FIN AL
P RIN T
IS S UE!
ON L IN E
No. 32 Nov-Dec 2009
FROM
2010!
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
The Growing Up Years Singapore charity review
Do or Die NKF revisited
“Character is Fate” The Wrestling Federation of Singapore
First Korea, then the World Dr Lee Kang-Hyun, Volunteer Extraordinaire
Mighty Music Michael Song’s prison gig
Steady, Ready, Go! NVPC turns 10!
Shared Governance With a little help from experts
contents L FINA
T PRIN
E! ISSU
NE ONLI
FROM
SALT No. 32 Nov-Dec 2009
2010!
rs, Donors For Voluntee
DEPARTMENTS
fits and Non-pro
No. 32 2009 Nov-Dec
ing The Grow Up Years charity Singapore
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LETTER FROM SALT
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NEWS BRIEFS
review
Do or Die
ed NKF revisit
A wrap-up of events, programmes and activities in the People Sector.
is Fate” “Character sic Mighty Mu y, Go ! Steady, Read rnance Shared Gove pore ation of Singa ling Feder The Wrest
s Michael Song’
, First KoreaWorld then the
prison gig
NVPC turns
Hyun, re Dr Lee Kangextraordinai volunteer
With a little
help from
10!
experts
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VOLUNTEER PROFILE Michael Song makes music so mighty, it breaks down prison walls.
ON THE COVER Dr Lee Kang-Hyun “stumbled” into volunteerism. The pharmacology professor ended up creating and leading volunteer programmes the world wants to copy. Page 20
CHARITY’S Growing Up Years: 2004-2009 SALT launched in January 2004 to report on the evolving charity and non-profit landscape. In six eventful years, charity and philanthropy soared and stumbled, inspired and stalled. Straits Times Correspondent THERESA TAN, recalls the stories as charity in Singapore grew up.
KF
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DO OR DIE: NKF REVISITED The National Kidney Foundation was the mega charity scandal that shattered public trust. Now it’s resolutely rebuilding itself as a charity with best practices.
Anthony Skillicorn talks powerful shop with Global Concerns Projects at the United World College.
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Breaking in 2010!
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NEW SALT The Wrestling Federation of Singapore on the mat.
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SALT KIT Are you a prostitute or a lover at work? Jack Sim thinks you may recognise both in every office.
A new medium for a new era as Salt goes fully online.
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PEOPLE SECTOR PEOPLE
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SHARED GOVERNANCE Two new platforms aim to offer shared professional accounting and finance services for charities and non-profits.
NVPC reviews an evolutionary decade as it prepares for its 10th anniversary.
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L E T T E R
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S A L T
SALT is a non-profit magazine with a managed circulation for members of non-profit organisations, grantmakers 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 Laurence Lien
EDITOR Monica Gwee
CONTRIBUTORS Michelle Bong Angele Lee Theresa Tan Wong Sher Maine
PUBLISHING CONSULTANT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE Epigram SALT is published quarterly by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #04-88 The Central Singapore 059817 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 MICA (P) 153/01/2008 ISSN No. 17933-4478 To advertise, please call Cynthia Tay at tel: 6292 4456 Email: cynthia@epigram.com.sg
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e have reached a new milestone. This will be the last hard copy of SALT for the foreseeable future. But we look forward to continuing to engage and inform you in more exciting ways in the virtual world from next year. The promise of going online is compelling and fills us at NVPC with excitement and anticipation. However, it is not without sadness that we have decided to move on. The hard copy SALT has filled a familiar space these six-plus years, and has had a winning formula. SALT has played an important role in thought leadership and informing the sector. For instance, it set in motion the unravellings at the old National Kidney Foundation (NKF) in 2005. The aspiration of going online is to be able to interact and engage our readers in new and more effective ways, and to reach out to a more diverse readership. We expect to see more user-generated content and an ability to receive more instantaneous feedback on what people like to read. It also means that we are committed to more frequent updates and writing more pithy features. The theme of this issue is then to look retrospectively – both at NVPC and the non-profit sector – to give a sense of how far we have come. For this, I would like to thank Theresa Tan of the Straits Times, for her lead story on how the charity sector has grown up these past six years. Governance, professionalism, social innovation and philanthropy have certainly all increased over the years. Theresa herself, exemplifying the spirit of giving, has donated her fee for the article to charity. The second feature looks at the milestones achieved by NVPC over the decades. NVPC celebrates our 10th anniversary next year and we have certainly come a long way. We seek to continue with the spirit of innovation and to play a transformational role to make giving a way of life in Singapore. New initiatives – in the area of leadership development and capacity building, and in creating new platforms to make volunteering and donating easy and more meaningful – have been or are being launched. But NVPC can only be an enabler and catalyst. Ultimately, non-profit organisations have to re-energise their efforts to engage volunteers and donors well, and volunteers and donors need to be encouraged to intensify their level of involvement. As for SALT, we hope each of you will tune in online, and be active in generating content and reaching out to others who have an interest, latent or explicit, in making a difference in Singapore! See you in the new year!
