SINDA Annual Report 2021

Nurturing A Resilient & Strong Community

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

EDUCATION

Maximising educational opportunities for all students

YOUTH

Inspiring youths towards greater achievements

FAMILY

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

COMMUNITY

Forging a stronger relationship with community partners

Board of Trustees

PATRON

Prime Minister

Lee Hsien Loong

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

TERM TRUSTEES

Ms Indranee Rajah

Mr Ravi Menon

Mr Girija Pande

Mr Gautam Banerjee

Justice Judith Prakash

Mr K Kesavapany

Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai

Mr Timothy Chia

Mr Piyush Gupta

Dr Sudha Nair

Mr Harjit Singh Bhatia

Mr K V Rao (From May 2021)

ADVISORS

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

Mr S Iswaran

Mr Vikram Nair

Executive Committee Management Executives

PRESIDENT

Ms Indranee Rajah

VICE PRESIDENTS

Mr Shekaran Krishnan

Mr Sarjit Singh

SECRETARY

Mr Siraj Omar

TREASURER

Mr G Arull (From May 2021)

MEMBERS

Mr Murali Pillai

Mr K Ramamoorthy

Mrs Rathi Parimalan

Mr Mohamed Nasim

Ms Carmelia Nathen

Prof Vineeta Sinha

Mr R Raghunathan (From June 2021)

Ms Praveen Randhawa (From June 2021)

Mr K V Rao (Till May 2021)

Mr Subramaniam Iyer (Till May 2021)

Dr Joshua V M Kuma (Till May 2021)

Mr Chandra Mohan Rethnam (Till May 2021)

Mr Sarbjit Singh (Till May 2021)

Mr Darryl Wilson David (Till May 2021)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mr Anbarasu Rajendran

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS

Mr Ravindran Nagalingam

Mr Thambyrajah T

President’s Message

Dear Friends of SINDA,

Between the last Annual Report and this one, much has happened. The community battled a second year of Covid-19, as the Delta and Omicron variants hit our shores.

Partnering with the community and the government, SINDA provided assistance to those in need, to help see them through the pandemic. Safe distancing measures meant fewer face-to-face interactions but we found innovative and meaningful ways to connect with and support one another.

INCREASED AND IMPACTFUL SUPPORT

SINDA continued to play an essential role in serving the needs of the community. Our financial and social services protected those who were vulnerable, while our academic and development programmes continued to help enrich lives in meaningful ways.

SINDA served 21,613 individuals in 2021. There was a 7% increase

in the number of students we benefitted, as we meaningfully sustained participants through our development and enrichment programmes, even though these had to be held virtually.

We disbursed $4.4 million in direct Covid-19 financial aid, serving all segments of the community. The spirit of resilience shone brightly. We worked hard to overcome

adversity and regain our footing, ensuring that those who needed the assistance most received it on time.

We also worked hard to ensure that our students’ learning and progress was not disrupted.

• We extended Back-To-SchoolFestival vouchers and kits to 4,200 less-privileged students – an increase of 20% from 3,500

students in 2020; this increase was made possible by working closely with schools to identify 700 new students who were not previously within SINDA’s fold.

• Close to 1,900 students continued to receive enhanced bursaries and allowances so that financial hardship did not hinder their learning.

• An additional 1,700 students received IT devices, to equip them for Home-Based Learning.

• In line with safe distancing measures, our academic programmes continued in hybrid formats so that our students’ studies remained undisrupted.

While the number of individuals and families seeking pandemicrelated assistance has reduced overall – indicating they are on the road to recovery – our assistance outreach was still 37% more than pre-pandemic times.

• 440 disadvantaged families will continue to receive SINDA Care Packages, which provide multiple tranches of financial aid to support their families.

• 2,250 families received Celebrate! Festive Gift Vouchers so that they can celebrate festival seasons with peace of mind.

• Over $100,000 was disbursed through transport vouchers

to ensure that the elderly, the disabled and pregnant mothers could still attend their medical appointments.

CONTINUED COMMUNITY BETTERMENT

While Covid-19 remained an overriding focus in 2021, we were nevertheless still able to introduce new programmes and services for our community.

• The Hello Toddler initiative saw children aged 2 to 3 receive bundles to promote their cognitive skills and encouraged stronger bonds between parents and their children.

• A series of programmes and workshops – in line with the Year of Celebrating SG Women – were rolled out to empower young women and build their confidence. This series will be expanded into sustained longterm programmes in 2022 to benefit women from all walks of life.

• Elder Care Services to look after the basic needs of the elderly and ensure their overall care and well-being.

A COLLECTIVE AND CARING SPIRIT

Throughout the pandemic, we saw the power and positive impact of collective action.

On our part, we worked with over 900 organisations, schools,

grassroots bodies, businesses, volunteers, and other individuals, in bringing our programmes and services to those in need.

FACING THE FUTURE TOGETHER

As we transition to living with Covid-19, we will be able to resume programmes and help our target profile to catch up on lost time.

SINDA stands ready to provide assistance in impactful ways and render appropriate support to our community. I am confident that we will ride the waves together, overcoming challenges and emerging stronger as a community.

Indranee Rajah President

SINDA Executive Committee

6,912 STUDENTS ENGAGED

3,821 FAMILIES ENRICHED

2,073

YOUTHS EMPOWERED

7,899

INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE

21,613

INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED BY SINDA

908

INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS CONNECTED WITH

$4.4 MILLION WAS DISBURSED THROUGH COVID-19 MEASURES IN 2021

Continued Covid-19 Measures to Support Our Community

For the past two years with the pandemic in full swing, SINDA has striven to take care of the Indian community, in particular, the vulnerable and less fortunate, arming them with the right resources and means to tackle the challenges brought about by Covid-19. In 2020, the organisation introduced many measures that were designed to meet the needs of every segment of the community.

In benefitting more and reaching a wider group, 2021 saw some of these measures expanded to uplift our families, while new schemes were added to serve their emerging needs. These support schemes were put together with one aim – to help the community recover and build resilience.

Nurturing Inner Potential

Despite her son, Thimajit, being born with cerebral palsy, Manomani never lost sight of his potential. As his main caregiver, she made sure he received the necessary education by enrolling him in the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School (CPASS). Upon his graduation, she felt the then 27-yearold needed to gain the necessary life skills to live independently. With this in mind, she approached the SINDA Family Service Centre (SFSC) for tuition assistance in 2018.

While her focus was to get help for Thimajit, Manomani faced many other stressors in her marriage, finances and caregiving role.

Besides matching Thimajit with a volunteer tutor for English and Mathematics, SINDA offered her counselling support to cope with her family issues as well as financial assistance, including the SINDA Resilience Package and the SINDA Care Package, during the pandemic period. As she had been neglecting her health, she was given transport vouchers to encourage her to follow up on her medical appointments.

Over time, with support from her counsellor, she was better able to manage her stress and boost her confidence in handling her responsibilities. Thimajit also became

more confident and conversant in English and speaks much more clearly. With her relationship now stable, both Manomani and her husband are committed to supporting Thimajit’s interests and dreams.

“SINDA’s help has been a huge boost to my family. My son and I are happier and more confident people as a result. He doesn’t view his condition as an obstacle to achieving his dream and I can finally smile again!”

