore, there is a “speed limit” on this gauge: 30%. The police set this limit when granting licences for houseto-house and street collections. The Ministry of Finance limits fundraising expenses of Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) to 30% of the gross amount of funds expected to be raised. The 30% rule apparently goes as far back as the 1970s, based on the limit set by Customs & Excise for waiver of entertainment duty for charity shows.

While the limit is set at 30%, fundraising efficiency depends on several variables. For instance, fundraisers with strong brand equity are likely to have higher efficiency compared to littleknown start-ups. Fundraising methods make a difference too. Some fundraisers organise charity fairs and incur costs of tents, game stalls, sound systems, catering, transport and other logistics to appeal to individual donors. Other fundraisers succeed simply by appealing to a small group of institutional donors, and the cost may not be much more than making a few telephone calls and following up in writing. Economies of scale make a difference too. If it takes $30,000 to raise $100,000, it may not cost $30m to raise $100m. The chart shows how fundraising efficiency of IPCs may vary greatly, with higher ratios in many cases for donations below $2m. Another possible reason for such variation is the basis of accounting. Fundraising expenses could have been reported gross or nett of sponsorship, and indirect expenses (eg staff costs). In best practice, expenses should be reported

gross, to reflect the “true cost” of fundraising. When accounting bases differ, two fundraisers who report 30% efficiency may, in fact, have different efficiencies. To use a driving analogy, although both are going at “30”, one speedometer is calibrated in mph and the other is in kmh. The 30% rule is but one gauge for discerning donors to decide where to allocate their money. However, when using this measure, donors should bear in mind the variables faced by fundraisers. On their part, fundraisers should use a standard basis of accounting to report their fundraising expenses, and state the appropriate context so that donors can make informed decisions. ✩

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

Ahead of the Curve

They’re young, successful and are a shoo-in for all Yuppie pursuits. But as JOAN HO discovers, what the heart promises at PromiseWorks, really checks the cynics. iddle of the curve.” Behind the somewhat dry semantics lies a restless section of the community. For lawyer Sim Chong, it is a largely unseen and ignored section calling out for special attention. Enter some worldly, well heeled and well read yuppies. The volunteers at PromiseWorks are a shoo-in for the self-centred “me first” breed of successful, upwardly mobile Singaporeans intent on making their first (or second) million in a hurry. Instead, they dish out a good whack to the cynics. PromiseWorks targets teens. This community service organisation runs youth development programmes mostly aimed at marginalised teens in neighbourhood secondary schools. Sim and his team of Yuppie volunteers see these students as plonked in the ‘middle-of-the-curve’. It’s an apt reference. “The students from the better-established schools have their own support groups with their scholarships and tutoring. So do the kids at the bottom, often also with disciplinary problems. But there’s nothing for those in the middle who neither stand out in a positive nor negative way. We realised there is a lot of room to help them,” Sim explains. PromiseWorks grew out of a clear sense of goodwill and mission among young working adults. “We know many of us want to volunteer and give their time, but either don’t know where to go, or are too lazy,” Sim says. “So we wanted to provide a platform where all they have to do is turn-up, sign up and come on-board.” The 28-year-old is just one of 210 volunteers at PromiseWorks which is managed entirely by volunteers. Last year, the group won the Outstanding Volunteer Initiative Award at the National

‘‘M

Promises work at a session for mentors and wards.

Volunteerism Awards. Each month, about 10 to 15 new volunteers sign up. They must be doing something right. Programmes are designed to cater to the different interests of the teens and volunteers. The Mentorship Programme for example, is a way for volunteers to befriend their wards and help them cope with the challenges of adolescence. “None of us are trained counsellors, so what we want is to be big brothers and sisters to these kids.” Sim says simply. Outdoor activities under the Adventure Learning Programme are designed to build life skills such as teamwork, goal-setting and problem-solving. The teens are even taken rock-climbing and there are plans to visit the Confidence Building Adventure School. The youths also benefit from the Industry Visits Programme, what Sim describes as “a looking glass for the kids to outside world. We want to expose them to the arts, education and other areas out there that they may find engaging, show them what opportunities are available for them when they grow up.” So far, Industry Visit participants have gone on trips to MediaCorp Studios and the Asian Civilisations Museum. Next is a visit to the Criminal Investigation Department. PromiseWorks also has a Non-profit