Laurence Lien Chief Executive Officer National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre
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© Stuart Jenner, “Picture it! Photography”
A WRAP-UP OF HAPPENINGS AROUND SINGAPORE
Upbeat walkers in the pink.
Reebok Pink Ribbon Walk
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he Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) partnered global sports brand Reebok to organise the Reebok Pink Ribbon Walk for the second consecutive year. A new 5 km competitive run category for women added a different challenge for enthusiastic participants at the 3 October event. The longer walking distance encouraged family and friends to join the 3,000 participants in their support of breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer is the top killer cancer among Singapore women today. The walk emphasised the importance of regular exercise and an active lifestyle in reducing the risks of breast cancer. East Coast Park was turned into a sea of pink for the event. Supporters included children from Rainbow Centre and senior citizens from the Moral Home. The Walk raised about $100,000 and all proceeds went to the BCF for its ongoing programmes.
Andrew Hung, St John Ambulance Zone Superintendant and his Survival Kit team.
SURVIVING FI ACTION
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ll profits from the sale of keepsake F1 survival kits at the St John Ambulance booth, went to the charity, during the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix F1. Over three days from 25-27 September, F1 organisers provided the kits that were sold at four designated Circuit Park gates. The kits priced at $2, contained a pair of earplugs and a single-use rain poncho. St John Ambulance members provided first aid at the event – and sold the kits for their cause. Over $46,000 was raised.
GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS!
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t was all hands on the delicious exterior of an impressive gingerbread house at the Pan Pacific Hotel on 3 October. Ten children from the Assisi Hospice and eight volunteers from the hotel joined forces for the very hands-on house decoration event which was followed by lunch. Pan Pacific’s Pastry Chef Winnie Goh and hotel associates guided the children through the session and the completed masterpieces were auctioned off at the Assisi Hospice’s Annual Christmas Fundraising Dinner on 8 November at the hotel. Pan Pacific adopted Assisi Hospice as its charity in 2004. The hospice provides in-patient care, home and day care facilities for adults and children with cancer and other lifelimiting illnesses. The hotel will feature “Gingerbread Men with Hearts” as part of the Christmas Goodies Takeaway Menu at Atrium Deli (Level 1) during the festive season. Part of the proceeds will be contributed to Assisi Hospice.
Pastry Chef Winnie Goh helping Zynyee from Assisi to pipe her name on the Gingerbread house.
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The Aroma of Hope
W An evening stroll with Befrienders.
BEFRIEND THE LONELY – USE YOUR FEET
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wo years ago, the Lions Befrienders organised a 2 km walk to encourage people to spend time with their elderly parents and grandparents by accompanying them on a stroll outdoors. The annual walk with seniors aimed to highlight awareness of lonely seniors in the community. This year, apart from the 2 km walk, Lions Befrienders incorporated a community singa-long of evergreens into the event on 27 September at Yishun Pond, in Yishun Central 1. The finale of the sing-a-long invited beneficiaries on stage to sing “Friends” a tune made famous by Taiwanese pop-star Wakin Chow. “We noticed that karaoke singing is one of the most popular recreational activities, and it brings many seniors from diverse backgrounds together for a common purpose,” said Mr Goh Boo Han, Executive Director for Lions Befrienders. The Befrienders also formed a choir group that gives public performances. The friendly stroll and sing-a-long raised a heartening $150,000.