K Manomani

–

54

Initiatives: SINDA Resilience Package, SINDA Care Package, Transport Vouchers, Casework and Counselling

Covid-19 Assistance in 2021

In 2021 alone, $4.4 million was channelled to aid families and individuals through these initiatives:

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

SINDA CARE SCHEME & SINDA RESILIENCE PACKAGE

Introduced in 2020, the SINDA Care Scheme and the SINDA Resilience Package provided immediate financial assistance to eligible families, to support them in purchasing their daily essentials.

SINDA extended these schemes into 2021 to continue safeguarding 439 vulnerable families by providing financial support throughout the year.

SINDA Care Scheme

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

SINDA Resilience Package

• A one-time $300 cash assistance was provided to eligible families for immediate financial relief.

$582,000

IN IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISBURSED TO FAMILIES.

SINDA ASSISTANCE FUNDS

(Read more on page 47)

SINDA offers financial aid to individuals and families in need. Targeted at different segments of the community, these schemes include:

• SINDA Women Empowerment Fund

• Beacon Fund

• Transport Vouchers

• Education Assistance Fund

• Project Athena

In 2021, SINDA disbursed financial assistance to 558 individuals through these funds.

$290,000 IN AID THROUGH SINDA ASSISTANCE FUNDS.

CELEBRATE! FESTIVE GIFT VOUCHERS

(Read more on page 46)

Gift vouchers, accompanied with goodie bags, were distributed to low-income families during their respective festive holidays – Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. 2,550 families received gift vouchers in 2021.

$306,000

WORTH OF FESTIVE GIFT VOUCHERS DISTRIBUTED.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

ENHANCED SINDA BURSARIES

Targeting school-going youths from low-income families, various SINDA bursaries provide financial assistance to primary, secondary and tertiary students. Throughout 2021, 1,017 students receiving bursaries were given an additional $50 top-up.

$1.89 Million DISBURSED TO STUDENTS THROUGH ENHANCED BURSARIES.

ITE STUDENT ALLOWANCE

Aimed at easing their financial burden and supplementing their families’ incomes, ITE students whose finances were affected by Covid-19 were given a $150 monthly allowance. Throughout 2021, 199 ITE students received allowance from SINDA. $279,000 IN ALLOWANCES PROVIDED TO ITE STUDENTS.

Complementing SINDA’s existing measures, the following schemes were launched to extend our support and meet specific needs.

PROJECT CARE

(Read more on pages 46 & 48)

Targeting families with young children and seniors, Project Care was introduced to ease their financial stresses amidst Covid-19.

For Young Children:

• Project Milk and Diapers: Provided support to 124 Indian families with newborn babies and/or children up to 6 years of age.

• RIGHTSave: 84 children and parents benefitted through this scheme.

DIGITAL DEVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS

With the growing need for e-learning during Covid-19, SINDA sought to help low-income students who were unable to obtain computers and other digital devices due to financial difficulties. Various digital devices including headsets, laptops and tablets, were provided to students in 2021, ensuring their education was not disrupted. $92,000 ON DIGITAL DEVICES FOR STUDENTS.

For Seniors:

• 24 seniors were helped by SINDA’s Day Care Centre Subsidy Scheme and the Senior Milk and Diaper Assistance Scheme that supported families in meeting the basic needs of the elderly.

$135,000 DISBURSED THROUGH PROJECT CARE INITIATIVES.

BACK TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Reaching out to 4,200 students, 20% more compared to 3,500 in 2020, SINDA provided $200 worth of vouchers to students – an increase from $180 from prior years.

$822,000

HELLO TODDLER

(Read more on page 39)

Complementing the Hello Baby gift bundle, SINDA introduced the Hello Toddler gift bundle in 2021 to reach out to families with toddlers aged 2 to 3 years old. In 2021, the gift bundles were delivered to 450 toddlers and their families.

IN BACK TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS DISTRIBUTED. $42,000 IN HELLO TODDLER GIFT BUNDLES DISTRIBUTED.

Students’ Academic Performance

The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) annual Education Statistics Digest (ESD) provides general indicators on academic performance in Singapore. The data presented below is extracted from the ESD 2021 and presents a 10-year trend of the Indian students’ academic performance.

Performance in all primary school subjects improved from 2019 to 2020

Over the last 10 years, the percentages of Indian students who scored A* to C in the English Language, Mathematics and Science increased by 0.5%, 7.3%, and 5.6% respectively as shown in Figure 1. This is also reflected in the trend of Indian students continuing to improve across all subjects in 2020. In particular, the percentage of Indian PSLE students who scored A* to C in Science increased by 2.1% from 2019 to 2020, despite the decrease of 0.5% from 2018 to 2019.

FIGURE 1: PERCENTAGE OF PSLE STUDENTS WHO SCORED A* TO C

Larger percentage of Primary 1 (P1) cohort progressed to post-secondary education in 2020

The percentage of Indian P1 students who progressed to post-secondary education increased from 92.5% to 94.7% (from 2011 to 2020). This trend was also reflected in the 2020 statistics, when the percentage of the Indian P1 cohort that progressed to post-secondary education rose by 0.8% from 2019 to 2020.

FIGURE 2:

OF PRIMARY 1 (P1) COHORT THAT PROGRESSED TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Gap between Indian students’ GCE O-Level results and national average has lessened Indian students have also progressively closed the gap with the national average, the gap reduced from 7.8% to 3.6% over the 10-year period. There was an overall 7.8% increase observed in the percentage of GCE O-Level students with at least five GCE O-Level passes since 2011.

Passing rates of Indian GCE N(A)-Level students in English Language and Mathematics have increased There has been an overall increase in GCE N(A)-Level Indian students passing rates in English Language and Mathematics as shown in Figure 4. In 2020, all students have passed the English Language and 93% have passed Mathematics. However, the performance in the Mother Tongue Languages has decreased by 0.6% as compared to 2019.

Larger percentage of Indian GCE N(T)-Level students have passed English Language and Mathematics

There has been a significant increase of 23.4% in the number of Indian GCE N(T)-Level students who have passed Mathematics, over the last 10 years as shown in Figure 5. For the same period, there was a 5.2% increase in students who have passed the English Language in contrast to Mother Tongue, which saw a 1.7% decrease, compared to 2019.

Performance of Indian GCE A-Level students has improved in 2020

There was a 2.6% overall increase of Indian GCE A-Level students with at least three ‘H2’ passes and a pass in General Paper / Knowledge and Inquiry (GP/KI) over the last 10 years as shown in Figure 6. There is a 4.5% difference between Indian GCE A-Level students who have passed as compared to the national average in 2020.

Maximising Educational Opportunities for All Students

At SINDA, we are inspired by the infinite potential of every child. We maintain an unwavering focus on advancing the academic performance of Indian students to fulfil their potential, regardless of family, social or economic circumstances.

Our academic programmes embrace each student’s unique learning abilities and capacities and surround them with the curricula and resources needed for their academic journey. By partnering industry experts and constantly analysing the educational landscape and trends, SINDA offers students the best possible education to optimise their opportunities and broaden their future.

