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ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Lending A Helping Hand

2020 has been an exceptional and challenging year for everyone. We battled a global health crisis, weathered an economic storm and had to deal with many challenges. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, SINDA played a critical role in ensuring that help reached those in need. We enhanced and broadened our existing schemes, and introduced new ones to address the needs of families and individuals financially affected by Covid-19. Families such as Vineswari’s were able to benefit from SINDA’s efforts and overcome the challenges they faced in 2020. Read more about Vineswari’s story on page 7

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

VISION

To build a strong and vibrant Singaporean Indian community together MISSION

To build a well-educated, resilient and confident community of Indians that stands together with the other communities in contributing to the progress of multi-racial Singapore VALUES

Respect, our culture Integrity, our foundation Service, our promise Excellence, our pursuit

Thrusts E D U C AT I O N

Maximising educational opportunities for all students YOUTH

Inspiring youths towards greater achievements F A M I LY

Engaging parents to play an active role in their children’s lives COMMUNITY

Forging a stronger relationship with community partners

Board of Trustees PAT R O N

TERM TRUSTEES

ADVISORS

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Ms Indranee Rajah Mr Ravi Menon Mr Girija Pande Mr Gautam Banerjee Justice Judith Prakash Mr K Kesavapany Mr Viswa Sadasivan Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai Mr Timothy Chia Mr Piyush Gupta Dr Sudha Nair Mr Harjit Singh Bhatia Mr R Jayachandran (Till May 2020) Mr Ravinder Singh (Till May 2020)

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Mr S Iswaran Mr Vikram Nair Mr Murali Pillai

CHAIRMAN

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam LIFE TRUSTEES

Prof S Jayakumar Mr S Dhanabalan Mr S Chandra Das Mr J Y Pillay Mr Sat Pal Khattar Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Mr K Shanmugam Dr N Varaprasad

Executive Committee

Management Executives

PRESIDENT

MEMBERS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ms Indranee Rajah

Dr Joshua V M Kuma Mr R Chandra Mohan Mr K Ramamoorthy Mr Sarbjit Singh Mr Darryl David Mrs Rathi Parimalan Mr Mohamed Nasim Prof Vineeta Sinha Mr Siraj Omar Ms Carmelia Nathen (From June 2020) Mr Thambyrajah T (Till March 2020)

Mr Anbarasu Rajendran

VICE PRESIDENTS

Mr Shekaran Krishnan Mr K V Rao S E C R E TA R Y

Mr Sarjit Singh TREASURER

Mr R Subramaniam Iyer

C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R S

Mr Ravindran Nagalingam Mr Thambyrajah T (From April 2020)

President’s Message Dear Friends of SINDA, 2020 was an extraordinary year by any standards. We battled a global health crisis, weathered an economic storm and had to deal with many challenges. Businesses impacted by the pandemic and displaced workers faced financial difficulties. There was an increase in mental health issues and emotional stresses. We had to make many adjustments in our daily lives, including working and learning from home and switching from physical interactions to virtual ones. Yet, throughout this past year, our Singapore spirit remained strong and we saw what it truly means to be a community.

PROVIDING COVID-19 SUPPORT Against the backdrop of the pandemic, SINDA played a critical role in ensuring that help reached those in need. We provided financial and other support to low-income and vulnerable Indian families. We used the funds given by the government to the Self-Help Groups in last year’s Budget to provide assistance packages for families and individuals financially affected by Covid-19. We enhanced and broadened our existing schemes, and introduced new ones to address needs generated by the crisis. We proactively reached out to the ground to identify those at risk and equipped students and families with means and resources to cope. All age groups benefitted from these initiatives, including students, working adults, parents, families, and seniors, with 7,615 individuals receiving $5.5 million in direct Covid-19 financial aid. IMPACTFUL REACH & ENGAGEMENT Over the last year, we served 23,392 individuals through our programmes and services. Even though in-person programmes were suspended, the number of individuals who received overall financial and social support from SINDA increased by 72%, from 5,780 individuals in 2019 to 9,952 individuals in 2020. • More people received financial, social and counselling support. • 3,500 students were supported by the Back-To-School Festival, a significant increase from previous years. With the restrictions on face-to-face events, we adapted our strategies and switched to online outreach and delivery of services.

• We moved quickly to provide IT devices to students who did not have any, to ensure that they would be equipped for Home-Based Learning during the Circuit Breaker. • In lieu of physical attendance at STEP centres, more than 4,000 students accessed our tutorial programmes via online learning platforms. • At the same time, our pool of tutors monitored their progress and kept alert to any mental health issues. • Where necessary, our social workers made home visits to check on the well-being of our students. • Many other programmes and events were conducted virtually throughout the year, allowing SINDA to connect with and engage the community, despite the pandemic. ENSURING CONTINUED RESILIENCE With our Covid-19 management now in Phase 3, the next phase of our mission is to help the community recover and build resilience. Beyond providing immediate assistance, SINDA is looking at mid- to long-term support. This includes: Financial & Social • In the past year we eased beneficiaries’ urgent financial concerns. • We will now look to see how we can help them build resilience and overcome their challenges and be adequately resourced for the path ahead.

• Our Community Job Ambassadors will identify and channel individuals to appropriate avenues of employment support. Early Intervention • We will develop more upstream programmes so that we can intervene earlier to help children and families get on the right path early. • Our goal is to enable them to have access to good opportunities and resources, so they can achieve their fullest potential and life aspirations. We will also review our programmes and services to identify new or emerging areas that need to be addressed. A STRONGER NATION, TOGETHER Covid-19 demonstrated the importance of community. I was very heartened by how our community came together to help fellow Singaporeans and others in the time of crisis. Corporates and individuals gave their time, effort and funds. We partnered with 967 organisations, businesses, volunteers, IBR members, and individuals who worked with us on the ground to deliver help to those in need. We are grateful for such strong collaborations. We will continue to build strong partnerships and devise new ways to work together so that our community can emerge stronger from this pandemic.

Employment Assistance • To help employees, particularly those who have lost jobs, we developed a multi-faceted job support framework, to facilitate job placements and deepen career-coaching for unemployed individuals.

Indranee Rajah President SINDA Executive Committee

SINDA-Wide Reach

6,465

STUDENTS ENGAGED

3,826

2,182

YOUTHS EMPOWERED

9,952

FAMILIES SUPPORTED

INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE

967

INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS CONNECTED WITH

23,392 INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED IN 2020

Summary of Finances I N C O M E AT A G L A N C E

E X P E N D I T U R E AT A G L A N C E

$’000

$39,440 $33,644

$25,076 $22,509

TOTA L INCOME

S I N DA F UN D C O N T R I B U T I O N S

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

$’000

E D U C AT I O N A L P R O G R A M M E S

$’000

2020

$19,885

2020

$11,718

2019

$18,871

2019

$11,254

D O N AT I O N S

FA M I LY S E RVI C E S

2020

$1,954

2020

$4,903

2019

$1,515

2019

$3,466

G OVE R N M E N T SUBVE N T I O N G R A N T

YO U T H D E VE L O PM E N T P R O G R A M M E S

2020

$3,400

2020

$1,089

2019

$3,400

2019

$1,409

OT H E R G OVE R N M E N T G R A N T S

PA R E N T A N D C H I L D R E N P R O G R A M M E S

2020

$7,250

2020

$3,720

2019

$3,574

2019

$1,877

T UIT I O N P R O G R A M M E F E E S

E N G AG E M E N T A N D VO LUN T E E R M A N AG E M E N T

2020

$334

2020

$1,035

2019

$144

2019

$1,252

I N T E R E ST / OT H E R I N C O M E

P UB L I C IT Y A N D M A R K ET I N G E X P E N S E S

2020

$452

2020

$258

2019

$77

2019

$443

N ET I N VE STM E N T I N C O M E

ADMINISTRATIVE AND GOVERNANCE EXPENSES / OTHERS

2020

$6,165

2020

2019

$6,063

2019

$2,353 $2,808 Amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Vineswari R Ratnavel – 42 & Family A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

Covid-19 Financial Assistance, Casework and Counselling, Vouchers and Bursaries

Impactful Covid-19 Measures to Support Our Community

$5.5 Million was Disbursed to

7,615

Individuals

In ensuring that our community remained resilient and had the resources to cope, SINDA introduced many Covid-19 measures throughout 2020. These were geared at all segments of the community, and offered targeted support for specific challenges. Through these initiatives, $5.5 million was disbursed to 7,615 individuals. Our Covid-19 measures in 2020 included:

SINDA Cares When Singaporeans started to feel the impact of Covid-19 in early 2020, we introduced SINDA Cares to immediately help families with interim support and to ensure continuity in learning for students as they embarked on Home-based Learning. H O L I S T I C A S S I S TA N C E F O R A L L I N T H E F A M I LY • Existing SINDA schemes were enhanced and broadened - from financial help to career referrals and counselling support – to benefit more individuals. • Transport vouchers were also made available to persons with special needs, those with chronic medical conditions, the elderly and pregnant women, to attend their medical appointments.