Consulting Programme which helps other interest groups with legal, organisational and management assistance. Volunteers write papers and hold discussions on social issues with other community groups. Recently, they presented a paper to the South East Community Development Council which analysed ways to increase volunteerism within the CDC. Such programmes have gone down a treat with schools and students. “Many students who were not selected have complained to their teachers, ‘This is so unfair, why am I not in the programme?’ ” Sim grins. For its efforts, PromiseWorks was awarded a $15,000 grant by the 2001 Youth Organisation Capability Development Fund from the National Youth Council. The Friends-of-Central Singapore CDC also recognised their efforts. Next on the agenda is to include more schools in its programmes. Already, Pierce Secondary School is slated for the 2004/2005 Mentorship Programme. Meanwhile, the Non-Profit Consulting Programme is also gearing up. It has helped other youth organisations such as Sunny Island Tree Climbers, to draft a constitution and are presently working on a consultation paper on the problem of teenage pregnancy. Promises work with this bunch of young professionals. Like so many collaborations, it began as a good idea, a dollop of heart, and the focus and skills of young professionals who decided “no time” was not enough of a reason not to pitch in. Even with just a little time to promise, promises work. ✩ For more on PromiseWorks, visit www.promiseworks.org.sg.

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

SCENE&SEEN Cross the Line World Red Cross Day 8 May

Point taken: Tan Li Feng from the winning ACJC team, receives the Challenge Shield from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

Making Dreams ComeTrue

15 May, IBM Singapore Headquarters, Changi Business Park The presentation of the cheque to Anderson Secondary School for Project Green. (L-R) Daniel Ng, Director of Marketing, IBM Singapore; Calvin Ismail Talib, Geography Teacher, Anderson Secondary School; Mrs Tan Wai Lan, Principal, Anderson Secondary School; President S R Nathan; Patricia Yim, Managing Director, IBM Singapore.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

World Red Cross Day on May 8 was marked by the finals of the School Debate Series on International Humanitarian Law. The series was jointly organised by the Singapore Red Cross and the Debate Association (Singapore) to raise public awareness of a complex law regarding armed conflict and the protection of non-combatants. Bright sparks from Anglo Chinese Junior College took the final prize from Raffles Junior College. Guest-of-Honour was Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for State for National Development and Trade & Industry.

IBM’s latest philanthropic initiative,‘Making Dreams Come True’, did exactly that for 10 lucky students. The initiative covers a raft of corporate community relations programmes. One notable programme was a Science, Engineering and Technology Camp for students selected from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. They were presented with invitations by Guest-of-Honour President S R Nathan. The initiative was made possible by donations from IBMers. Guests included beneficiaries, industry captains, business partners and clients of IBM.

Hear Me Roar ‘SingArt – A Brush with Lions’ Exhibition

Not since colonial days have there been so many sightings of wild maned lions. They’ve been sighted everywhere from the Raffles Hotel to Orchard Road, Raffles City and Millenia Walk. So what gives? The life-sized fibreglass beasts are all part of the ‘SingArt – A Brush With Lions’ exhibition, a bold joint effort between Caltex, Raffles Hotel and the Singaporean Tourism Board. The public may bid for their favourite lion at the end of the exhibition. Proceeds go to various adopted charities including the Straits Times Pocket Money Fund and MINDS Towner Garden School. For more information, visit www.singart.com.sg.

Jardine Cycle & Carriage Adopt a Charity Golf Tournament Teddy Bank 15 April, Tanah Merah Country Club

It was a day to remember as corporate big-wigs gathered to tee off for the Jardine Cycle & Carriage Charity Golf Tournament. The beneficiary: The Institute for Mental Health, a 2,542-bed specialised care hospital offering specialist psychiatric treatment services. JC&C matched donations dollar for dollar. The Guest-ofHonour was Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister for Transport. Besides a charity dinner, 33 airtickets priced at $8,000 each, were snapped up by high-flyers such as Allen & Gledhill, Citibank and PricewaterhouseCoopers. In all, $600,000 was raised for the Woodbridge Hospital Endowment Fund.

17 April, Pan Pacific Hotel

Holey-moley: Mr Chris Kam, put away a hole-in-one and won a Mercedez-Benz E200 and a Mitsubishi Colt.