812

Pre-schoolers in Academic Enrichment Programmes

720

High-performing Students Awarded for Excellence in their Respective Fields

21

Recipients of Study Awards / Grants

478

Students Received Academic Support

6,912

Students Engaged by SINDA

518

Students in Teach Programme

39

Students in the Collaborative Tuition Programme

414

Tutors

Trained

4,324

STEP Students

Enriched by an All-Rounded Education

As avid Taekwondo fans, 12-year-old Lashell and Leshawn were eager to pick up the sport. They already received support from SINDA’s Teach programme and Back To School vouchers. However, with four school-going children in their family, finances were stretched. To provide the siblings with the resources to pursue their passion, SINDA additionally supported them through the Equal Opportunity Fund (EOF), enabling them to kick-start their Taekwondo journey and hone their diverse capabilities.

“We are happy that we are able to learn Taekwondo, something that we have been wanting to do. Our lessons have been very fun and we are grateful that we can pursue our passion. We look forward to joining SINDA’s youth-related programmes and initiatives in the future.”

Lashell Nishan Pillai and Leshawn Nishan Pillai – 12 Programmes: Teach, Equal Opportunity Fund and Back To School Vouchers

“ Ms Pradashini diligently provided feedback on my work. She got me to think seriously about my future and gave advice on choosing my post-secondary courses. All these contributed to a positive learning experience at STEP tuition. My family and I are immensely thankful for SINDA’s numerous initiatives and ecosystem of support.”

Tazzmietra Raj Kumar – 17

Pradashini d/o Subramaniam – 33 Programme: SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP)

A STEP in the Right Direction

Ever since she was in Primary 3, Tazzmietra has been faithfully attending STEP. Having four other siblings meant that finances were often tight at home, with little to spare for tuition classes. For this, Tazzmietra turned to STEP.

The programme’s small class sizes and tutorial format allowed her to clarify doubts and boosted her confidence, while the provision of a laptop during 2020’s circuit breaker period greatly facilitated her Home-Based Learning. Over the years, the support she received led to marked academic progress, culminating in the now-teenager scoring an A2 in Mathematics for her GCE O-Level examinations.

Tazzmietra attributes her improved performance to STEP, in particular her tutor, Pradashini. Having been a tutor with SINDA for more than a decade, Pradashini takes an active interest in her charges, checking on their well-being and learning about their aspirations. Going beyond the classroom, she stays connected through WhatsApp so that her students can reach her for clarifications at any time.

It is this dedication that made the difference for Tazzmietra. Beyond providing academic support, Pradashini’s holistic approach is a big reason Tazzmietra continues to trust in STEP as she embarks on her post-secondary life.

692 pre-schoolers benefitted from SINDA’s pre-school programmes in 2021.

PRE-SCHOOL ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Aimed at nurturing an interest in learning from a young age, pre-school academic enrichment is a key pillar in our efforts to enhance education. In 2021, a total of 692 pre-schoolers benefitted from SINDA’s programmes.

The Literacy and Numeracy (LYNN) programme arms pre-schoolers with a strong foundation in reading, writing and basic numeracy. Over six months, facilitators cultivate the students’ interest and confidence in these areas to prepare them for primary school education.

Targeting pre-schoolers aged 5 to 6 years, the Pre-school Tamil Enrichment programme strengthens language competency and foundation through interactive learning, with the aim of developing a positive attitude towards the Tamil language.

In 2021, in line with safe management measures, the pre-school academic programmes were conducted virtually to ensure pre-schoolers continued their learning from the comfort of their homes. The use of technology allowed for the use of videos, songs and online games, while parents were able to be more involved and gain a better understanding of their child’s progress and developmental needs.

STEP

4,324

primary, secondary and A-Level students benefitted from STEP in 2021, through a mix of virtual and in-person lessons

Designed for primary, secondary and A-Level students, SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP) is a holistic after-school tutorial programme that strengthens their understanding of concepts, raises confidence in school and enhances performance in core subjects.

Beyond academic improvement, STEP plays a vital role in identifying students in need of social, developmental or financial support, assisted by centre principals, administrators and tutors. These students are referred to relevant departments within SINDA for further support. Throughout 2021, STEP was conducted via a blend of virtual and in-person lessons to benefit 4,324 students.

TEACH

Centred on intensive small group coaching, Teach helps students who score 69 marks and below in their core subjects improve their academic performance. The school-based tutorial programme emphasises strong collaborative partnerships between schools, parents and teachers to raise student competency.

Together with STEP, Teach embraces the Collaborative Tuition Programme (CTP) model, allowing 39 students of all races to enrol in 2021. In light of Home-Based Learning, Teach was conducted virtually over the past year and attended by 518 students.

PROJECT GUIDE

Through Project Guide, primary and secondary school students without tuition access receive homework assistance and academic support. The community-based supplementary programme provides a conducive after-school environment for them to complete their homework and receive mentorship and customised learning from qualified tutors. During 2021, 329 students took part in the programme.

518 primary and secondary students attended Teach Programme virtually in 2021.

329 students benefitted from Project Guide in 2021.

A record 720 students received their SINDA Excellence Awards from Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong for their outstanding performance in their respective fields.

TUTOR DEVELOPMENT

Continous training and teaching development are crucial to ensure our students continue to benefit from SINDA’s education programmes. While preparing our tutors to effectively deliver customised and differentiated curriculum, such programmes also keep them abreast with Singapore’s educational landscape and other relevant trends. 2021 saw 414 tutors undergo training through various learning platforms.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

SINDA provides holistic academic support that not only aids students in their learning, but also encourages parent involvement. These initiatives complement our tutorial programmes and include:

Education Plus: Nurtures students’ physical, social and mental growth while their parents benefit from positive parenting workshops.

Equal Opportunity Fund: Boosts the development of students from low-income families by funding their participation in enrichment programmes in the fields of arts, music and sports.

Holistic Care: Improves the lives of high-risk students and their families via a multi-level support system.

In total, SINDA’s academic support benefitted 4,244 parents and students over the last year.

SEA ALUMNI

The SINDA Excellence Award (SEA) Alumni harnesses the talents, strengths and skills of young Singaporean Indians to give back to their community. The Alumni provides avenues for its members to showcase their talents and expertise, as they volunteer for SINDA’s programmes and initiatives. In addition, its collaborations with internal and external partners create opportunities for members to expand their networks while providing platforms for their own growth and development. Till date, the Alumni has grown to encompass 74 members.

414 tutors received training through various learning platforms in 2021.

4,244 parents and students benefitted from SINDA’s academic support in 2021.

74 members were part of SEA Alumni in 2021

STUDY AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS

SINDA enables students to pursue higher education and upgrade their skillsets through several scholarship schemes. Created in collaboration with established educational institutions, organisations and donors, scholarships were offered in 2021, with 21 individuals awarded partial or full scholarships, worth up to $170,000, to pursue diploma or degree courses.

The following scholarships were available in 2021:

• APU – SINDA Scholarship

• Dr Balaji Sadasivan Study Award

• KAPLAN – SINDA Scholarship

• Lighthouse - SINDA Scholarship

Never Too Late to Learn

• Optimum Solutions –SINDA Scholarship

• PSBA – SINDA Scholarship

• SAA – SINDA Scholarship

21 individuals awarded partial or full scholarships by SINDA in 2021.

• SCCCF - SINDA Scholarship

• SIA – SINDA Undergraduate Scholarship

• SICCI - SINDA Scholarship

• SIMM – SINDA Scholarship

“The scholarship was an excellent pathway to upgrade myself and improve my career prospects. I am grateful for this opportunity. I hope that through my journey, my boys will be inspired to never give up on their dreams, regardless of any obstacles.”