D I G I TA L D E V I C E S A N D INTERNET ACCESS • Provided low-income students with digital devices as many households were unprepared for Home-based Learning. • Devices were also made available in partnership with Engineering Good or the IMDA’s computer schemes. • 375 loaned or retrofitted laptops and 100 50GB SIM cards were distributed to families in need. ONLINE TUTORIAL CLASSES • SINDA’s tutorial programmes adopted online modes for continued learning which allowed students to get direct help from their tutors during the circuit breaker phase. • Tutors were also able to monitor their students’ emotional and mental well-being through their online interactions. • More than 4,000 students were able to continue with their lessons online.

F R O M B E N E F I C I A RY TO B E N E F IT T I N G OT H E R S When Vineswari approached SINDA in 2017, she was overwhelmed. The mother of five found it challenging to look after her young daughters, especially with three of them having special needs. To top it off, the family was struggling financially. Understanding their difficulties, SINDA provided them with a financial safety net in the form of bursaries and vouchers. At the encouragement of her caseworker, Vineswari also enrolled in eldercare training and became a healthcare assistant to supplement her family’s income. However, Covid-19 caused a spike in household expenses with all her children staying home. Both Vineswari’s and her husband’s jobs required them to work on-site which made her children worry. Her caseworker took pains to comfort her daughters and help the couple overcome their stresses. SINDA also supported the family with Festive Gift Packs, Backto-School vouchers and the SINDA Community Support Package. Today, Vineswari is pursuing a diploma in eldercare. Inspired by the help she received from SINDA, she wants to uplift the elderly and sick, and make a difference in the lives of others.

SINDA Community Support Package In May, we launched a comprehensive plan to provide extended financial assistance to Singaporean Indian households to ease immediate financial hardship and meet specific needs. S I N DA R E S I L I E N C E PAC K AG E AND SINDA COMMUNITY A S S I S TA N C E F U N D • A one-time $300 cash assistance was provided to eligible families, for immediate financial relief and to support them in purchasing their daily essentials.

3,783

ENHANCED SINDA BURSARIES • All primary, secondary and tertiary students on SINDA bursaries received an additional $50 top-up from May till December 2020.

1,212

students received Enhanced SINDA bursaries.

families benefitted from the SINDA Resilience Package and SINDA Community Assistance Fund.

SINDA CARE SCHEME

COVID-19 COMMUNITY GRANT

• Three tranches of financial assistance, between $300 and $600, were provided to vulnerable households.

• The Covid-19 Community Grant was established to seed community-driven projects that supported those impacted by Covid-19. Two projects were funded through the Covid-19 Community Grant:

575

eligible families received cash assistance from SINDA for 3 months in 2020.

• Project SMILE supported women from low-income families by providing them home-based work opportunities to supplement their income. • Feed Singapore began the initiative No Elderly Goes to Bed Hungry to provide nutritious meals to the elderly and underprivileged families.

Job Support Framework

Project Care

As part of broader efforts to help the community navigate the challenging job climate brought upon by the pandemic, SINDA introduced the SINDA Job Support Framework.

In July, we introduced Project Care to provide extended support and put more beneficiaries onto a path of stability.

These multi-pronged efforts included: C A R E E R FA I R S • A month-long Virtual Career Fair was held in June 2020, connecting job seekers with potential employers through a mobile app. • A physical career fair was held at SINDA in October, that allowed job seekers to meet career coaches and gain personalised advice on enhancing skills and improving their career prospects, while receiving instant job offers.

ENHANCED RESILIENCE PAC K AG E • An enhanced Resilience Package was provided to eligible families to extend financial support.

1,200

eligible families received the Enhanced Resilience Package.

SINDA JOB CARE SCHEME • SINDA’s Job Care Scheme offered deeper support to those whose jobs were affected by the pandemic through trained career coaches. SINDA COMMUNITY JOB AMBASSADORS • 15 volunteers underwent training by Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to be Community Job Ambassadors. • They lent peer support and directed individuals to the appropriate channels for help.

ITE STUDENT ALLOWANCE • Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students financially affected by Covid-19 received a $150 monthly allowance to help ease their financial burden and supplement their family income.

259

ITE students received allowance from SINDA.

ENHANCED CAREER REFERRAL PROGRAMME • SINDA collaborated with more employers and business owners to bring increased job opportunities to the Indian community, complementing existing efforts by the SINDA Family Service Centre.

individuals were provided with job placements, training and career counselling.

DINING VOUCHERS • To provide families with opportunities to bond when safe-distancing measures were relaxed, dining vouchers worth $150 were provided to low-income families.

500

low-income families received $150 worth of dining vouchers.

E D U C AT I O N T H R U S T

Maximising Educational Opportunities for All Students “ My siblings and I had a hard time keeping up with our lessons as there were not enough laptops. With the devices from SINDA, I could focus better on my studies. It was a big relief !”

Shadeana Prakash – 11 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

Teach Programme, Project Care Home-based Learning was extra difficult for Shadeana, as the Teach student had to share one laptop with five school-going siblings. In 2020, under the SINDA Cares and Project Care initiatives, SINDA provided her family with a laptop and Shadeana a tablet and headset to support their learning.

SINDA remains focused on improving the academic performance of Indian students. We believe in the infinite potential of each child and work to ensure that this potential remains unhindered by family, social or economic circumstances. Through SINDA’s educational programmes, each student benefits from optimal learning, relevant resources and customised support, preparing him or her for the best possible opportunities of the future.

Recipients of Study Awards / Grants

273

Students Received Academic Support

492

Students in Teach Programme

177

Students in the Collaborative Tuition Programme

3,897 944 653 389

6,465

STEP Students

Pre-schoolers in Academic Enrichment Programmes

High-performing Students Awarded for Excellence in their Respective Fields

Tutors Trained

STUDENTS ENGAGED

E D U C AT I O N T H R U S T

Aakash Dubey s/o Anil Kumar – 20 PROGRAMME: SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP)

W IT H H I M E VE RY ST E P O F T H E WAY Throughout his academic journey, Aakash has been a regular face at STEP. Now 20 years old, he was named the top student of the SINDA Excellence Award 2020’s A-Level Category and readily credits his STEP tutors for his success. Since he first joined the programme in Primary 1, Aakash’s tutors patiently guided him in developing a firm understanding of key concepts. With improved understanding came new confidence and a strong desire to excel. The impact they had cemented his faith in STEP and he persisted with the programme until his final year of junior college. Over the 12 years, his tutors’ guidance went well beyond the classroom to include important life lessons. With their assurance and dedication, he pushed through setbacks, learnt from his mistakes and grew as a person. Currently a National Serviceman, Aakash aspires to become a clinician so he too can support others through difficult times.

Education Programmes that Nurture Holistic Growth PRE-SCHOOL ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT Pre-school academic enrichment is a focal part of SINDA’s educationrelated efforts, so that each child develops interest in learning, from a young age. The Literacy and Numeracy (LYNN) programme provides pre-schoolers with a strong foundation in reading, writing and basic numeracy. Led by trained facilitators, the programme cultivates pre-schoolers’ interest and confidence in reading and numeracy, as they embark upon their primary school education.

The Pre-school Tamil Enrichment programme is a Tamil language preparatory programme, for pre-schoolers aged 5 to 6 years. This programme strengthens participants’ competency and foundation in the language, through interactive learning. In addition to enrichment classes, the READY Initiative helped parents and students better understand the expectations of formal schooling, helping ease them through the transition to primary school education.

898

pre-schoolers benefitted from these pre-school programmes in 2020.