hat began as a “Village Business Academy” is now the active base for Operation Hope Foundation (OHF) founded by Robert Kee. A fundraiser was held on 27 September to kick start a bakery providing employment for orphans in OHF’s Hope Training Centre in Prey Veng, Cambodia. Over 140 guests joined OHF’s staff at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. The welcome reception was filled with the aroma of freshly baked muffins, kueh lapis, rolls and mooncakes sponsored by OHF supporter Peter Ong. Later, guests dined on a sumptuous buffet dinner and danced to the sounds of a quartet jazz band. Robert Kee entertained guests with his magic
show and told inspiring stories of the difference Singaporeans can make in the lives of the poor using appropriate technology and empowering them through their own businesses. About $30,000 was raised at the dinner. OHF is helping poor orphans by starting businesses to create jobs such as a bakery, a jewellery and soap business (see www.mliss.org). There are plans to start a restaurant, hotel and a shampoo and detergent manufacturing plant. The Foundation is also developing appropriate technology for the poor, partnering Singapore volunteers to contribute meaningful community service projects in rural villages of Cambodia. To donate or contribute your expertise, call 68732955 or visit www.ohf.org.sg.
OHF founder Robert Kee with supporters.
WORLD FUR & FEATHERS DAY
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MediaCorp stars Kym Ng & Gurmit Singh do their cookie bit as WRSCF Ambassadors.
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orld Animal Day with a mammoth dose of magic, music and merriment was the order of events at the fundraising charity bazaar on 3 and 4 October at Jurong Bird Park and the Singapore Zoo. Held in aid of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund (WRSCF), the colourful and exuberant event was hosted at the zoo by celebrity WRSCF Ambassadors, Gurmit Singh and Kym Ng, who auctioned off some of their personal items for charity. A selection of booths encouraged retail therapy with proceeds going towards saving Singa-
pore’s native endangered animals. Face painting, lively band performances and a mobile phone recycling booth (Nokia donated US$2 towards the fund for every phone brought in) were part of the fun. World Animal Day, first recognised in 1931 is now widely celebrated globally and highlights the plight of endangered species. Visitors to Jurong Bird Park were also in for a flapping good time with the original stylings of Pikasso, the Park’s painting cockatoo. Special behind-the-scenes tours of the Avian Hospital and Breeding and Research Centre were also conducted.
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ingapore Press Holdings (SPH) and the SPH Foundation donated $500,000 to support 20 charities catering to the needs of children, youth and the elderly. Dr Tony Tan, Chairman for SPH and the SPH Foundation, presented the cheque on 30 October to Ms Jennie Chua of the Community Chest at the Esplanade Concert Hall where a concert marked the 25th anniversary of the media group. The beneficiary charities included palliative care centre Metta Hospice
Care, the Counselling and Care Centre, and various family service centres. The gala concert by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra entitled “Colours of Music”, also featured the world premiere of Time Changes Light, composed for the event by Cultural Medallion recipient Iskandar Ismail. Other highlights included a intriguing mix of traditional Chinese orchestral and classical music, and young talents Lim Yan on piano and violinist Lin Yun Zhi playing with the national orchestra.
© The Straits Times
SPH Foundation Tunes Up $500,000 for Charity
Ms Jennie Chua of the Community Chest receiving the donation from Dr Tony Tan, Chairman of SPH and the SPH Foundation.
Engaging Moments – 25 years of Photojournalism unfolded as a unique, large-screen photo essay using photos by SPH photojournalists choreographed in dialogue with the orchestra and the Singapore Youth Choir, by James Westwater. the teams were invited to bring their own materials. The winning team, AES Divine from Assumption English School, presented a wedding gown inspired by a fusion of Peranakan and Victorian fashion. A party hat was sprayed white, curtain lace used as a veil, and the skirt was fashioned from a laundry bag, diaper cloth and feathers. An edgy kebaya top was finished with a chain and safety pins. The event was organised by the Woodlands Grassroots Organisations and the National Environmental Agency as part of Clean and Green Singapore 2010, which encourages an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Brother, a home and business IT and sewing
A Republic Polytechnic student recycles fashion with a computerised Brother sewing machine
GREEN “MADE TO WEAR”
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he school teams participating in the “Made To Wear” Recycle Fashion Contest focused on the
tally friendly initiatives including the recycling
Republic Polytechnic. Brother employees were
of used ink, toner and drum cartridges that go
on-site instructing participants how to use the
towards a tree planting programme.
sewing machines. The contest was open to all secondary and
green side of stitching – with help from computer-
tertiary schools within the North West District.
ised Brother Sewing Machines.