Divorced mother of three, Pamela, has always striven to be an inspiration to her sons. Although balancing raising her boys and her job as a Neighbourhood Committee Manager at a community club did not leave her with much spare time, she never gave up her dream of pursuing higher education, eventually clinching the PSBA-SINDA Scholarship in 2021.

Pamela first connected with SINDA in 2016 when her son was in secondary school. Since then, her boys have benefitted from its various initiatives including the NeuPC programme, SINDA’s monthly financial assistance scheme, Back To School vouchers and the SINDA-SIET Tertiary bursary.

With her eldest now 22 and the younger two in their late teens, Pamela decided it was time to fulfil her goals and was accepted into Edinburgh Napier University’s Bachelor of Arts Business Management programme, offerd by PSBA. The scholarship, which covered 50% of her course fees and an interest-free study loan from SIET, significantly reduced the cost of her studies, giving her a second chance as a mature student and proving that age is no obstacle in achieving one’s aspirations.

Govinden Pamela Leah – 48 Programme: PSBA-SINDA Scholarship, SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary, NeuPC, SINDA Financial Assistance and Back To School Vouchers

Inspiring Youths Towards Greater Achievements

SINDA’s youth programmes aim to realise the potential of Indian youths and guide them onto pathways of growth and success. Carefully tailored motivational and mentorship programmes empower each one in building positive values and developing good character, while boosting their self-esteem. The result are youths who thrive in positive peer circles and grow into confident and capable adults.

Complementing these efforts are the SINDA Youth Club’s leadership programmes. Here, students who demonstrate leadership abilities embark on a journey of self-discovery anchored in sustained leadership training, as they debate national- and community-centric topics and ideate creative solutions to thematic issues.

1,046

Youths in Motivational and Character Development Programmes

230

Youths Engaged through Skills-based Programmes

66

Youth Partners Networked With

111

Youths Underwent Sustained Leadership Training

2,073

Youths Empowered by SINDA

174

Participants Engaged through Workshops and Seminars

123

Participants in Youth Engagement Programmes

125

Youths Mentored

1,335

Youths Visited the Youth Hub and Online Engagement Platforms

110

ITE Students Engaged

Representing Her Community to the Nation

Yesha’s encounter at Camp Arise in 2014 was a life-changing one. Inspired by her mentors’ love for new experiences, the shy teenager signed up for various SINDA programmes and volunteered her time to support the community. Since graduating from the Peer Leadership Programme, she went on to mentor newer participants as a SINDA Peer Leader and was nominated as a Youth Valedictorian in 2021. Today, she advocates for the Indian community as a Youth Advisory Group member of the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

“I’ve blossomed through SINDA’s programmes and now I’m very proud to be able to represent the Indian community on a national level. I hope to harness the skills I have learnt to help other youths and motivate them to give back to the community.”

Kamakshi Ravikumar Yesha – 19 Programme: Peer Leadership Programme

“ I am very glad to have Jeevaraj as my mentor. Having a passion in Public Service, my mentor has been instrumental in shaping my goals for the future and has provided very good input in my internship search. Although it has been more than a year, he still makes himself available and checks up on me regularly.”

Mentee: M Haridoss – 24

Mentor: Jeevaraj Suppiah – 36

Programme: Mentor Me

Building Lives through Mentorship

After completing his A-Levels, Haridoss was unsure of his way forward. While he was interested in a career in the Public Service, he also had many doubts. Hoping to gain clarity, he joined Mentor Me in 2021 and was matched with Jeevaraj who is working in the Public Service and was well-suited to offer him guidance.

His mentor’s approachable manner saw Haridoss quickly open up to him. Under his mentorship, Haridoss not only learnt of the potential challenges ahead, but also gleaned a better understanding of his strengths and weaknesses. This led to him making informed decisions and becoming more confident about his chosen path.

Besides guiding Haridoss in his career, Jeevaraj also imbued practical skills, coaching the Political Science undergraduate to improve his resume writing skills to aid his internship applications. As he journeyed alongside Haridoss, Jeevaraj worked with him to value his potential and believe in himself. Today, Haridoss is a confident young adult eager to explore new opportunities and tackle the challenges ahead.

110

64

female youths took part in women empowerment programmes in 2021

ITE nable

Through ITEnable, students gain life skills and positive values, while staying motivated in their academic journey. Formerly known as ITE Aspire, the motivational programme saw 110 students join in online versions of the programme throughout 2021, where they discussed relevant topics such as wellness and the challenges faced during the pandemic.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

With the Ministry of Social and Family Development dedicating 2021 as the Year of Celebrating SG Women, SINDA organised a series of empowerment programmes for young women, featuring female volunteers, activists and women-centric organisations. The initiative was carried out throughout the year, and included the SINDA Football Club’s in-person empowerment programme, the Guidance and Mentorship (GAME) programme and ITEnable Women Empowerment workshop. 64 female youths held meaningful conversations with panelists and guest speakers about various issues faced by women today.

Female youths participated and engaged in meaningful conversations in a series of women empowerment programmes that featured female volunteers and women-centric organisations.

MENTOR ME

Long-term youth mentorship programme Mentor Me supports tertiary-level students in achieving their goals through specialised workshops and mentor matching. In 2021, the initiative gained added focus in three areas, namely, career mentoring, youth mentoring and skillsbased workshops. Paired with 85 industry professionals volunteering as mentors, 125 youths received impactful insights, with 95% attaining their goals with their mentors’ help.

ITE students engaged in 2021.

125 youths benefitted from Mentor Me in 2021.

YOUTH ENABLE

Centred on character development, Youth Enable empowers students to achieve positive outcomes. The structured motivational programme nurtures them, enhancing their social and emotional intelligence and grooming them into confident, resilient individuals. In addition, it arms students with crucial study techniques and exam preparation skills to improve their academic performance. The programme engaged 985 youths through talks and workshops in 2021.

985 youths were engaged through talks and workshops in 2021.

GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP

In enhancing the development of Indian youth, the Guidance and Mentorship Programme (GAME) nurtures youths aged 13 to 21 through interactive skills-learning activities and mentorship via a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework.

Immersed in a supportive environment and led by trained youth facilitators, 129 participants engaged in various interest-based GAME programmes during the past year, of whom 70% effectively applied the skills learnt while 90% showed improvement in SEL elements.

PEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

Aimed at shaping the potential of youth programme participants who display exceptional leadership skills, the Peer Leadership Programme harnesses experiential workshops to equip them with the necessary skills, values and knowledge to emerge as active peer leaders. Upon successful completion, they take up leadership responsibilities in other SINDA youth programmes. 2021 saw 61 youth hone their abilities under this Programme.

129 youth participants engaged in various interest-based GAME programmes in 2021

61 youths honed their abilities through SINDA’s Peer Leadership Programme in 2021

“ SI NDA Youth Club has given me many opportunities to learn new skills and implement them, even when I was just a teenager. I hope to be a positive example for the community, while highlighting issues faced by fellow Indians and rallying my peers to contribute to meaningful causes.”

Mridula Kumar – 21

Programmes

Inspired to Pay It Forward

When Mridula was presented with the SINDA Excellence Award in 2013, it ignited a passion to give back to society. Inspired to pay it forward, she began volunteering at the National Library Board (NLB)-SINDA Book Rangers’ Club in 2016, where she reads to primary school students to promote bilingualism. Having also been introduced to SINDA Youth Club, Mridula joined the SINDA Youth Leaders Seminar (SYLS) in 2017 which helped her to realise her leadership capabilities.