E D U C AT I O N T H R U S T

Aakash Dubey s/o Anil Kumar – 20

“ All these years, I chose to continue with STEP because of the teachers. W IT H H I M E VE RY ST E P O F T H E WAY I would like to thank all my tutors for believing in me. They encouraged me when I felt hopeless. Their support, both academically and emotionally, never failed to motivate me. I would have never moved on from the headwinds that I had encountered or achieved the results I had without their enduring help and guidance.”

PROGRAMME: SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP)

Throughout his academic journey, Aakash has been a regular face at STEP. Now 20 years old, he was named the top student of the SINDA Excellence Award 2020’s A-Level Category and readily credits his STEP tutors for his success.

Since he first joined the programme in Primary 1, Aakash’s tutors patiently guided him in developing a firm understanding of key concepts. With improved understanding came new confidence and a strong desire to excel. The impact they had cemented his faith in STEP and he persisted with the programme until his final year of junior college.

Over the 12 years, his tutors’ guidance went well beyond the classroom to include important life lessons. With their assurance and dedication, he pushed through setbacks, learnt from his mistakes and grew as a person. Currently a National Serviceman, Aakash aspires to become a clinician so he too can support others through difficult times.

Aakash Dubey s/o Anil Kumar – 20 PROGRAMME:

SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP)

898

pre-schoolers benefitted from these pre-school programmes in 2020.

E D U C AT I O N T H R U S T

A dedicated microsite was launched as the SINDA Excellence Awards went digital in 2020. A record 653 students were awarded the SINDA Excellence Awards for their outstanding performance in their respective fields.

STEP PROGRAMME The SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance, or STEP, is a holistic after-school tutorial programme for primary, secondary and A-Level students. Through strengthening students’ understanding of concepts and improving their confidence in school, the programme enables them to improve in their core subjects. With the assistance of centre principals, administrators, tutors, and counsellors, STEP also plays a key role in identifying students in need of social, developmental or financial support, and referring them to the relevant support at SINDA.

3,897

primary, secondary and A-Level students benefitted from STEP in 2020, through a mix of virtual and in-person lessons.

TEACH PROGRAMME Teach is a school-based tutorial programme aimed at improving the academic performance of students scoring 69 marks and below in their core subjects, through intensive small group coaching sessions.

PROJECT GUIDE Project Guide is a community-based supplementary programme that offers homework assistance and academic support to primary and secondary level students who may not have access to tuition support.

It leverages on a strong collaborative partnership between schools, parents and teachers to improve students’ competency and performance grades in core subjects.

While completing their homework at a conducive after-school environment, students also benefit from mentorship and customised learning from qualified and trained tutors.

Together with STEP, Teach embraces the Collaborative Tuition Programme (CTP) model, allowing 177 students of all races to enrol in the programme.

492

primary and secondary school students attended Teach virtually in 2020.

262

students benefitted from Project Guide in 2020.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT Complementary to its tutorial programmes, SINDA offers holistic academic support, to help students with their learning while encouraging parents to be more involved in their child’s journey. Such support includes:

ST U DY AWA R D S / SCHOLARSHIPS SINDA offers several scholarship schemes to students, in collaboration with donors, established educational institutions and organisations, to enable individuals to pursue higher studies and upgrade their skillsets.

Education Plus: An initiative aimed to nurture students’ physical, social and mental growth, while their parents benefit from positive parenting workshops.

The following scholarships were available to students in 2020:

Equal Opportunity Fund: A funding scheme for students from low-income families to attend enrichment programmes in the arts, music and sports fields, to boost their development. Holistic Care: An initiative aimed at improving the lives of high-risk students and their families by creating a multi-level support system.

3,899

parents and students benefitted from SINDA’s academic support in 2020.

Having parents with medical conditions, Vivian had to work part-time while pursuing his degree in Civil Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Since receiving the scholarship, the aspiring entrepreneur has been able to spend more time on his studies and family.

• APU – SINDA Scholarship • KAPLAN – SINDA Scholarship • Light House – SINDA Scholarship • MDIS – SINDA Scholarship • Optimum Solutions – SINDA Scholarship • PSB – SINDA Scholarship • SAA – SINDA Scholarship • SCCCF – SINDA Scholarship • SIA – SINDA Undergraduate Scholarship • SICCI – SINDA Scholarship • SIMM – SINDA Scholarship

TUTOR DEVELOPM ENT SINDA encourages tutors in its education programmes to undergo continuous training and teaching development. While preparing them to effectively deliver customised and differentiated curriculum to students, such programmes also update tutors on Singapore’s educational landscape and other relevant trends.

389

tutors received training through various learning platforms in 2020.

individuals were awarded partial or full scholarships by SINDA to pursue diploma or degree courses.

“ I am very close to my family but did not have much time for them before. Now I have better work-study-life balance and could even take up a minor in Entrepreneurship at NTU – all thanks to the scholarship!” Vivian Vickneswaran s/o Renganathan – 28 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

SCCCF-SINDA Scholarship

YOUTH TH RUST

Inspiring Youth Towards Greater Achievements “ SINDA’s allowance was a huge help to me as I did not have to depend on my family for an allowance and could take care of myself independently.”

Sri Aakash Anbarasan – 19 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

ITE Student Allowance During Covid-19, Sri Aakash worked part-time on weekends as he completed his final year at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). However, he was earning very little. Fortunately, he qualified for SINDA’s ITE Student Allowance. The $150 he received each month until he graduated helped with his daily expenses so he did not have to burden his parents.

SINDA’s youth programmes develop the potential of Indian youth and guide them onto pathways of growth and success. Specially-tailored motivational and mentorship programmes enable our youth to build positive values, develop good character and boost their self-esteem. These in return, enable our youth to thrive in positive peer circles and grow into confident and capable adults. Adding to these efforts are the leadership programmes offered by the SINDA Youth Club, which provide a journey of self-discovery to students with leadership abilities. Participants undergo sustained leadership training, engage in conversations revolving around national and community themes and ideate creative solutions to thematic issues.

326

Participants Engaged Through Workshops and Seminars

200

Care Packages Distributed

Youth Partners Networked With

163 828

ITE Students Engaged

Youths in Motivational and Character Development Programmes

109

Participants in Youth Engagement Programme

264

Youths Engaged through Skills-Based Programmes

316

Physical and Virtual Visits to the SINDA Youth Hub

167 23 56

2,182

Youths Mentored

Fitness Enthusiasts in SINDA Sports Initiative Youths from Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and ITE Underwent Sustained Leadership Training

STUDENTS EMPOWERED BY SINDA

YOUTH TH RUST

Kavirishini Murukan – 24

Pearlin Benita Love – 22

PROGRAMMES: SINDA Football Club (SFC), Guidance and Mentorship Programme (GAME)

PROGRAMME: Mentor Me

KEEPING ACTIVE AMIDST COVID-19

G E A R I N G UP TO G I VE

Football-loving Kavirishini is a peer leader in the SINDA Football Club (SFC) where she mentors youth participants. The freelance coach and student normally relieves her stress on the pitch, however, with Covid-19 came Home-based Learning. Stressed and having to stay home, she was delighted when SINDA moved the SFC sessions online.

Having witnessed her mother’s struggles as a single parent and how SINDA’s holistic support made life for her family easier, Pearlin is inspired to uplift the broken and vulnerable. In 2020, the aspiring social worker and beneficiary of the SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary Award joined the Mentor Me programme and was paired with her mentor, Ameen, who gave her round-the-clock support and the confidence to achieve her goals.

Surrounded by familiar faces, she relaxed and joined in the exercises led by her coach, and even learnt about the laws of the game. During this period, she caught up with her mentor, Jeyanthi, who shared tips to motivate herself and improve her academic performance. Kavirishini also signed up for GAME. The art-based mentoring session via Zoom proved to be a huge stress reliever as she was facing several challenges at the time, and her mentor helped her control her anxiety and ultimately overcome her obstacles. Grateful for SINDA’s programmes which helped her keep busy during the Circuit Breaker, she is also thankful to her mentors for boosting her confidence, instilling the importance of giving back and making her a better leader.