Each school team comprised two to five
Brother International Singapore loaned six
peripherals leader, supports various environmen-
members and were tasked with designing and
high-tech sewing machines including the NV10,
creating fashion outfits, footwear and accessories
NV200 and NV400 models capable of multiple
suitable for “regular” wear after the contest. All
stitch designs, for the November 8 event at
the items were made of recycled materials and
Clarification: In the Sept-Oct issue of SALT, the Capital Distributors gift of KDK fans to low-income senior citizens in the Central District, took place on 27 June and not 1 July as reported.
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Mighty Good Music Michael Song makes music with remarkable might. The walls within the prisons where he trains musicians, resound with hope and purpose for a future. ANGELE LEE meets the man who puts a song in the hearts of so many former prisoners.
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e has conducted General Winston Choo on the bugle and Mr Khoo Boon Hui, Commissioner of Police, on drums at the Istana; and led a choir of hundreds at the National Stadium for evangelist Billy Graham. Now he is conducting a work of a different kind helping to re-establish lives through music. Meet Michael Song – CEO of a China-based consultancy, musician, and volunteer turned Director, Performing Arts Centre (PAC), Prisons. It was during a 2004 trip to Hanoi that Song met a prison staffer who suggested he teach music to inmates, but time flew by and it was 2006 before Song finally stopped by the prison “to see if I was comfortable with the environment”. “It was disturbing,” Song recalled of the visit. “One of the inmates who sang for me delivered such an angerfilled rendition that I tossed and turned throughout my sleep that night.” But it was that very performance that settled his resolve to get involved. It took Song two years to actually step into the prison, but once in, he moved quickly. By the end of his first year as a volunteer, he had won a “Most Initiative” award for revolutionising the concept of Performance Arts in prisons. A year later, Song launched PAC Singapore, and now single-handedly manages operations. In his three years at the prison, more than a hundred inmates have received training through his efforts. Song has taken the back seat in his own company, overseeing only major decisions while his partners handle daily operations. He has chosen, instead, to put his energy into PAC. You will find him at Changi Prison, where the Centre operates
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and develop their talents, strengths, and goals. The Centre provides a transformational environment within the prison, empowering offenders to become responsible citizens with fulfilling lives on their release. PAC Singapore also serves Michael Song on keyboards, with the as a talent management agency six days a week, from PAC BigBand. for ex-offenders who have been nine to four. He works through its training centre. Song speaks closely with prison staff and volunteer proudly of those PAC has helped placed trainers − several of whom are profes– one with entertainment hub St James sional musicians − using music, dance and Power Station, two with the Singapore drama to rehabilitate inmates. Chinese Orchestra’s technical crew, and Music has long been a part of Song’s another Senior Technician with Resorts life. He learned the piano at age five, and was already conducting the school choir by World Sentosa. All of them received their training while in prison. Primary 3. He played in church at 12, and Song is constantly in touch with formed several bands and singing groups PAC alumni outside the prison. Their in his teens. Along the way, he picked up band, the PAC BigBand, jams once a various instruments, and studied vocals week at the Tanglin Community Centre. under tenor Bob McGrath in Seattle. You may have caught their recent gig With this wide experience, Song, 53, at the launch of Singapore Cares, with established PAC to serve both the SingaSong on the keyboards. pore Prison Service and the community Their regular sessions involve more at large. His goal was simply to help than music. “This is a support group which ex-offenders contribute to society. helps its members connect through music. The year-old prison enterprise has a With this they have someone to turn to formalised music training programme with whenever they face difficulties,” he said. two intakes a year. It uses an experiential “The issues the ex-inmates face are learning approach to help inmates discover plentiful,” Song pointed out. “Finding jobs and re-establishing themselves are some, but first, they have to overcome difficult mental and psychological obstacles.” And that is just what PAC Singapore sets out to help them rise above. The American composer Aaron Copland once asked, “Is there a meaning to music?” As long as people like Michael Song play on, we certainly have to agree on a resounding “Yes!” ✩
“It was disturbing...one of the inmates who sang for me delivered such an anger-filled rendition that I tossed and turned throughout my sleep that night.”