Demonstrating her strong initiative over the years, Mridula has stepped forward for various SINDA Youth Club initiatives. From being a participant of SYLS, she went on to design impactful experiences for her peers as a SYLS facilitator in 2019. Beyond this, Mridula gained exposure to leadership frameworks through co-leading two editions of the SINDA Young Leaders’ Programme (SYLP) as a sub-committee member in 2020 and 2021.

Last year, the high-achiever showed her well-honed leadership skills by facilitating conversations at the Indian Youth Conference and SINDA’s women empowerment programmes. Apart from expanding her world view, these programmes deepened her connection with the Indian community and motivated her to play a bigger role in the community.

: SINDA Youth Leaders Seminar (SYLS), SINDA Young Leaders’ Programme (SYLP), NLB-SINDA Book Rangers’ Club (Volunteer)

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES

At SINDA, opportunities and platforms are readily available to youths who exhibit potential. The leadership programme series of the SINDA Youth Club (SYC) targets various segments of the youth community, with 111 youths benefitting from these initiatives in 2021.

111

youths benefitted from SINDA Leadership Programmes in 2021.

138

youths were empowered through Project Aspire and SYC Speak in 2021.

ITE Leadership Programme (ITELP) is a five-month course that grooms Indian ITE students into effective leaders by aiding their development and affording them opportunities to conceptualise and execute projects for social good.

SINDA Young Leaders Seminar (SYLS) shapes youth from diverse academic backgrounds into youth leaders. In 2021, SYLS’ Youth Empowerment Camp welcomed 14 youths. Over two days, they picked up skills in preparation for tertiary education while networking with their peers.

The SINDA Young Leaders Programme (SYLP) transforms youths into active contributors to the community through leadership and service. Focused on the three aspects of leadership – self, team and community – SYLP 2021 featured online sessions for participants’ continued sharing and learning.

65 youths were part of 2021’s edition of the ITE Leadership Programme (ITELP) which saw them work on causes they are passionate about. They presented their projects to Guest-Of-Honour, Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development & Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration at the graduation ceremony.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

Under Project Aspire, tertiary-level students are schooled in skills essential for the corporate world through a series of interactive workshops. Meanwhile, SYC Speak serves as a platform for youth to dialogue with experts, leaders and changemakers on social issues. In 2021, Project Aspire and SYC Speak empowered a combined total of 138 youths.

YOUTH LEADERS NETWORKING

The SINDA Youth Club (SYC) brings different Indian youth groups together to build upon each other’s strengths and contribute positively to the community. Working in tandem with partnering organisations, SYC organised the following initiatives in 2021:

• A Mindfulness Session was conducted in collaboration with Club2Care to provide 18 youths with ideas and tools to cope amidst the pandemic and reinforce a positive presence of mind.

• The Connecting Trailblazers: Networking Event, held in partnership with Tamizha, saw 29 youths network with

From Participant to Programme Lead

industry professionals from various backgrounds as they gleaned insights into the corporate world.

• SYC hosted a Facilitation Training Workshop for participants from the Tamils Representative Council Youth Wing to imbue the skills needed to better engage participants for their own programmes.

• The Indian Youth Conference (IYC) provides a platform for youth leaders of various organisations to convene and discuss crucial matters facing the community. Comprising three workshops, the 2021 IYC immersed 15 Indian youth leaders in discussions as they co-created solutions for issues present in the community.

“We are responsible for our own growth and future. ITELP and SINDA gave me the opportunities to hone and grow my soft skills so that I can positively impact others.”

When Amin first signed up for ITELP in 2015, he had no idea that he would later return as its Programme Lead. Then an ITE student, he was disheartened by the negative connotations associated with ITE and wanted to prove his worth. Seeking to take ownership of his leadership training and growth, he joined the programme. Throughout the course, he honed his public speaking and project management skills, which in turn improved his performance in school and in his extra-curricular activities.

Although ITELP was his first encounter with SINDA Youth Club (SYC), he readily took up other opportunities at SINDA to empower others like him. Putting his newfound leadership skills into action, he became a facilitator, mentor, programme lead and advisor with ITELP. Today, he continues to shape the programme and take fellow programme leads under his wing.

Amin is also a primary committee member of SYC, where he plans collaborations with other youth organisations to tackle community issues and drive support for the nation’s arts, culture and sports scenes.

Mohamed Amin Bin Adimai – 26 Programme: ITE Leadership Programme (ITELP)

Engaging Parents to Play Active Roles in Their Children’s Lives

SINDA nurtures cohesive and resilient families through enrichment programmes and bonding sessions to cement strong family units that positively impact every child’s development.

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.

1,871

Parents Benefitted from Parenting Workshops

709

Children Attended Enrichment Workshops

353

Pre-schoolers Engaged

3,821 Children and Parents Enriched

440

Individuals Engaged through Family Bonding Activities

Discovering New Interests

Wanting to make the most of their time during the pandemic, siblings Sadhanaa and Sarveesh attended SINDA’s children enrichment and digital literacy programmes. While bonding with each other during the interactive sessions, they discovered a deep interest in coding and robotics, eventually taking part in SINDA’s Digital Day 2021 together. Besides gaining new skills, their whole family joined in the organisation’s family bonding programmes to strengthen ties, while the duo received Back To School vouchers to support their education.

214

Mothers and Children Empowered through Project Athena

33

Individuals Helped through the Prison Reintegration Programme

651

Hello Baby and Hello Toddler Hampers Distributed

“SINDA’s digital programmes have introduced us to a whole new world of robotics and coding! Through the fun and interactive sessions, we’ve realised our passion for it and hope to pursue more digital programmes in the future.”

Sadhanaa d/o Gobinathan – 10 & Sarveesh s/o Gobinathan – 12 Programmes: SINDA Digital Day, Back To School Vouchers

“ SI NDA has helped my family in so many ways. For this, I am truly grateful. I now have a strong bond with my children and with all the knowledge and skills gained, I am a stronger and more confident mother.”

Shamala Masilamany

– 42

Programmes: Project Athena, SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP), Back To School Vouchers and SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary

Help for the Whole Family

Over the years, Project Athena has been a pillar of support for Shamala. An active participant since 2018, she has gained the right tools to empower her to stay positive and resilient in any storm, while juggling her responsibilities as a single mother of four without overstressing herself. Besides gaining new life skills, Project Athena is also her safe space to take a break and destress as she catches up with other mothers in the programme.

Critically, the programme’s myriad of activities has allowed her to forge stronger ties with her children, especially her twin 11-year-old boys, Lohendra and Lukesh, who look forward to Project Athena’s weekly swimming classes. The duo also benefit from academic support with STEP and have been recipients of the Back To School vouchers for the past three years, through which they can pick out their favourite school supplies. As finances can be stretched, the support from the vouchers provides some breathing room for the family, taking care of the twins’ school needs so that Shamala can focus on her eldest son and youngest daughter. SINDA’s help has also extended to her eldest son. As a beneficiary of the SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary, he can stay motivated and work towards his dream of becoming a teacher.

children

digital literacy programmes in 2021.

DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMMES

SINDA’s digital literacy programmes nurture tech-savvy students to prepare them for a STEM-focused future. Children aged 7 to 12 are imbued with computational and coding skills as they develop an early interest in technology-based learning and careers.