As she was studying for her diploma in social work, she honed her interview skills, with Ameen arming her with advice to create a good impression at future interviews. Knowing that she wanted to maintain a healthy lifestyle, he also sent her workout exercises which she incorporated into her daily routine. As the programme progressed, she experienced a mindset shift as Ameen taught her to harness her strengths to overcome her weaknesses. Pearlin’s outstanding participation in the programme won her recognition at the SINDA Youth Awards 2020. Today, armed with newfound skills and knowledge, she has a renewed determination to transform lives for the better.

Positive Youth Programmes that Inculcate Values GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP The Guidance and Mentorship programme, or GAME, nurtures the development of Indian youth aged 13 to 21 through interest-based activities, and offers mentorship through a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework. By coming together in a supportive environment, youths engage in interactive skills-learning activities, led by trained youth facilitators.

YOUTH ENABLE Youth Enable, formerly known as Youth Victory, is a structured motivational programme that empowers students to achieve positive outcomes. Focused on character development, students are nurtured into confident and resilient individuals, allowing them to perform well in school and improving their social and emotional intelligence.

In 2020, 97 youths benefitted from a variety of interest-based GAME programmes. Of these participants, 70% could effectively apply the skills learnt, while 90% showed improvement in SEL elements.

The programme also imparts essential study techniques and exam preparation skills, that help participants improve in their studies.

youths benefitted from a variety of interest-based GAME programmes in 2020.

773

youths were engaged through SINDA’s Youth Enable talks and workshops in 2020.

YOUTH TH RUST

Kavirishini Murukan – 24

P R O G R A M M E S : “ I was grateful when SINDA Football Club (SFC), Guidance and SINDA introduced Mentorship Programme (GAME)

Pearlin Benita Love – 22

SINDA has supported P R O G R A“ M ME: Mentor Me my family tremendously.

virtual programmes Knowing that we can during Covid-19. always count on SINDA KEEPING ACTIVE AMIDST COVID-19 UP TO Gus I VE Being able to interact G E A R I N G reassures that we Football-loving Kavirishini is a with peer leader the mother’salone. struggles a single myinpeers while Having witnessed arehernever Inasmy SINDA Football Club (SFC) where she mentors youth parent and how SINDA’s holistic support made life for engaging innormally fun activities mentoring journey, participants. The freelance coach and student her family easier, Pearlin is inspired to uplift the broken relieves her stress on the pitch, however, with Covid-19 and vulnerable. In 2020, the aspiring social worker and was such a stress reliever my mentor has helped came Home-based Learning. Stressed and having to stay beneficiary of the SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary Award home, she was delighted whenfor SINDA moved the SFC Mebecome programmeaand was paired with me. In addition to joined the Mentor me better sessions online. her mentor, Ameen, who gave her round-the-clock being part of SINDA’ssupport and theindividual by teaching me confidence to achieve her goals. Surrounded by familiar faces, she relaxed and joined in mentors programmes, my the importance of values the exercises led by her coach, and even learnt about the As she was studying for her diploma in social work, she fromshe thecaught programmes andskills, aspirations. He also laws of the game. During this period, up with honed her interview with Ameen arming her with her mentor, Jeyanthi, who shared tips to motivate herself advice to create a good impression at future interviews. were a huge help to Knowing that shetaught me interview and improve her academic performance. wanted to maintain a healthy me as they taught me lifestyle, he alsoskills resume writing. sent herand workout exercises which she Kavirishini also signed up for GAME. The art-based incorporated into her daily routine. As the programme different ways These enhanced my mentoring session via Zoom proved to be a huge stress progressed, she experienced a mindset shift as Ameen reliever as she was facing several at the taught her to harness her strengths to overcome of challenges handling stress professional self as I her time, and her mentor helped her control her anxiety and weaknesses. and guided me to know I have the essential ultimately overcome her obstacles. Pearlin’s outstanding in the programme overcome them.” skillsparticipation to secure a job in won Grateful for SINDA’s programmes which helped her keep her recognition at the SINDA Youth Awards 2020. Today, my preferred field.”she has a busy during the Circuit Breaker, she is also thankful to armed with newfound skills and knowledge, her mentors for boosting her confidence, instilling the importance of giving back and making her a better leader.

renewed determination to transform lives for the better.

Kavirishini Murukan – 24 PROGRAMMES:

SINDA Football Club (SFC), Guidance and Mentorship Programme (GAME)

Pearlin Benita Love – 22 PROGRAMME:

Mentor Me

In 2020, 97 youths benefitted from a variety of interest-based GAME programmes. Of these participants, 70% could effectively apply the skills learnt, while 90% showed improvement in SEL elements.

The programme also imparts essential study techniques and exam preparation skills, that help participants improve in their studies.

youths benefitted from a variety of interest-based GAME programmes in 2020.

773

youths were engaged through SINDA’s Youth Enable talks and workshops in 2020.

YOUTH TH RUST

PEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME The Peer Leadership Programme nurtures the potential of youth programme participants who display exceptional leadership skills. Through experiential workshops, participants are equipped with the necessary skills, values and knowledge required to be active peer leaders. Upon successful completion, peer leaders will be assigned leadership responsibilities in other SINDA youth programmes.

youths developed their abilities through SINDA’s Peer Leadership Programme in 2020.

ITEnable ITEnable, formerly known as ITE Aspire, is a campus-based motivational programme that equips students with life skills and positive values, while keeping them motivated in their academic journey. In 2020, students participated in online versions of the programme, which saw youths discuss relevant topics such as wellness and the challenges faced during the pandemic.

163

ITE students engaged in 2020.

MENTOR ME Mentor Me is a long-term youth mentorship programme designed to support aspiring tertiary-level students in achieving their goals, through specialised workshops and mentorship. Mentor Me was strengthened in 2020 with added focus on three components: career mentoring, youth mentoring and skills-based workshops. In 2020, 102 professional mentors, provided effective and impactful insights to mentees. 93% of participants expressed that they were able to reach their goals with the help of their mentor through this programme.

118

youths benefitted from Mentor Me in 2020.

The 7th edition of the SINDA Youth Awards was held virtually. It recognised 69 youths who demonstrated significant character development, strong leadership, or showed firm commitment towards SINDA’s youth programmes.

SPORTS PROGRAMMES SINDA’s sports programmes keep students physically active, while honing their social and leadership skills. The SINDA Football Club develops participants’ core values of discipline, resilience and commitment through football, while engaging them through values-based talks and workshops. Also focused on healthy living is the SINDA Sports Initiative (SPIN), which enables youths to cultivate their mental, social and physical well-being by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and engaging in fitness-based activities.

190

YO U T H E N G AG E M E N T PROGRAMME Youth Engagement Programme activities reach out to Indian youths aged 13 to 25 and keep them meaningfully occupied during the weekends and school holidays. The programme also allows SINDA to identify youths in need of support and provide relevant intervention for their holistic development. 109 youths participated in this programme series, with 80% finding the programme beneficial to their growth.

S I N DA YO U T H H U B The SINDA Youth Hub serves as a conducive place for Indian youths to study in as well as for youth to spend their time engaging in meaningful and positive activities. Due to Covid-19 safe-distancing restrictions, a virtual Youth Hub continued to engage youth through online activities.

316

youths visited the SINDA Youth Hub and Youth Hub Microsite in 2020.

109

youths found the programme beneficial to their growth.

youths benefitted from SINDA sports programmes in 2020.

Youths were able to enjoy new activities and bond with their friends through the Youth Engagement Programme. As the year progressed, activities were held virtually to continue engaging youths in a fun and interactive manner.

YOUTH TH RUST

“ Being able to work with youths from other organisations is an exciting and enriching experience. Such collaborations should become the norm. Afterall, we are one big community being served by different organisations and our needs and goals are the same. IYC 2020 and Catalyse 2020 are great examples of the impact we can create together when we put our hearts and minds to it.”

Ellamaran – 28 Vice-Chairman of Narpani Pearavai Youth (NPY) I N I T I AT I V E :

SINDA Youth Club Collaborations

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES The SINDA Youth Club’s leadership programmes for various segments of the youth community ensure that opportunities and platforms are readily available to youths who exhibit potential: The SINDA Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) shapes youths into active contributors in the community. With the theme “The APEX of Leadership and Service”, SYLP 2020 incorporated online sessions for participants’ continued sharing and learning. Capacity Building workshops enable youth participants to think out of the box and engage in innovative decision-making. Through topics such as skills development and interpersonal growth, youths learn how to seek creative solutions to pertinent issues.