Whose Life is it Anyway? 20 May, Alliance Francaise AGF Theatre

There were teddies galore when Guest-of-Honour Hug me: Johnathan Tan and one Mrs Goh Chok Tong launched of his furry friends. the “Adopt A Teddy Bank” drive at the Pan Pacific Hotel’s ballroom. The banks – in two sizes for individuals and companies – are decorated with John Bear, a cute brown fur-ball designed by 9-year old Johnathan Tan. The youngster, who has leukaemia, created the John Bear logo for the Assisi Home and Hospice (AHH)’s charity drive earlier this year. Donors are asked to put $1 into the bank every day for three months. All proceeds will go to the AHH. The target is $500,000. To get your paws on a (free) teddy bank, visit 820 Thomson Road during office hours.

Singapore International Foundation Awards 8 May, Oriental Hotel The Singapore International Awards recognise and honour Singaporeans at home and abroad who reach out to needy communities, across political and geographical lines. And through this, help to promote a positive image for Singapore. Two recipients stood out at this year’s awards. Jasmin Samat Simon, a TV programme developer and a founder of theatre group Act 3, won in the individual category for his teaching and social work in Jakarta. In the group category, Mercy Relief, a humanitarian relief organisation, took the prize.

Vesakhi Mela 2004 18 April, Singapore Khalsa Association

First performed nearly 30 years ago, Brian Clark’s deeply moving and complex play, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, still resonates strongly today, with its themes of human dignity, life choices and the human will. A charity performance was held at Singapore’s Alliance Francaise. Proceeds went to the Dover Park Hospice. For the audience, a post-show cocktail included a meet and greet session with the cast and representatives of the Hospice.

Flower power: RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence, makes a point.

Win-win: (L-R) Barry Desker; Chairman, SIF Board of Governors; Jasmin Samat Simon; President S R Nathan; Mr Zulkifli Baharudin, Chairman, Mercy Relief Board of Governors; and Dr Tan Tay Keong, Executive Director, SIF.

It was a festive and colourful day for all as Singapore’s Sikh Community gathered to celebrate Vesakhi Day, a major event in the Sikh calendar. Commemorating the founding of the revered Khalsa Panth (the Sikh religious order of saint-soldiers), this year’s Vesakhi Day coincided with the 500th anniversary of the birth of the second Sikh Guru, Angad Dev Ji. To mark the occasion, the Sikh community and the Central Singapore Community Development Council, jointly raised $35,000 and donated the amount to the Kidney Dialysis Foundation for a new, and much needed, dialysis machine. RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence, Guest-of-Honour, attended with Dr Gordon Ku from the KDF.

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

CALENDAR D A T E S

T O

N O T E

JULY 17 & 18 July Animal Planet’s Operation Rescue by Animal Planet

AUGUST 14 August Flag Day by The Salvation Army

Venue: The Heeren, Orchard Road Time: 11am – 4pm

The Salvation Army’s Flag Day needs 3,000 volunteers. With a total of 22 homes and centres running programmes for children, youth, families and the elderly, the funds raised will enable The Salvation Army to continue its work. Each year, S$6 million is needed to drive its social programmes. Together with your family members and friends, sign up as a volunteer and do your little part for the needy! To volunteer, please email Gregory Lee at Gregory_Lee@SMM. salvationarmy.org.

To support prevention against animal abuse, Animal Planet is organising an animal adoption drive. Animals from the Cat Welfare Society, Action for Singapore Dogs and the House Rabbit Society Singapore, will be up for adoption. Animal Planet will also sponsor merchandise sold by the three societies. All proceeds go to the participating organisations. For more information, contact Serina Rahman at 65480615 or email Serina_Rahman@discovery.com.

Now – 22 July Nominations for The National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2004

Now – 15 August Red Cross Humanitarian Conference – ‘Serving Humanity: Challenges and Opportunities’ by The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) The SRC extends an invitation to organisations that have participated in past humanitarian appeals and disaster management activities – including NGOs, VWOs, as well as various religious organisations and corporate sponsors. The call is out for papers and showcase activities. The conference itself will be on 4 Dec 2004.

Closing date for all submissions of papers: 15 August 2004. For more information, please contact the Conference Secretariat at 63362069.

15 August Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre’s 10th Anniversary Open House Venue: Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre, 10 Buangkok View, Blk 9 Time: 8.30am – 2pm The wide range of activities at the Open House includes games stalls, a short walkathon around the premises, stage performances, dialogue session and tours of the wards (those interested in volunteering in the health sector will be given a good headstart). Companies keen on developing employee volunteer programmes with Ren Ci are encouraged to participate. There will be shuttle buses for participants from Sengkang MRT and Yio Chu Kang MRT to Ren Ci from 7.30-8.30am at 15 minute intervals. Return journeys are from 1-2pm every 15 minutes. Light refreshments and lunch will be provided for all participants in the walkathon. For more information, call Alison Hack at 63850288 or email alison_hack@renci.org.sg.