During the year, some 429 children took part in the digital literacy programmes, which included SINDA Digital Day. The 2021 edition of the event was held virtually and formed part of our continual efforts to upskill children in coding. Complementing the session was a parenting talk, where parents gained the right skill sets and knowledge to support their children in their digital journeys.

CHILDREN ENRICHMENT

Through instilling positive values and the right skills sets, SINDA’s children enrichment programmes set a solid foundation to prepare pre-school and primary level students for the future. Here, participants are surrounded with holistic learning opportunities that enhance academic learning and overall character development. In addition, each programme is designed to pique their curiosity and encourage them to explore the environment around them. Throughout 2021, a total of 633 children joined the enrichment programmes.

benefitted from

The annual Back To School Festival saw its largest number of recipients in 2021. SINDA distributed vouchers worth $200 to 4,200 students and families to prepare them for the new school year, a 20% increase in recipients from 2020.

children benefitted from enrichment programmes in 2021.

Indian single mothers and children were assisted through Project Athena in 2021.

PROJECT ATHENA

In 2021, 214 Indian single mothers and children were assisted by Project Athena – an initiative that equips single mothers with the necessary skills to become selfsufficient, resilient and confident in raising their families. Guided by trained social workers, mothers and children attend individual counselling and group therapy designed to help them overcome challenges and lead meaningful lives together.

participants received gift bundles in 2021; of these, 129 parents went on to enrol in other SINDA programmes.

HELLO BABY & HELLO TODDLER

Over the last year, 651 Indian families with babies up to 12-months-old and toddlers aged between 2- and 3-years-old received SINDA’s Hello Baby and Hello Toddler gift bundles. In promoting cognitive skill development, the bundles comprised various educational toys and tools for parents to build positive bonds with their children and play active roles in their lives.

Conceived as early intervention initiatives, these also serve as gateways for parents to discover more family-related programmes at SINDA. In 2021, our efforts saw 129 bundle recipients sign up for SINDA’s other initiatives.

114 mothers and children shared affirmations of love and strengthened their bonds through a series of bonding activities, organised as part of Project Athena’s Mother’s Day celebrations.

PARENTING WORKSHOP

1,871 parents were engaged through SINDA’s parenting workshops.

440 parents and children attended 2021’s family bonding activities.

At our parenting workshops, we encourage stronger parent-child bonds and cultivate stable, self-sufficient families. Anchored in key themes, these sessions impart knowledge and approaches, enabling parents to understand the importance of their children’s development, help them build essential skills and support their significant growth stages. 2021 saw 1,871 parents attend our parenting programmes, including:

• Positive Parenting;

• Understanding Early Childhood;

• Pre-school, Primary 1, Secondary 1 and Post-Secondary Starter Series;

• Father-Child Bonding Sessions; and

• Parent Engagement Workshops

429 children were able to get a taste of coding and programming through SINDA’s digital literacy programmes in 2021. Held throughout the year, children aged 7-12 were able to pick up the basic principles of computer science and digital literacy through various digital enrichment programmes.

FAMILY BONDING

Taking place throughout the year, SINDA’s motivational and enrichment programmes nurture continued learning among children and develop them to their fullest potential. At the same time, families get to spend quality time together, build greater rapport and understand the importance of being positive influences in each other’s lives. Held virtually due to safe distancing measures, 2021’s family bonding activities welcomed 440 adults and children.

PRISON REINTEGRATION

The Prison Reintegration programme supports incarcerated and 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.

As part of these reintegration efforts, sustained parenting programmes also commenced in 2021, covering important themes such as positive parenting, educational pathways and acceptance.

Holistic Support for the Whole Family

33 individuals supported through the Prison Reintegration programme.

In 2021, 33 mothers attended these programmes and found them to be beneficial in communicating more confidently with their children.

“The programme has not only given me the skills to become a more involved parent but SINDA has also ensured that my children’s educational journey is not disrupted and my family is looked after.”

Shamini – 47

(Not her real name)

Initiatives: Prison Reintegration Programme, SINDA Tutorials for Enhanced Performance (STEP), Project Guide, Project Athena, SINDA Community Assistance Fund

Having been part of SINDA’s Prison Reintegration Programme, Shamini was able to make the most of her time away from her family. As she gleaned vital skills to build resilience and improve communication with her children, she gained new confidence in her ability to strengthen bonds and be more involved in their lives.

In her absence, SINDA stepped in to bridge the gap and empower her family, availing its host of programmes to her children and their grandmother. To ensure their educational needs were met, the children were enrolled in STEP and Project Guide. At the same time, the family benefitted from a wide range of financial aid and, academic support – from children enrichment programmes, to the SINDA Community Assistance Fund (SCAF) and Back To School Festival (BTSF) vouchers.

With SINDA’s help, the family was better able to overcome challenges and ensure the children’s education remained uninterrupted. Importantly, it allowed Shamini to improve ties with her family as she looks forward to a brighter future with them.

(SCAF) and Back To School Festival (BTSF) vouchers

Assistance to Support Our Community

The SINDA Family Service Centre (SFSC) is the key conduit of the organisation’s family-focused social assistance efforts. Through its diverse social work and family assistance schemes, disadvantaged families and individuals receive the resources, encouragement and support they need to become resilient and self-sufficient.

Emphasising holistic support for every client, the SFSC’s work is complemented by the intervention programmes of other SINDA divisions. Through this combination of programmes, resources, knowledge and support, SINDA empowers families towards overcoming challenges, rebuilding their lives and igniting a better future.

2,308

Families Received Information and Referral Services

1,646

Clients and Family Members Supported through Casework

51

Inmates and their Families Assisted through the Reintegration Programme

44

Elderly were Matched with Befrienders

326

Received Allowances and Skills Upgrading Support

7,899

Individuals Received Assistance

2,550

Families Received Celebrate! Festive Gift Vouchers

1,671

Students Received Education-related Financial Assistance

82

Children Benefitted from RIGHTSave

537

4,200

Back To School Vouchers Distributed to Students

Bouncing Back from Adversity

Thavamary found herself without a job when an illness badly affected her vision. Then Covid-19 hit. Her husband’s income was drastically reduced and her two sons lost their part-time jobs. SINDA quickly encircled her with counselling support and financial assistance, while providing the SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary for her sons’ polytechnic education. Together with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, SINDA FSC provided her with job training, through

Individuals Received Help through SINDA’s Network of National Partner Organisations

which she gained new employment as a telemarketer.

“Despite facing a life-changing setback, SINDA’s intervention helped me gain meaningful employment improving my independence and my family’s financial situation.”

Thavamary – 49

Initiatives: SINDA Financial Assistance, Casework and Counselling, and SINDA-SIET Tertiary Bursary

“ SI NDA gave me every support possible to help my family improve our lives. We are now reunited and I am very grateful my son has settled well into school life and has the help he needs for his educational journey.”

Kalavathi d/o Annadorai – 45

Initiatives: SINDA Bursary, SINDA Resilience Package, SINDA Care Package, ComCare Assistance, Emergency Financial Assistance, Women Empowerment Fund, Festive Gift Packs, Back To School Vouchers and Project Guide

Supporting Her through Thick and Thin

By the time Kalavathi was referred to SINDA, she was struggling on multiple fronts. Her 12-year-old son, Yogachandra, had gone to Malaysia when Covid-19 struck and was unable to return. She also faced financial trouble as the sole breadwinner supporting four other family members and, after having gone through several adversities, was emotionally drained.