CAREER DEVELOPM ENT PROGRAMMES Project Aspire is a series of interactive workshops to help tertiary-level students gain the necessary skills essential for the corporate world. In addition to Project Aspire, the Graduating Youth Initiative, connected new graduates to industry professionals and also supported them through mental health and wellness workshops.

173

youths benefitted from Project Aspire and the Graduating Youth Initiative.

youths benefitted from SINDA leadership programmes in 2020.

YO U T H L E A D E R S NETWORKING The SINDA Youth Club also acts as a conduit for different Indian youth groups to come together, build upon each other’s strengths and contribute positively to the community. Working in tandem with partnering organisations, two initiatives were organised in 2020: • Ignite the Youth: Networking Night, conducted in partnership with Tamizha, raised awareness of important issues pertinent to tertiary students and helped participants gain more knowledge of their preferred industry. • The Indian Youth Conference (IYC) provided a platform for Indian youth leaders of various organisations to convene and discuss crucial matters facing the community. In 2020, the two-day virtual conference saw 33 Indian youth leaders from 14 different Indian organisations discuss and co-create solutions for issues present in the community.

D O I N G M O R E A S O N E UN IT E D C O M MUN IT Y Narpani Pearavai Youth (NPY) Vice-Chairman Ellamaran is an active volunteer, lending his time to worthy causes across the island. His experience growing up in a single-parent family that struggled to make ends meet cemented his desire to help others. With the advent of Covid-19, he recognised the importance of pooling resources to help those adversely affected. Having already been involved with SINDA Youth Club (SYC) programmes, he readily collaborated with SYC on the Indian Youth Conference (IYC) 2020. He brought two others from NPY to join him in the organising committee to help ensure the youth’s voices were heard. In the process, he worked with professionals from all walks of life to give back to the Indian community together. The regular participant in SYC’s programmes also joined the publicity team for Catalyse 2020. The initiative, promoting social entrepreneurship among Indian youth, was realised due to the combined efforts of SYC, NPY and three other youth organisations. Having seen his efforts bear fruit, Ellamaran is convinced about the power of collaboration and is even more determined to serve the community.

F A M I LY T H R U S T

Engaging Parents to Play an Active Role in Their Children’s Lives “ It used to be challenging relating to my children. Through SINDA’s programmes, I became confident and motivated to bring out the best in them. I am also grateful for the funding which helped me cope financially during Covid-19.”

Malini – 32 (Not her real name) A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

Prison Reintegration Programme, SINDA Community Assistance Fund (SCAF) After attending SINDA’s parenting workshops in prison, Malini gained the confidence to nurture and connect with her children while incarcerated. These skills followed her after her release and she is currently obtaining custody of her infant child after proving her capabilities as a parent.

With the firm belief that a strong family unit positively impacts a child’s development, SINDA strives to nurture cohesive and resilient families. While pre-schoolers benefit from social and cognitive skills development, programmes for older children are focused on enrichment and learning to complement and strengthen their academic journey. In addition, a variety of programmes, aimed at all members of the family, offer experiential learning and bonding, so that families can grow closer together and be supportive of one another’s growth and progress.

769

Children Attended Enrichment Workshops

344

Pre-schoolers Engaged

1,366 156 37

Parents Benefitted from Parenting Workshops

Mothers and Children Empowered through Project Athena

Individuals Assisted through Prison Reintegration Programme

928

Individuals Engaged through Family Bonding Activities

226

Hello Baby Gift Bundles Distributed

3,826

CHILDREN AND PARENTS SUPPORTED

F A M I LY T H R U S T

Priya d/o M Soundaraja – 28 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D : SINDA Covid-19 Assistance, Pre-school Programmes, Digital Literacy Programmes

I G N IT I N G H O P E Amidst Covid-19, Priya lost her job, leaving her husband as the sole breadwinner. With a young child to look after, it became difficult to meet their daily expenses and their four-year-old daughter’s needs, including milk and diapers. SINDA’s Covid-19 assistance thus came as a huge relief to the couple, allowing them to pay for their daughter’s school fees and better manage their household expenses. As her daughter’s school had closed due to the pandemic, Priya enrolled her in the Literacy & Numeracy Programme (LYNN). However, the online sessions required a computer, which the couple did not have. The lack of one also made Priya’s job search extra difficult. Recognising their pressing need, SINDA immediately referred them to the Tech Gap initiative, where they were given a free laptop. The device boosted her job hunt, and once LYNN was underway, their daughter grew more confident in speaking and writing to the couple’s delight. With SINDA’s holistic and timely help, the family was able to overcome a difficult time and is now more hopeful of the future.

Family Programmes that Strengthen Bonds D I G I TA L L I T E R A C Y PROGRAMMES SINDA’s Digital Literacy programmes encourage children aged 7 to 12 to be tech-savvy students, in line with a STEM-focused future. These programmes familiarise participants with computational and coding skills and promote early interest in technology-based learning and careers.

H ELLO BABY The Hello Baby gift bundle benefits Indian families with babies up to 12 months old. Comprising of various toys and tools for infant learning, the gift bundle promotes cognitive skill development, encourages positive parent-child bonding and engages parents to play an active role in their children’s lives.

In 2020, the Tech Gap initiative was launched to equip parents with the right set of skills and knowledge to support their children in their digital journeys. Through online workshops in collaboration with Engineering Good, parents learnt and accessed online platforms such as Zoom and Gmail to support their child’s HomeBased Learning.

As an early intervention programme, the bundle also serves as a gateway for families to be introduced to other family-related programmes at SINDA.

571

parents and children took part in digital literacy programmes in 2020.

226

recipients received gift bundles in 2020; of these, 134 parents went on to enrol into other SINDA programmes.

F A M I LY T H R U S T

Priya d/o M Soundaraja – 28

“ It has been very reassuring to see how SINDA assisted us in 2020. In addition to helping my family I G N IT I N G H O P E through Covid-19, it has been heartening to see my daughter have fun and learn new things through LYNN. To see this change in her has been very gratifying. It has been a difficult year, but thanks to SINDA, we have been able to move forward with optimism.”

A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D : SINDA Covid-19 Assistance, Pre-school Programmes, Digital Literacy Programmes

Amidst Covid-19, Priya lost her job, leaving her husband as the sole breadwinner. With a young child to look after, it became difficult to meet their daily expenses and their four-year-old daughter’s needs, including milk and diapers. SINDA’s Covid-19 assistance thus came as a huge relief to the couple, allowing them to pay for their daughter’s school fees and better manage their household expenses.

As her daughter’s school had closed due to the pandemic, Priya enrolled her in the Literacy & Numeracy Programme (LYNN). However, the online sessions required a computer, which the couple did not have. The lack of one also made Priya’s job search extra difficult. Recognising their pressing need, SINDA immediately referred them to the Tech Gap initiative, where they were given a free laptop. The device boosted her job hunt, and once LYNN was underway, their daughter grew more confident in speaking and writing to the couple’s delight. With SINDA’s holistic and timely help, the family was able to overcome a difficult time and is now more hopeful of the future.

Priya d/o M Soundaraja – 28 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

SINDA Covid-19 Assistance, Pre-School Programmes, Digital Literacy Programmes

As an early intervention programme, the bundle also serves as a gateway for families to be introduced to other family-related programmes at SINDA.

571

parents and children took part in digital literacy programmes in 2020.

226

recipients received gift bundles in 2020; of these, 134 parents went on to enrol into other SINDA programmes.

F A M I LY T H R U S T

The annual Back to School Festival was held over 11 days at SINDA with safe management measures in place, as close to 3,500 students received vouchers in preparation for the new school year.

F A M I LY - B O N D I N G Year-long motivational and enrichment programmes by SINDA nurture children’s continued learning and develop them to their fullest potential. These programmes also support families in spending quality time together, building greater rapport and understanding the importance of being positive influences in each other’s lives.

879

individuals were engaged through virtual family bonding activities in 2020.

P R O J E C T AT H E N A Project Athena equips Indian single mothers with the necessary skills to become self-sufficient, resilient and confident in raising their families. Through individual counselling and group therapy, trained social workers guide mothers and their children in overcoming challenges and help these families lead meaningful lives together.

156

single mothers and children benefitted from Project Athena in 2020.