27-28 July

NVPC introduces a new Awards format this year for Singapore’s pinnacle awards for volunteerism and philanthrophy. This year’s awards go beyond recognising volunteer management to recognising best practices in philanthropy. The awards will be presented by President S R Nathan at a ceremony and gala dinner on 23 November 2004. Nominations close on 22 July 2004. For more details, please email Cheng Shing Meng at shmeng@nvpc.org.sg. For updates, visit www.nvpc.org.sg.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2004

“Profitable Giving: The Way Forward” – National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre Conference 2004 Venue: Meritus Mandarin Singapore, Mandarin Ballroom, 6th Floor, South Tower

Once again, the conference of the year for fundraisers, volunteer hosting organisations, donors and corporate givers. NVPC’s fourth annual conference spotlights philanthropic giving in Singapore. The two-day conference examines changing attitudes towards giving from the perspectives of corporates, foundations and grant makers, philanthropists and the man in the street.‘Giving’ issues will also be under scrutiny, from informed giving, to best practices in strategic, sustained and structured giving, to corporate giving, and professional and innovative fundraising practices. Non-profit organisations can apply for the Non-profit sector Training Grant and receive a 70% reimbursement. To register, visit www.nvpc.org.sg or email conference@nvpc.org.sg

22 August SPCA Fun Run 2004 by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Venue: MacRitchie Reservoir Park Time: 7.30am The SPCA will be holding a 4.8km Fun Run fundraising event with exciting prizes to be won. Proceeds will go towards SPCA’s costs of running its animal shelter including its cruelty investigation service, SPCA clinic for treatments and the 24hr emergency service. Registration starts on 15 June. The fee is $25 including one free T-shirt for early registrants. Pledge cards are also available at the SPCA reception counter during office hours. For more information, call SPCA at 62875355 or visit www.spca.org.sg.

28-29 August Sports Fiesta Organised by Singapore Sports Council, Football Association of Singapore, Basketball Association of Singapore and Netball Singapore, in conjunction with President’s Challenge 2004 The Sports Fiesta aims to promote and encourage mass participation in soccer, basketball and netball among Singaporeans,and to promote community bonding and a healthy lifestyle through sports. It will also raise funds for President’s Challenge 2004. There will be five sports tournaments, namely, Street Soccer, 6-A-Side Soccer, Futsal, 3-on-3 Basketball and Street Netball. Event highlights include the basketball, netball and futsal celebrities’ matches between politicians, MediaCorp artistes and national and league players. For more information, contact hotline 1800-2255772, email SSC_MKT@ ssc.gov.sg or visit www.ssc.gov.sg. Contact person: M.Zulkifli (63409582/ Mohammed_ZUL@ssc.gov.sg)

SEPTEMBER 3-4 September Families as Volunteers Experience (FaVE) Camp Organised by National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), in conjunction with President’s Challenge 2004 Venue: Downtown East How to make the best use of a weekend for family bonding? The camp offers a variety of activities for parents and children and family members to volunteer as a family. Bring smiles to people who deserve care and support by actively participating in fun and meaningful volunteering projects across sectors such as the environment, arts, heritage, sports, social services and more. Discover a whole new way of family bonding while doing something good for our community! Closing date for registration: 16 August 2004. To participate as a family or for more information, contact Joyce at 65509570 or email joyce@nvpc.org.sg.

5 September Tulip Hearts Day by the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF)

At $2 per stalk, these silk tulips will be sold by volunteers islandwide, while $2 pins are available at all Fish & Co. outlets from 5-12 September (located at The Glass House, Suntec City, Novena Square, Bugis Junction, Jurong Point, Tampines Mall, Centrepoint and Parkway Parade). Volunteers keen to help sell tulips at this annual fundraising event can log onto the CCF website www.ccf.org.sg from 25 July. CCF also accepts pre-order purchases from 25 July online.

28-29 August

Osim Singapore Triathlon 2004 – Call for Volunteers Organised by Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) and Singapore Sports Council (SSC) Duration: 2 days (5am – 2pm) • Venue: East Coast Park (Carpark E2)

OSIM Singapore Triathlon 2004 is Asia’s premier triathlon event. If you want to be part of a great international sporting event and catch all the thrills and spills first-hand, here is your chance to do so! Volunteers are needed as bodymarkers, canoeists, route marshals, drink station staff, lap counters, timekeepers, etc. All volunteers must be at least 14 years old (as at 1 Jan 2004) and must be able to commit themselves for a minimum of two days and attend compulsory briefing(s) prior to the event. If you are friendly, outgoing, helpful and enjoy sports or the outdoors, the Triathlon wants you! To register, log on to www.singaporetriathlon.com. To volunteer or for more information, contact Ms Yati Daud at 62277577 or email yati.daud@triathlonsingapore.org.