While resilient and resourceful, Kalavathi needed help. After assessing her situation, the SINDA FSC put together an intervention plan. Her social worker liaised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Yogachandra’s return and worked with the Ministry of Education to secure his school placement. SINDA also approached the Housing & Development Board to help mother and son obtain a rental flat, as they have been staying at Kalavathi’s workplace.

To help her and her family cope financially, Kalavathi was given funding via diverse SINDA assistance schemes. The social worker also engaged her in several counselling sessions to help her process the numerous challenges in her life, recognise her strengths and enhance her innate resilience.

With SINDA’s help, Kalavathi is now well on her way to purchasing her own flat and reuniting her family under one roof, while Yogachandra is busy preparing for the PSLE with support from SINDA’s Project Guide.

3,954

individuals were assisted in 2021

INFORMATION & REFERRAL AND CASEWORK & COUNSELLING

To increase early identification of at-risk families, the SINDA FSC conducts a holistic assessment of the families’ needs and connects beneficiaries to relevant services. This information and referral service assisted over 2,308 clients and individuals in 2021, while casework and counselling reached some 1,646 families and individuals. The latter targets individuals and families facing financial, interpersonal and family-related challenges to empower them with the knowledge, skills, resources and support to achieve resilience and stability.

CELEBRATE! FESTIVE GIFT VOUCHERS

2,550

gift vouchers were distributed to underprivileged families in 2021.

206 children benefitted from Project Care schemes.

SINDA spreads festive cheer to low-income families by gifting them vouchers during their respective festive holidays − Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. Valued at $120 each, the vouchers are distributed to the families’ doorsteps by a network of volunteers comprising individuals as well as members of corporate and religious organisations. Together with the support of community partners, organisations and individual volunteers, 2,550 gift vouchers were distributed to underprivileged families in 2021.

PROJECT CARE

Amidst the pandemic, SINDA launched Project Care to help low-income families defray the financial costs of raising children. The initiative features two schemes –the Milk and Diaper scheme, which relieves some of the parents’ financial burdens, and the RIGHTSave scheme, which encourages parents to save by leveraging the Government’s dollar-for-dollar matching scheme and Child Development Account.

In 2021, 206 children benefitted from both the Milk & Diaper and RIGHTSave schemes.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SINDA offers monetary aid to individuals and families in need. Beyond Covid-19 financial help, the following support schemes were also offered in 2021. More information on SINDA’s Covid-19 assistance can be found on pages 6, 8 and 9.

SINDA Financial Assistance Schemes:

• 64 clients benefitted from the Women Empowerment Fund, which was instituted in 2019 to support women and girls from low-income families with financial assistance.

• Initiated in 2018, the Beacon Fund provides emergency interim financial assistance to individuals and families, and assisted 72 individuals in the past year.

• Initiated by the Indian Business-leaders’ Roundtable (IBR), the Education Assistance Fund supports low-income Indian families who have challenges paying for their children’s school fees. It helped six students in 2021.

• To ease the burden of transport costs and make medical appointments more accessible, SINDA provides Transport Vouchers to the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and eligible clients with chronic health issues, with 202 individuals receiving vouchers in 2021.

Education-related Assistance Schemes:

• Pre-School Bursary: 254 children

• SINDA Bursary:

1,017 primary and secondary students

• Post-Secondary Bursary: 364 students

• Before and After School Care Subsidy: 36 students

• Back to School Vouchers: 4,200 students

Assistance Jointly Offered with Partner Organisations:

• Comcare (with MSF): 24 clients

• Home Access (with IMDA): 230 households / individuals

• NEU PC Plus (with IMDA): 43 households / individuals

• Singapore Press Holdings Foundation: 264 individuals

In 2021, to spread festive joy during Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas, SINDA volunteers and partners helped to distribute 2,550 Celebrate!Festive Gift Packs to beneficiaries islandwide.

ELDERLY BEFRIENDERS PROGRAMME

In enhancing the social and emotional well-being of seniors, SINDA’s Elderly Befriender programme connects seniors with befrienders, who engage them through meaningful outdoor engagements. Through these activities, befrienders journey with the elderly to overcome issues such as loneliness, improve their mental well-being and enable them to forge new friendships with the wider community.

In 2021, SINDA expanded the programme to provide the elderly with access to community resources and to enhance their daily and social functioning via befriending initiatives helmed by trained SINDA volunteers. During the year, 21 befrienders engaged 44 elderly under the programme’s various initiatives.

44 elderly were engaged via the Elderly Befrienders programme.

ELDER CARE SERVICES

In light of the increasing needs of Singapore’s ageing population, the SINDA Elder Care Services (ECS) initiative was launched in 2021. Addressing the basic needs of the elderly, ECS focuses on upholding their overall care, health, nutrition and hygiene through the following schemes:

• Senior Daycare Subsidy provides fee subsidies to eligible seniors at daycare centres and links Indian elders with relevant community social resources to encourage social interaction with their fellow seniors.

• Milk & Diaper Assistance (Seniors) meets the basic nutrition and hygiene needs of seniors by supplying up to $210 worth of milk and diapers, and helps lessen the financial strain on families facing challenges in these areas.

In 2021, 24 elderly benefitted from SINDA’s Elder Care Services.

elderly benefitted from SINDA’s Elder Care Services.

inmates and their family members were assisted throughout the year.

REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME

Formerly known as the Prisons Outreach Programme, the Reintegration Programme embraces inmates’ families in need of additional support during their incarceration, with the ultimate goal of building and cementing family ties. Working in close partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and HEB-Ashram, SINDA identifies these families and refers them to social workers.

While reaching out to the inmates, social workers introduce them to SINDA’s programmes and initiatives,

Enriching His Golden Years

raising their awareness of the support services available to their families. Subsequently, they engage their families in a suite of comprehensive services that cover casework and counselling. Together, these serve to preserve family bonds and bolster the relationships between inmates and their loved ones. This, in turn, forms a critical pillar of support for their return to society upon their release.

The SINDA FSC assisted 51 inmates and their family members throughout the previous year.

“With SINDA’s help, I am able to better manage my emotional and financial difficulties. I am grateful for my befriender, Dinesh, and look forward to his visits!”

Visuvalingam s/o M Rajoo – 74

Initiatives: SINDA Resilience Package, SINDA Care Package, Transport Vouchers and Elderly Befrienders Programme

Overwhelmed by his health issues, Visuvalingam s/o M Rajoo was dependent on his motorised wheelchair to get around. Unable to sit up for long without help, he spent most of the time confined to his bed. When he approached SINDA for financial aid, he received interim assistance comprising the Resilience Package and SINDA Care Package as well as support from a social service organisation. Recognising his mobility challenges, SINDA presented him with transport vouchers, making it easier for him and his wife to go for their regular hospital appointments.

SINDA’s holistic approach to safeguarding his well-being meant he received counselling support to help him better manage stressful situations as well as placement in the Elderly Befrienders Programme to reduce social isolation. With a volunteer befriender now making regular visits to his home, Visuvalingam began to feel less lonely. In addition to the visits, his volunteer, Dinesh Nedumaran, (pictured in right) would spend time with Visuvalingam by bringing him for walks around their neighbourhood and supporting him as he did light exercises to improve his mobility. Dinesh also helped him to pick up some useful digital skills such as writing emails which over time has boost his confidence and sense of belonging – all of which contributed to greater self-worth. Additionally, he took practical steps to change his life, eventually overcoming his challenges.