PA R E N T I N G WORKSHOPS SINDA’s parenting workshops impart knowledge and key themes to encourage stronger parent-child bonds and cultivate stable and selfsufficient families. These workshops also allow parents to understand the importance of their children’s development and build essential skills in them, to support their children’s significant growth stages.

PRISON R E I N T E G R AT I O N The Prison Reintegration programme supports formerly incarcerated mothers in reintegrating back with their families. The programme equips these mothers with knowledge and effective communication skills to engage their loved ones and allows SINDA to provide continued intervention to them and their families.

A total of 1,362 parents benefitted in 2020 from parental programmes such as:

As part of these reintegration efforts, sustained parenting programmes also commenced in 2020, covering important themes such as positive parenting, educational pathways and acceptance.

• Positive Parenting • Understanding Early Childhood • Primary 1, Secondary 1 and Post-Secondary Starter Series • Father-child Bonding Sessions • Parent Engagement Workshops

1,362

parents were engaged through SINDA’s parenting workshops.

In 2020, 37 mothers attended such programmes and found these to be beneficial in communicating more confidently with their children. 80% of participating families also benefitted from SINDA’s social and assistance schemes based on their needs and requests.

mothers attended parenting programmes in 2020 and found them to be beneficial.

During the Circuit Breaker, Puvaneswary was able to engage her children in meaningful activities thanks to items from the Hello Baby Gift Bundle. Throughout 2020, SINDA also provided the family with financial assistance as well as a laptop and online lessons which facilitated their respective learning journeys.

“ SINDA’s support allowed me to nurture my children holistically at home. I cultivated in them an interest in reading and helped them learn. I am extremely thankful for all the help!” Puvaneswary – 32 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

Hello Baby Gift Bundle, Financial Assistance Schemes, Digital Literacy Programmes

A S S I S TA N C E T H R U S T ( F S C )

Assistance to Support Our Community “ I am so thankful to SINDA for helping me find a new job, especially amidst the pandemic, and guiding me through a challenging time. Now I can continue supporting my family.”

Zarinah Khatoon Bte Ali Qadir – 45 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

SINDA Job Care Scheme Retrenched due to Covid-19 and struggling to support four children, Zarinah was connected with SINDA’s SkillsFuture Secretariat which helped her refine her resume and match her with several partner organisations under the SINDA Job Care Scheme. She eventually got a teaching position at a school – a job she enjoys.

SINDA’s family-focused social assistance efforts are supported by the SINDA Family Service Centre (SFSC), which provides disadvantaged families and individuals with impactful avenues of support and resources, by encouraging resilience and self-sufficiency. While SFSC provides a range of social work and family assistance schemes, complementary intervention programmes by other SINDA divisions ensure that holistic support is available to all clients. Armed with these complementary resources, knowledge and support, SINDA aims to empower its clients in overcoming challenges, rebuilding their lives and aiming for a better future.

3,071

Families Received Information and Referral Services

1,823

Clients and Family Members Supported through Casework

1,439 733 25

Students Received Education-related Financial Assistance Individuals Received Help through SINDA’s Network of National Partner Organisations

Elderly Befrienders Programme

3,494

Back to School Kits Distributed to Students

2,292

Families Received Celebrate! Festive Vouchers

14 2,038

9,952

Inmates and Their Families Assisted through Prison Outreach Programme

Individuals Assisted through COVID-19 Assistance Schemes

INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE

A S S I S TA N C E T H R U S T ( F S C )

Thilagarani d/o Ayavu – 51 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D : Covid-19 Assistance, Transport Vouchers

UP L I F T I N G FA M I L I E S Thilagarani’s positivity belies the many challenges she faces. Unable to work due to kidney failure and needing dialysis thrice weekly, she also cares for her eight-year-old daughter and 91-year-old mother-in-law who has mobility issues and dementia. Her husband, whose left arm is impaired, stopped work to look after his family. SINDA quickly stepped in to help, surrounding the family with financial aid under the Resilience Package and SINDA Care Package to safeguard them amidst Covid-19 and, importantly, ensure that they could afford groceries and daily necessities. Upon realising that Thilagarani had trouble walking unaided, SINDA also provided transport vouchers which enabled her to make it to her hospital visits in time and without difficulty. While Thilagarani juggles caregiving and her medical conditions, she has not been alone. Her caseworker remains a constant source of support and comfort, regularly encouraging her in carrying out her duties. Despite the challenges, the couple looks to the future positively. They dote on their daughter, determined to give her a happy childhood and help her realise her dream of becoming a doctor.

Assistance to Support Our Community PROJECT R I G H T S TA R T Project RightStart was launched in 2020 to help low-income Indian families with new-born babies or children aged 6 years old and below, in enhancing their parenting skills and parent-child interactions. The programme aims at strengthening families and providing opportunities for children to receive early childhood education and additional support during their significant stages of development.

families were identified for the pilot phase of Project RightStart.

E L D E R LY BEFRIENDERS The Elderly Befrienders programme engages seniors through meaningful outdoor engagements to aid their social and emotional well-being. Such social engagements with befrienders help the elderly overcome issues such as loneliness, improve their mental well-being and empower them to forge new friendships with the wider community.

elderly were engaged by 13 Befrienders in 2020.

A S S I S TA N C E T H R U S T ( F S C )

Thilagarani d/o Ayavu – 51

“We are thankful that we could depend on SINDA for support. UP L I FWe T I N G are FA M Ialso L I E S grateful for our social worker who counsels me and gives me a listening ear. She is an important part of our family. The financial aid and transport vouchers have been really helpful with our daily necessities and my hospital visits. Knowing that SINDA is looking out for us is very assuring and gives us the confidence to overcome any challenges.”

A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D : Covid-19 Assistance, Transport Vouchers

Thilagarani’s positivity belies the many challenges she faces. Unable to work due to kidney failure and needing dialysis thrice weekly, she also cares for her eight-year-old daughter and 91-year-old mother-in-law who has mobility issues and dementia. Her husband, whose left arm is impaired, stopped work to look after his family. SINDA quickly stepped in to help, surrounding the family with financial aid under the Resilience Package and SINDA Care Package to safeguard them amidst Covid-19 and, importantly, ensure that they could afford groceries and daily necessities. Upon realising that Thilagarani had trouble walking unaided, SINDA also provided transport vouchers which enabled her to make it to her hospital visits in time and without difficulty. While Thilagarani juggles caregiving and her medical conditions, she has not been alone. Her caseworker remains a constant source of support and comfort, regularly encouraging her in carrying out her duties.

Despite the challenges, the couple looks to the future positively. They dote on their daughter, determined to give her a happy childhood and help her realise her dream of becoming a doctor.

Thilagarani d/o Ayavu – 51 A S S I S TA N C E R E C E I V E D :

Covid-19 Assistance, Transport Vouchers

families were identified for the pilot phase of Project RightStart.

elderly were engaged by 13 Befrienders in 2020.

A S S I S TA N C E T H R U S T ( F S C )

PRISONS OUTREACH PROGRAMME The Prisons Outreach Programme provides assistance to inmates’ families who are in need of additional support during their incarceration. SINDA works closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and HEB-Ashram in identifying families, referring them to social workers and ultimately, helping them strengthen their family ties.

C E L E B R AT E ! F E S T I V E GIFT VOUCHERS SINDA spreads festive cheer to low-income families by gifting them vouchers during their respective festive holidays— Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. These vouchers, valued at $100 each, are distributed to families’ doorsteps by a network of volunteers comprising individuals as well as corporate and religious organisations.

In view of Covid-19, the Prisons Outreach Programme was suspended in 2020. However, together with HEB Ashram, SINDA was able to reach out to 14 inmates and their family members to provide the necessary assistance.

Together with the support of community partners, organisations and individual volunteers, 2,292 gift vouchers were distributed to underprivileged families in 2020.

2,292

gift vouchers were distributed to underprivileged families in 2020.

inmates and their family members received help in 2020.

In collaboration with Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), a Job Fair was organised in October as part of SINDA’s Job Support Framework. Jobseekers were able to meet and apply for jobs with SINDA’s partners or receive skills and training advice from trained career coaches.