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Purpose Driven Youth Anthony Skillicorn heads Global Concerns Projects at the United World College. WONG SHER MAINE discovers the transformative power behind the student-driven initiative.
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n the roomful of 50 teenagers, the atmosphere is charged. One among them is standing up. She is asking for funds from a student-controlled account of over $200,000, to conduct a charity project in Thailand. The other students, who all have a stake in the account, bombard her with questions: What is the rationale for the project? How direct are the lines of communication with the location? Do the people administering it make a personal profit? It would not be far off to call it court room drama. The project is rejected. “They are quite ruthless,” said Mr Anthony Skillicorn, Head of the Global Concerns Projects at the United World College of Southeast Asia. “But that is part of their learning skills that they would not be able to learn in the classroom.”
“A lot of young people think that in order to achieve something they need to be very rich or well-connected. They think that if they are young, they have no opportunity.” Negotiation skills is one of them. But what Mr Skillicorn is really after, is for the students to become “better people”, in line with the college’s mission of producing “individuals who take responsibility for shaping a better world.” And Global Concerns, initiated in 1991 by another teacher, is a student responsibility. Over 800 students aged 15
He is justifiably proud that many former Global Concerns students continue to engage in community work. “They are more likely to believe in it because the project was in their hands. The experiential learning is very powerful.” Abundant opportunities to help The empowerment to 18 initiate, run and raise funds globally – Anthony Skillicorn a Global Concerns Project factor is key. “One of the for 40 overseas charity projects. on in Timor Leste. tragedies of 20th century These run the gamut from education is that it takes a lot of power children’s projects such as helping street away from young people. They have to kids in Mumbai and Honduras, to raising wait until they finish university before they funds to protect tigers in Ranthambore, can do anything,” Mr Skillicorn remarked. India. Some of these projects have been It is a concept he will be sharing running for over 10 years. with local schools early next year. Working The students may get their project with the Lien Foundation and the Singaideas from articles they read, something pore Management University, the Global they see when on holiday, or people Concerns premise will be presented to they meet. Sixteen-year-old Kimberly four local schools, not yet identified. Marshall, for instance, is thinking of “The aim is to get pupils from starting a fundraising project for a youth local schools to come up with ideas for football initiative in Phuket for orphans. projects, present them to a wider audiHer father had met the founder of the ence, convince their teachers of the home and told her about it. value of their ideas and then put them Students find their own group into action,” said Mr Skillicorn. members, then petition for funds at the He also sees his job as trying to monthly meeting attended by Global remove the vestiges of cynicism. “A lot of Concerns members and chaired by an young people think that in order to achieve eight-member executive committee of something they need to be very rich or 17-year-olds. well-connected. And they think that if they The funds are raised by the students are young, they have no opportunity. We themselves, through simple events like have got to remove these beliefs,” he said. bake sales or soccer tournaments, to Mr Skillicorn, who also teaches larger-scale teacher-assisted events such history at the college, tells stories and as hotel dinners which can raise up to provides factual accounts of how lives have $50,000 per event. been changed because of volunteer initia“At their meetings, they make all of tives. “Without preaching to them, I seek their own decisions,” said Mr Skillicorn. to let them understand that they are in a “If the group is not active, the students position where they can take action.” ✩ will strike off its status.”
Nov-Dec 2009 S A LT •
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CHARITY’S Growing Up Years: 2004-2009
Illustration by Foo Siew Huey
SALT launched in January 2004 to report and document the evolving charity and non-profit landscape, its players, d community and practices. In six years of publication, charity and philanthropy soared and stumbled, made progress and stalled,, and spotlit inspiring individuals and leaders. Straits Times Correspondent THERESA TAN, analyses a stormy period of upss and downs as we witnessed charity in Singapore growing up.
