1,500 pre-schoolers receive S$130 grant for schooling needs
Some S$200,000 in book and grocery vouchers were disbursed to 1,500 kindergarten students residing in the North West district this year. As part of the North West Community Development Council’s WeCare @ North West – Ready for School programme, the donations were raised from about 120 corporate and individual sponsors. This is the third year the bursaries were disbursed and saw the highest number of beneficiaries—up from 1,200 in the last two years. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — When she commences Kindergarten 2 next month, Elyn Lim will be able to have new stationery and more assessment books.
The five-year-old — the fourth of five children aged three to 10 in her family — is one of 1,500 kindergarten pupils in the North West District receiving a one-off S$130 bursary this year. Comprising an S$80 voucher for books and stationery and a S$50 supermarket voucher, the bursary will also help defray household expenses, said Elyn’s mother Poh Shu Yun, 33, a sales promoter.
“My husband and I have to work to support our five kids, and we don’t have a stable income,” said Mrs Poh. “I’m thankful for the donors’ assistance.”
As part of its WeCare @ North West — Ready for School programme, the North West Community Development Council raised around S$200,000 from 80 corporate partners and individuals. Top donors include semiconductor firm Serial System Ltd and Taoist charity Zhi Zhen Tan Dao Xue Hui (Singapore), which together contributed S$75,000.
This is the third year the bursaries are being disbursed. The number of beneficiaries has increased — up from 1,200 in each of the past two years — as the number of divisions in the district had increased from 15 to 19 after electoral boundaries were redrawn.
Beneficiaries were identified by the Early Childhood Development Agency, and typically come from households with less than S$750 in per capita monthly income.
Madam Halimah Yacob, adviser to Marsiling’s grassroot organisations, said today (Dec 20) at the bursary presentation that children will “benefit most from any intervention programme in their formative years”. “(The awards) will provide a good headstart for kindergarten children from low-income families in primary school education.”
The vouchers can be used at retailers such as Popular bookstore and NTUC FairPrice supermarkets.