FINANCIAL A S S I S TA N C E The following financial support schemes were offered to individuals and families, in addition to increased Covid-19 financial support in 2020. More information on assistance specific to Covid-19 can be found on pages 7 to 10. Social Work Services: • Information & Referral: 3,071 clients • Casework & Counselling: 1,823 clients and family members • Reintegration Programme: 14 individuals

Education-related Assistance Schemes:

Assistance Jointly Offered With Partner Organisations:

• Pre-school Bursary: 145 children

• Comcare (with MSF): 26 clients

• SINDA Bursary: 948 primary and secondary students • SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary: 323 students • Before and After School Care Subsidy: 23 students • Back to School Kits: 3,494 students • Education Assistance Fund: 15 students

• Home Access (with IMDA): 50 households or individuals • NEU PC Plus (with IMDA): 275 households or individuals • Singapore Press Holdings Foundation: 399 individuals • The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund: 9 students Other Assistance: • Transport Vouchers: 106 individuals • Women Empowerment Fund: 133 women • Beacon Fund: 117 students

“ In addition to financial assistance, the counselling and support I have received from SINDA continues to help me, especially in these challenging times. The patience and care shown by my social worker since day one is another reason why I knew I could count on SINDA.” Vineswari R Ratnavel – 42 A S S I S T A N C E R E C E I V E D : Covid-19 Financial Assistance,

Casework and Counselling, Vouchers and Bursary

Read more about Vineswari’s story on page 7

COMMUNITY THRUST

Forging a Stronger Relationship With Community Partners “ We joined Project Shine as we felt it was important to interact with those facing challenges and give them some relief. We are glad to have contributed to such a meaningful community project!”

Sarabjeet Singh – 37 President, Young Sikh Association (Singapore) C O L L A B O R AT I O N :

Project Shine Last year, Sarabjeet and youth volunteers from the Youth Sikh Association (YSA) joined in cleaning the homes of elderly folks living in rental flats in preparation for Deepavali, under SINDA’s Project Shine. In giving his time, he also gained from the seniors’ knowledge and developed greater empathy for others in the community.

Meaningful partnerships with community, grassroots, religious and ethnic groups enhance and strengthen SINDA’s efforts for the wider community. The resources and expertise of such partners enable us to connect better with individuals and maximise our outreach. SINDA also works closely with volunteers from all walks of life and of all ages, with volunteer-driven efforts key to many programmes and services offered by the organisation. As well as undertaking a variety of services on behalf of SINDA, our community of volunteers also serve as ambassadors, who champion the organisation’s efforts on the ground.

453

Volunteers

245

Households Connected with through Door-Knocking Exercise

232

Partners Worked with SINDA

35 2 124 224 2,524 27

967

Organisations and Educational Institutions Supported or Funded

COVID-19 Grants Disbursed

Indian Business-leaders’ Roundtable (IBR) Members Educators Served as SINDA Liaison Officers (SLOs) in their Respective Schools Volunteer Hours Towards SINDA Programmes and Services

Homes Cleaned through Project Shine

INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS CONNECTED WITH

COMMUNITY THRUST

Club2Care C O L L A B O R AT I O N : SINDA Community Impact Fund

G E N E R AT I N G AWA R E N E S S O N M E N TA L H E A LT H Club2Care was founded in 2017 by individuals passionate about bridging the gaps and improving the mental well-being of the Singapore Indian Community, through targeted programmes including accessible counselling, outreach and training. These programmes are underpinned by its values of Care, Acceptance, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE). The SINDA Community Impact Fund offered funding support in two areas – Outreach, to raise awareness of and destigmatise mental illness; and Training, to equip others with the necessary skills to become more aware of mental health issues among members of the community, cascading to proactive intervention. The organisation’s work was especially vital during Covid-19. The year saw Club2Care launch several initiatives, including a series of three videos targeted at seniors entitled “Coping Calmly With COVID” which was presented in collaboration with Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, webinars on mental well-being, as well as an online panel discussion on mental health in the Indian community in conjunction with World Mental Health Day. Encouraged by the public’s response to date, Club2Care is emboldened to do more and do better for the community.

Partnerships for the Betterment of the Community GROUND ENGAGEMENTS Ground engagements play a crucial role in reaching out to the Indian community. Through close collaborations with partners and community organisations, SINDA has been able to reach out to vulnerable Indian families who have been affected by Covid-19 in 2020. The Door Knocking Exercise (DKE) was one such initiative that allowed engagement in the heartlands, meeting with residents and referring them to appropriate support. To adapt to Covid-19, SINDA also introduced the Call

Centre Exercise, where existing clients were contacted by trained SINDA staff and volunteers via phone calls, before being referred to appropriate help. Last year, 245 Indian families were engaged through DKE and the call centre. In addition to DKE, the SINDA Bus was deployed to support rations and meal distributions in various constituencies, including Boon Lay and Yishun. In addition, the SINDA Bus was also deployed at community events, with safe-distancing measures in place.

visits in total were undertaken by the SINDA Bus in 2020.

COMMUNITY THRUST

Club2Care

“The two projects funded by SINDA were very well-received. G E N E R AT I N G AWA R E N E S S O N M E N TA L H E A LT H Importantly, these have opened new collaboration opportunities with other organisations, increased public awareness and improved our visibility. With greater awareness of Club2Care, we hope that more people will step forward to seek help for mental health issues utilising our services.”

C O L L A B O R AT I O N : SINDA Community Impact Fund

Club2Care was founded in 2017 by individuals passionate about bridging the gaps and improving the mental well-being of the Singapore Indian Community, through targeted programmes including accessible counselling, outreach and training. These programmes are underpinned by its values of Care, Acceptance, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE). The SINDA Community Impact Fund offered funding support in two areas – Outreach, to raise awareness of and destigmatise mental illness; and Training, to equip others with the necessary skills to become more aware of mental health issues among members of the community, cascading to proactive intervention.

The organisation’s work was especially vital during Covid-19. The year saw Club2Care launch several initiatives, including a series of three videos targeted at seniors entitled “Coping Calmly With COVID” which was presented in collaboration with Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, webinars on mental well-being, as well as an online panel discussion on mental health in the Indian community in conjunction with World Mental Health Day. Encouraged by the public’s response to date, Club2Care is emboldened to do more and do better for the community.

Club2Care C O L L A B O R AT I O N :

SINDA Community Impact Fund

visits in total were undertaken by the SINDA Bus in 2020.

COMMUNITY THRUST

SINDA COMMUNITY I M PAC T F U N D The SINDA Community Impact Fund (SCIF) supports innovative, ground-up solutions that generate positive and sustainable social impact upon the Singaporean Indian community. In addition to SINDA’s efforts, SCIF provides seed funding to individuals and organisations to benefit key groups — pre-schoolers, students, youths, parents, families and the elderly.

PROJECT GIVE Project Give (PG) has been SINDA’s flagship fund-raising campaign since 2001 in support of the educational and financial needs of Indian students. The campaign, which runs through the year, is heightened during the festive season to encourage the community to remember and help the less fortunate. PG 2020 revolved around the theme of “Acts of Care”, which empowered and enabled partner organisations and individuals to organise appropriate activities for the community, in partnership with SINDA. Such collaborative Acts of Care included: • Project Shine: Sprucing the homes of 27 elderly living alone, in collaboration with Young Sikh Association (Singapore) and Habitat for Humanity. • Collaboration with Lighting Hearts, Lighting Homes: Packing and distribution of festive rations and vouchers to 1,500 disadvantaged homes. • Messages of Care: Handwritten notes by 1,500 STEP students to SINDA beneficiaries.

About 50 volunteers from SINDA and the Young Sikh Association (Singapore) (YSA) came together to clean 25 homes around Singapore as part of Project Shine.

• Over 200 participants from Blue Cross Thong Kheng Autism Spectrum Disorder Day Activity Centre, BizLink Centre Singapore and Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore painted a mural, which contained words of encouragement, to spread positivity and cheer. The artwork was displayed at the Indian Heritage Centre.