5-8 September International Federation on Ageing (IFA) 7th Global Conference – “Global Ageing: Sustaining Development” Venue: Suntec City Convention Centre The Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE) and the world’s leading NGO on ageing matters, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), will be hosting the IFA’s 7th Global Conference – a “first” for Singapore and the ASEAN region. Registration Fee: S$450, includes lunches, tea breaks, conference papers and site visits for the four-day Conference. Staff and members of VWOs can apply for the Professional Skills Based Training Grant (e.g. the Voluntary Capability Fund) for 50% of the Registration Fee. For details please visit www.7ifaconference.com or call the IFA 2004 Conference Secretariat at 63362328.

August – September Volunteer Management System (VMS) Workshops by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre Venue: NVPC, 7 Maxwell Road #05-01 Annex B, MND Complex

12 August Time: 9am – 12.30pm i) VMS Work Tools – Designing A Volunteer Handbook

25 August Time: 9am – 5pm ii) An Overview to VMS

9 September Time: 9am – 12.30pm iii) VMS Work Tools – Writing Job Descriptions for Volunteers & Volunteer Coordinators To register, visit www.nvpc.org.sg or contact Vanessa Tan at 65509584 or email vanessa@nvpc.org.sg. For workshop details, contact Lam Moy Yin at 65509566.

17-21 August The 18th World Volunteer Conference Promoted by IAVE (International Association for Volunteer Effort) and organised by FCVS, (Federació Catalana de Voluntariat Social) will be held in Barcelona from 17-21 August 2004. The event is within the framework of the FORUM de las Culturas 2004 The biannual IAVE World Volunteer Conference seeks to increase awareness of what volunteer work represents, advocate recognition of voluntary contributions and provide a global networking platform for voluntary sector organisations. The three key themes of this year’s Conference include: cultural diversity and equal opportunities, conditions for peace and sustainability and volunteering.

For more information or to register, visit www.iave2004barcelona.org or email Mr Ho Wei Min at NVPC, IAVE’s National Representative in Singapore, at gabriel@nvpc.org.sg.

28 August – 12 September Volunteer A Day, Volunteer With Kindness (VAD) Organised by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) Volunteer Circle, the volunteering arm of NCSS, and the Singapore Kindness Movement The project aims to encourage the community to play a more active role in community service through volunteering their skills and fulfilling the wishes of welfare organisations. VAD consists of two main categories: i) Activities for organised groups such as companies, educational institutions etc; ii) Activities for members of the public. For more information please contact Ms Shamla Ramasamy at 62102559 or email Shamla_Ramasamy@ ncss.gov.sg.

Jul-Aug 2004 S A LT •

D D A

SingaporeARTSbyNumbers Arts societies:

Arts companies:

247

302

Performing arts activities:

4,654 Visual arts exhibitions: 537 Total days exhibited:11,380

Ticketed arts performances:

2,437

Ticketed arts performances attendance:

985,197

Singapore Arts Festival 2003 attendance:

348,000 (2002: 277,000) Attended arts performance or exhibition in past 12 months:

27%

Key reason for attending arts events:

Key reasons for not attending arts events:

Difficult to find time (57%)

Relaxation Not interested in the arts (63%) (52%)

Would Singaporeans pay more for a foreign production vs a local one?

43% No | 76% No preference Source: National Arts Council 2003 figures

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“It is important to remember that not every arts investment must have a yield. Decision-makers may end up putting more money into the music and design industries instead of performing arts, because they seem to generate bigger spin-offs.” Tay Tong General Manager, TheatreWorks

• • • • “The most precious times of my youth I had to teach, to live, and I did a lot of voluntary work for art. I want to participate in all of life’s aspects, whether they are deemed good or bad by society. I like to try everything at least once.” Liu Kang, 1911-2004 Artist and philanthropist

• • • • “We have to understand how companies work and what they are looking for – increased sales or brand positioning. It’s not just about giving them tickets and them giving you money. Sponsorship is an art.” Tony Trickett Executive Director, Wild Rice