THE tough times may soon be over, but the Community Development programme has a reminder for busy workers: Don’t forget your needy counterparts.
In line with its aim to encourage more people to volunteer this year, the Community Development Department (CMD) is joining hands with the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and National Council of Social Service (NCSS) to promote volunteering opportunities.
The department will organise training workshops for unions and volunteers, for instance in volunteer management system and counselling.
“This is to improve the software part of volunteerism. We are also looking at sending volunteers for advanced volunteer training courses in the coming year,” said programme director Ong Ah Heng.
To promote sharing among NTUC affiliates towards their adopted welfare homes, the CMD aims to organise two regular activities per year, either at the union or NTUC level.
The department will also be looking out for the well-being of needy workers. It aims to keep affiliates and members updated on available financial schemes and packages, such as the NTUC Education Grant for members’ children, SLF Hardship Grant and SLF Relief scheme for union members. It will publicise these schemes through electronic news and circulars every six months.
At the same time, the Community Development programme will continue to support community projects such as blood donation drives with NTUC Income and the Red Cross Society. It will also keep working with NCSS to identify the suitable social service organisation under the “Gotong Royong project”.
As for fund raising, one of the CMD’s main goals, said Mr Ong, is to raise $2 million for the NTUC Childcare financial assistance scheme and NTUC Eldercare Trust. This will be done by getting unions to sell charity draw tickets.
The department will also be busy with other fund raising activities to support charities at the national level, such as the President Challenge for Charities, Straits Times Children Pocket Money Fund and NTUC Charity Golf and Walkathon.
Most of these fund raising and charity efforts are usually tied to festive periods or key events of the month, noted Mr Ong. They include home visits during Chinese New Year, an annual outdoor event for foreign workers during May Day celebrations, and the annual golden year concert during Senior Citizens’ Month in November.
“This way, we can get better support, and we can also let the public know more about what NTUC is doing to help the less fortunate,” he added.