INDIAN BUSINESS– LEADERS’ R O U N D TA B L E The Indian Business-leaders’ Roundtable, or IBR, engages Indian leaders from the Singapore business community. IBR supports SINDA in its mission to uplift the Singaporean Indian community through its members’ rich experience, expertise and networks. Since inception, IBR and its members have played a multi-dimensional role in assisting SINDA beneficiaries — providing funding support, career opportunities and engaging youths in the community. Key IBR Engagements in 2020 included: • 11th and 12th IBR Dialogue Series held virtually • Republic Polytechnic Mentorship – 43 mentors paired with mentees • IBR Festive Gift Pack distribution to 200 families during Deepavali

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VOLUNTEERS Volunteers continue to be an integral part of SINDA as their contributions play a key role in the success of the organisation’s programmes and services. SINDA also offers its volunteers training and learning opportunities, so that they are empowered to organise and lead self-directed programmes. In 2020, two volunteer initiated programmes were organised, as part of a “Well-being Amid Covid-19” series, aimed at equipping volunteers with the abilities of self-care and mindfulness amidst the challenges faced during the pandemic. Periodic volunteer engagement sessions were also organised for SINDA to express its appreciation towards volunteers for their contributions. The sessions also provided them with the opportunity to share life experiences and collectively strengthen bonds.

453

volunteers contributed a total of 2,524 volunteer hours in 2020.

members were part of IBR in 2020.

Propelled by her love for children, Hasinah volunteers with SINDA’s Book Wizards where she reads to a nineyear-old beneficiary. To further develop his reading skills, she went beyond the training provided to research and curate suitable reading activities for him on her own, in the hope of enhancing his development.

“ It brings me great joy to help children learn and improve their reading skills so as to carve a better future for themselves. It is important to me to give back to the community and make a difference.” Hasinah Nasaruddin – 19 PROGRAMME:

SINDA Book Wizards

C O R P O R AT E I N F O R M AT I O N

Corporate & Marketing Communications SINDA’s Corporate and Marketing Communications Division (CMC) functions as the communicator of the SINDA brand to stakeholders and disseminates key messages to audiences. In addition to marketing SINDA’s programmes, services and events, the division also undertakes corporate communications, media management and content production for a spectrum of platforms. D I G I TA L C O M M U N I T Y SINDA’s digital platforms are integrated to serve as an awareness hub on SINDA programmes, services and events in promoting enrolment. In addition, content marketing on these platforms deliver key messages to audiences and build brand affinity. These digital platforms also serve as channels for beneficiaries to communicate with SINDA. TOTAL DIGITAL REACH

5% EDM

37%

26%

TWITTER

348,463

WEBSITE

USERS

16% increase from 2019

WEBSITE SINDA’s website serves as a one-stop information portal for SINDA programmes and includes content marketing such as impact stories and video capsules. In 2020, the average user spent 20% more time on the website, in comparison to 2019. Pageviews 14%

Visitors 11%

2020

557,883

2020

124,222

2019

487,914

2019

111,668

OTHER SINDA SITES In 2020, various microsites were created in place of physical events, to continue SINDA’s engagement and enrichment for the community. Pageviews

Visitors

2020

17,003

5,712

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

23%

FACEBOOK

AGE GROUP OF ONLINE AUDIENCES FACEBOOK

18-34 35-54 > 55

INSTAGRAM

WEBSITE

58%

48%

73% 26% 1%

38%

42% 10%

Followers 5%

Users Engaged 93%

2020

18,661

2020

81,964

2019

17,758

2019

42,463

Total Reach 12% 2020

1,870,887

2019

1,667,318

INSTAGRAM

Followers 29%

Users Engaged 16%

2020

1,760

2020

33,954

2019

1,366

2019

29,359

SINDA IN THE NEWS 217 mentions of SINDA were made in 2020 across news media platforms: MEDIA MENTIONS BY THEME

Community 107 Family / Assistance 42

Views 311%

2019

7% MISC

YOUTH

Education 49

YOUTUBE

2020

Youth 3

84,241

Miscellaneous 16

20,479

19% FAMILY

49%

COMMUNITY

23%

EDUCATION

Total 217

MEDIA MENTIONS BY MEDIUM

TWITTER

Impressions 11%

Posts 112%

2020

88,574

2020

240

2019

99,058

2019

113

Broadcast 72 Print 59

40%

33%

ONLINE

BROADCAST

Online 86 EMAIL MARKETING A weekly EDM was sent to subscribers to boost programme enrolment and includes content marketing, such as impact stories and videos.

Total 217

27% PRINT

MEDIA MENTIONS BY LANGUAGE

Database Reach 4% 2020

17,823

2019

18,575

Tamil 119

36%

ENGLISH

English 79 Mandarin 12

BROADCAST MEDIA SINDA had a presence on Vasantham, ZEE TV, Sun TV, Star Vijay and Colors TV in 2020. Only high-enrolment programmes, such as the STEP Programme, were advertised on these broadcast platforms to maximise audience reach.

Malay 7 Total 217

55% TAMIL

SINDA CONNECTIONS In 2020, the SINDA Connections newsletter was sent to 61,400 households and community organisations. The newsletter was published in March and December.

MANDARIN

MALAY

C O R P O R AT E I N F O R M AT I O N

Code of Governance Disclosures B O A R D M E E T I N G S A N D AT T E N D A N C E ( E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E ) A total of four Executive Committee (EXCO) meetings were held in 2020. Members’ attendance were as follows: S/NO

NAMES

DESIGNATION

NO. OF MEETINGS HELD

NO. OF MEETINGS ATTENDED

Ms Indranee Rajah

President

Mr Shekaran Krishnan

Vice President

Mr K V Rao

Vice President

Mr Subramaniam Iyer

Treasurer

Mr Sarjit Singh

Secretary

Dr Joshua V M Kuma

Member

Mr Chandra Mohan Rethnam

Member

Mr K Ramamoorthy

Member

Mr Sarbjit Singh

Member

Ms Carmelia Nathen*

Member

Mr Darryl David

Co-opted

Mrs Rathi Parimalan

Co-opted

Mr Mohamed Nasim

Co-opted

Prof Vineeta Sinha

Co-opted

Mr Siraj Omar

Co-opted

* Executive Committee Member since June 2020

Members who have served for more than 10 consecutive years: 1. Ms Indranee Rajah has served as a Term Trustee, Board of Trustees, and President, Executive Committee, for more than 10 consecutive years. Ms Indranee has been re-nominated by the Board of Trustees in consideration of her leadership, guidance, and active contribution to the Association. 2. Mr Subramaniam Iyer has served as a Member of the Executive Committee for more than 10 consecutive years, during which, he was appointed as Treasurer for two separate 4-year stints. Mr Iyer was re-nominated by the Board of Trustees in consideration of his valuable insights and relevant financial expertise. All Board / Committee Members are independent and do not receive any remuneration for their services to SINDA. A newly appointed Board / Committee Member receives orientation from the management, which includes a briefing on their tenure, duties, and responsibilities.

ETHICAL REPORTING / WH ISTLEBLOWI NG POLICY SINDA is committed to high standards of compliance with accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, corporate governance, auditing requirements and any related legislation. An ethical reporting policy outlining various avenues for whistleblowing is in place to enable staff and other stakeholders to confidently raise concerns about possible wrongdoings, misconduct, or improprieties in financial and other matters. The ethics hotline is managed by an external vendor.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY SINDA has a Conflict of Interest Policy and operating procedures to ensure good governance and accountability in all its operations. This policy is acknowledged by the Board, Committee Members and employees, upon appointment and annually thereafter during their term of office or employment. In the event a conflict of interest situation arises, a member or employee who has a potential conflict of interest in any particular transaction will recuse themselves and not be involved in any further said transaction.

D ATA P R I VA C Y P O L I C Y SINDA recognises its obligations to the requirements of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and respects its stakeholders’ privacy choices. SINDA has a Data Privacy Policy that governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data submitted to SINDA and processes are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance. SINDA ensures that its employees comply with the standards of security and confidentiality, in line with industry standards. The Data Privacy Policy is available on the SINDA website.

DISCLOSURE AN D T R A N S PA R E N CY P R AC T I C E S The Executive Committee adheres to regular evaluation of its performance and effectiveness and ensures compliance with requirements of the Code of Governance. SINDA makes available to its stakeholders, information on its corporate governance, programmes, activities, services, audited financial statements, the Board and Committee Members, and key management details via its website, Annual and Financial Reports.

Moving Forward Together

Scan the QR code to view the SINDA Financial Statements 2020, or visit www.sinda.org.sg/FS2020

Scan the QR code to view the Education Statistics 2020, or visit www.sinda.org.sg/edustats2020

Singapore Indian Development Association 1 Beatty Road Singapore 209943 T: 1800 295 3333 E: queries@sinda.org.sg

mysinda SINDAchannel sinda.org.sg