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“People are resistant to change and many felt that the Code was implemented quite quickly. Besides, it meant extra cost to comply with the Code.” Ms Anita Fam Nov-Dec 2009 S A LT •
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“Instead of moving from just doing good to doing good well, we went midway to not doing wrong... Charities were created to do good, do right, to make a social impact. They were not created merely to comply with rules that seek to stop them from doing wrong.” Willie Cheng
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“The sector is held back because everyone in social services is underpaid. And who suffers? In the end, patients (and beneficiaries) suffer when they can’t get the best help they are entitled to.” Gerard Ee
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KWEK SIEW JIN (2005 – 2008) "Working with the Board of NVPC was a very pleasant experience for me, as we had some very articulate members with passionate views, and they were very willing to share their expertise and experience to guide NVPC in its mission. We debated and worked on two main proposals - the setting up of Boardmatch, and pushing for a Community Foundation in Singapore. I am glad that both projects have got off the ground under the able leadership of Stanley Tan."
STANLEY TAN (SINCE 2007) "From my perspective, the most significant challenges for NVPC moving forward are to be relevant to the sector, and for NPOs to take ownership of NVPC as the voice and representative (for non-profits). I’d also like to see us identify gaps within the sector and play an enabler’s role to encourage the growth of NPOs to build a strong non-profit sector."
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“Character is Fate� The Wrestling Federation of Singapore is raring to lure more Singaporeans on the mat. MICHELLE BONG welcomes this feisty new kid on the non-profit block.
First Korea, then the World Dr Lee Kang-Hyun “stumbled� into volunteerism. In an eventful and colourful career, the current President of the International Association for Volunteer Effort tells WONG SHER MAINE how he began as a pharmacology professor and ended up creating and leading volunteer programmes the world wants to copy.
h THE IAVE CONFERENCE What
The 21st IAVE World Volunteer Conference When
24-27 January 2011 h YOUTH VOLUNTEER CONFERENCE When
21-23 January 2011 Where
Resorts World at Sentosa
SHARING GOOD
GOVERNANCE
Two new platforms aim to offer shared professional accounting and finance services at competitive costs, for charities and non-profits. ANGELE LEE considers the growing need for these shared services.
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VERLOADED – increased emphasis on governthat’s the state ance and accountability,” said Dr many charities and Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Institutions of Public CharCommunity Development, Youth acter (IPCs) find themselves & Sports at the iServe launch. in as they tread their opera“I hope the shared services tional waters. platform will help the sector Already challenged further raise its governance and by staff shortages, many management capabilities. (Charinon-profits and charities ties) can also work with the have found themselves chaservice provider to explore ways llenged by more stringent of improving various internal The Singapore Exchange donated $200,000 for the initial set-up of the rules governing charities in processes such as budgeting, Shared Services for Charities (SSC) platform launched on 9 September. Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated at the SSC the wake of a series of scanaccounting and funds managelaunch, part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Exchange. dals and cases of dubious ment. This would not have been (From left to right: Mr J Y Pillay, SSC Patron; Minister of Finance Mr Shanmugaratnam; Mr Hsieh Fu Hua and Mr Damian Hong, financial housekeeping. More Tharman financially possible or cost effecExecutive Director, SSC) intense scrutiny has resulted tive for them individually,” Dr in increased administrative duties and achieve good governance, never mind Balakrishnan added. less time for their core business of trying to start process improvement. iServe appointed ST Electronics’ helping others. The widespread accountability e-Services, or eServ, as its service One office administrator who has challenges within charities triggered provider following an open tender found her energies spread too thin is the launch of two new avenues exercise. Staffed by a large team, Ms Anusiah. The Administrator works providing a platform of shared services iServe is able to provide cost-effective at the Disabled People’s Association at competitive costs. solutions for clients by aggregating (DPA), a small charity hit by the doubleThe first is iServe, or Integrated common services. whammy of increased organisational Shared Services for Excellence, a pilot The Shared Services for workload and dwindling headcount. initiative introduced by the Charity Charities (SSC) was launched on 9 With a full-time staff shrunk Council to provide shared accounting September. An initiative from the from an already meagre three to two and financial services for charities, IPCs Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX), it people, Ms Anusiah now juggles everyand National Sports Associations. aims to promote corporate governthing from administration to fundOfficially launched on 10 ance and transparency in the charity raising, to following up cases. “We can’t September, iServe hopes to free up sector. As founding member and afford to segregate duties,” she said. limited human resources so charities sponsor, SGX donated $200,000 over The DPA is not unique in its can focus on their core work and make two years to fund SCC’s initial start-up. predicament. Most charities and IPCs governance an operational priority. Launched as part of the are constrained by costs when they try “I acknowledge that higher Exchange’s 10th anniversary celebrato attract the expertise they need to administrative costs may occur with tions, SSC provides shared services
“I really believe that for Singapore to continue developing, we need to build and preserve our civic institutions, and this has to come through strengthened governance.”– Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Director, Shared Services for Charities 22
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No. 32 Nov-Dec 2009
2010!
