| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: SAFRA is looking into providing better and more value-added facilities for NSmen and their families from next year.
It is looking to invest in pre-school education. There are also efforts to make facilities more affordable.
The plans were announced during the official opening ceremony of the new SAFRA clubhouse in Jurong. Dubbed the "Playground at The Canopy", SAFRA Jurong is the largest of SAFRA's five clubhouses.
It houses Singapore's first purpose-built children's gym and offers interactive water features. Since its soft launch in May, the club has achieved an average of more than 70,000 visitors a month.
It was built following a recommendation by the RECORD IV committee that recognises the Contributions of Operationally Ready NSmen to Total Defence.
More initiatives will be taken to make such facilities more attractive and extend greater support to NSmen and their families.
Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, Professor S Jayakumar, said: "As part of RECORD V's recommendations, SAFRA will implement new initiatives to further recognise families' support for NS and to encourage NSmen to involve their spouse and family in its activities. These include attractive bundled family memberships and expanded privileges for family-based programmes."
From January 2010, SAFRA will introduce a new Family Membership Package, where NSmen get bundled membership packages when they sign up for SAFRA membership together with their spouses and children.
The NSmen will receive ordinary membership for himself, and free membership for his spouse and any number of children below 21 years of age.
For the first time, SAFRA is looking into making pre-school education part of its core business.
Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, said: "They want complete services, so when the father comes here for bonding exercise and IPPT, the child can go for childcare education."
SAFRA's membership has grown to over 200,000 members. SAFRA's five clubs receive an average of 350,000 visitors every month, while over 500,000 participate in various SAFRA organised activities.
Members can also look forward to more facilities for entertainment and education when SAFRA redevelops its first clubhouse in Toa Payoh.
Development works will cost between S$45 million and S$50 million. The new building is expected to be ready by 2013. Demolition works are slated to begin by the end of 2010.
SAFRA will also be developing its sixth clubhouse in Punggol by 2015.
The impending SAFRA club in Punggol will be well placed to serve NSmen residing in the north-eastern part of Singapore - the region with the most number of NSmen.
The club is likely to be located by the waterfront so members can expect a great view of a controlled water channel project that will stretch all the way to Coney Island. - CNA/vm
|