F RO M
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
The Growing Up Years Singapore charity review
Do or Die NKF revisited
“Character is Fate� The Wrestling Federation of Singapore
Mighty Music
First Korea, then the World
Michael Song’s prison gig
Steady, Ready, Go!
Dr Lee Kang-Hyun, volunteer extraordinaire
NVPC turns 10!
Shared Governance With a little help from experts
No. 31 Sep-Oct 2009
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Not Just a Social Space Plugging into Web2.0
Donor Be Aware?
Change is Healthy
Trial and tweak time for online donations
Willie Cheng encourages changing guards in non-profits
It Takes a (Green) Kampong
Selective Inclusion?
Nadya Hutagalung: Green Warrior
H. O. M. E & Bridget Lew
No. 30 Jul-Aug 2009
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Second Wind AWARE: A post-mortem
David Bussau:
Blessing or Disgrace?
Purpose-led economics
Samuel Ng rocks the social work boat
Trigger Points The sudden rise of Civil Society
ExxonMobil Tanks Up
Ten Years and Still Counting
Front-line community programmes
The President’s Challenge
No. 29 May-Jun 2009
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Location, Location, Location Better and stronger under one roof
Battle Lines
Not So Lonely at the Top
Jennifer Yeo and Viva fight the “big C� for children
The Career Volunteer Sandra Berrick on not burning out
Charity Governance Mark Yuen Teen charts the long road trip
Peace of Mind The quiet Achievers at the Institute of Mental Health
Singapore Airlines
Mentoring non-profit leaders
No. 28 Mar-Apr 2009
Volunteers even other airlines talk about?
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Soccer, $ and Social Enterprise
Chicken Soup & Benson Puah
Alfie Othman’s field tactics at PERTAPIS
Value art meals for the recession weary
For Better or for Worse
Mall Power All fired up at Lend Lease
Back to the Kampung
The Icing on the Degree
Eco-winning bid for NPO Land Tender
Addictive volunteering at NUS
Companies stand by their causes
Singapore Cares and The Kind Exchange Cool new ways to volunteer! • Enriching the experience
No. 27 Jan-Feb 2009
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Your Cause & Action A recession route map for the road bumps ahead
Long Distance Pacing NCSS CEO Ang Bee Lian
Chimp Champ in Singapore Jane Goodall sets up institute
No. 26 Sep-Dec 2008
The $1 Million Carrot Big prize bite for non-profit ideas
Very Important Passion VIP group seeds volunteers
For Volunteers, Donors and Non-profits
Citizen Can Money is not everything
NVPC Awards
Community Measure
The golden moments
The Community Foundation and Singapore’s high net-worths
Mission: Accomplished
Animal House
Jack Sim solves the world’s problems
Deirdre Moss opens up
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No. 25 May-Aug 2008
It Takes a Village Peace-Connect Neighbourhood Link
Game, Set and Match Sports volunteers step up
A Good Foundation
Who is this generation of givers?
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3ITUATION 6ACANT
%XECUTIVE $IRECTOR 4HE CHARITY SECTOR STRUGGLES TO FIND THE RIGHT LEADERS
&LAGGING 3UPPORT #HARITY 1UOTIENT !RE FLAG DAYS STILL RELEVANT
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,ONE 2ANGER 'OOD .EIGHBOURS 1UITTING OUR DEPENDANCY MENTALITY
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LOG ON IN
2010!