Forging Stronger Relationships with Community Partners

Meaningful partnerships with community, grassroots, religious and ethnic groups enhance SINDA’s efforts for the wider community. By tapping the resources and expertise of such partners, we can better connect with individuals and maximise our outreach.

At the same time, SINDA works closely with volunteers of all ages from all walks of life. Volunteer-driven efforts are key to the success of many programmes and services. In addition to undertaking a variety of services on behalf of the organisation, SINDA’s community of volunteers also serve as ambassadors, who champion the organisation’s efforts on the ground.

3,018

Volunteer Hours Towards SINDA Programmes and Services

141

Indian Businessleaders’ Roundtable (IBR) Members

40

Townhall Meetings Held

908 Individuals and Partners Connected With

156

Households Connected with through Door-Knocking

206

Partners worked with SINDA

2

SINDA Community Impact Fund Grants Disbursed

448

56 Volunteers

Organisations and Educational Institutions Supported or Funded

Forging Partnerships within the Community

Blessed with a heart for others, Pastor Samuel is an avid supporter of SINDA’s work. The Senior Overseer of Life Centre (Smyrna Assembly) and Executive Director of Life Centre Community Services (LCCS) first connected with SINDA two years ago. Since then, he and LCCS have become important partners, collaborating on resident outreach events, donations in kind and the Festive Gift Pack (FGP) distributions. In 2021, they participated in the Deepavali and Christmas distributions, with LCCS giving out 112 packs during Deepavali alone.

“We are excited to join in SINDA’s community outreach efforts. At the end of the day we are all part of one community and I am thankful we have been able to play a positive role. I hope we can do more for those in need together.”

Pastor Samuel Gift Stephen – 45 Initiatives: Festive Gift Pack Distribution and Donations-in-kind

“

Being able to help the less fortunate in any way possible is a very rewarding feeling. It brings me added joy now that I’ve also gotten my daughter to join as a SINDA volunteer. I am thankful to SINDA for the opportunity and hope to bring smiles to more in our community.”

Palaniappan Rukmani – 55

G Solai Valli – 18

Programmes: Diet & Lifestyle Optimisation and Value Enrichment (DoVE) programme, Literacy and Numeracy programme, Elderly Befriender programme, SINDA Football Club, Door-Knocking Exercises and Festive Gift Pack distributions

Touching Lives as a Family

For Rukmani, what started out as volunteering for small projects with SINDA has blossomed over the years. Today, she is a seasoned volunteer who has contributed her time and talents towards diverse initiatives within the organisation, from the Literacy and Numeracy Programme to the Elderly Befriender programme. More recently, she served as a care coordinator in the Diet & Lifestyle Optimisation and Value Enrichment (DoVE) programme in 2021, which saw her partnering a beneficiary with diabetes over eight weeks to help him achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Her passion for the less-privileged inspired her daughter, Solai. Eager for a meaningful way to spend her time and stay connected with her community, she began volunteering at school events and community involvement programmes. When she heard that SINDA was looking for youth volunteers, she jumped on board. Since 2020, Solai has been supporting the SINDA Football Club as a peer mentor. The motherdaughter team have also bonded over shared volunteer experiences with SINDA, taking part in various ground engagement activities together over the years, including Door Knocking Exercises and Festive Gift Pack distributions.

While helping others, volunteering together has matured their relationship and allowed Rukmani to watch her daughter grow into a compassionate young adult.

GROUND ENGAGEMENTS

Ground engagements are a vital part of SINDA’s outreach in the Indian community. Working hand in glove with partners and community organisations, we extended our reach among vulnerable Indian families in 2021.

Some of our key engagements in 2021 include:

The Door Knocking Exercise (DKE) facilitates engagement in the heartlands. Representatives meet with residents and refer them to appropriate support services. During the year, the SINDA Bus was deployed with safe-distancing measures in place. SINDA also continued the Call Centre Exercise where trained staff and volunteers contacted existing clients via phone and referred them to appropriate services for help. Last year, 156 Indian families were engaged through DKE and the call centre.

SINDA also carried out a Vaccination Outreach Engagement in 2021. To encourage more seniors to be vaccinated against Covid-19, SINDA joined hands with the Ministry of Health and community organisations, such as the Hindu Endowments Board, to engage the Indian community. Through a total of 25 booths at various temples, mosques and churches, SINDA volunteers connected with close to 3,090 members of the public, providing the latest information to raise awareness, address concerns and register for the vaccination.

In 2021, SINDA collaborated with Ministry of Health and engaged seniors to encourage them to be vaccinated against Covid-19. SINDA reached out to more than 3,000 seniors through 25 engagement booths.

PROJECT GIVE

Since 2001, Project Give (PG) has been supporting the educational and financial needs of Indian students. Conducted throughout each year, SINDA’s flagship fundraising campaign is also one of the organisation’s many platforms that encourage community-for-community initiatives. It reaches its peak during the festive season, as the community rallies together to uplift the less fortunate.

PG 2021 emphasised the spirit of giving back and the strengthening of community bonds. Throughout the month-long festive period, SINDA mobilised a large network of volunteers and community partners to distribute the Celebrate! Festive Gift Pack (FGP) to beneficiaries islandwide. Each FGP comprised $120 grocery vouchers, festive goodies and healthy snacks.

In an effort to reach out to more individuals in 2021, SINDA shined the spotlight on the elderly who live alone, while encouraging more Indian youths to be meaningfully involved in the community. The result is SINDA’s youthled Caring for Seniors initiative. Under this programme, youths conducted house visits to engage vulnerable elders living on their own, improve their emotional and mental well-being and spread the festive cheer.

In 2021, buoyed by the support of donors, partners and volunteers, SINDA benefitted a total of 1,900 underprivileged members of the community.

In 2021, as part of our Project Give campaign, SINDA volunteers packed and distributed 1,900 Celebrate! Festive Gift Packs to bring festive cheer and lift the spirits of our beneficiaries during Deepavali.

1,900 members of the community were benefitted through Project Give in 2021.

448 volunteers contributed a total of 3,018 volunteer hours in 2021.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are vital to the success of SINDA’s programmes and services. As an integral part of the organisation, they are surrounded with training and learning opportunities aimed at empowering them to organise and lead self-directed programmes.

One such initiative in 2021 was the Diet & Lifestyle Optimisation and Value Enrichment (DoVE) pilot diabetic project. Supported by Hindu Endowments Board, the programme saw Witz-U care team members and SINDA volunteers team up to help middle-aged diabetic Indians effectively manage their condition through a guided wellness lifestyle. SINDA volunteers also stepped up as the project’s Care Coordinators, supporting clients on their eightweek wellness journey with food intake journaling and weekly reviews.

In 2021, 448 volunteers contributed a total of 3,018 volunteer hours across various initiatives. To appreciate them for their time and effort, SINDA held periodic volunteer engagement sessions, which also served as opportunities for volunteers to share life experiences and strengthen bonds with each other.

Playing a crucial role in supporting our ground engagements and connecting with more in the community, 448 SINDA volunteers contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours across various activities in 2021.

INDIAN BUSINESS-LEADERS’ ROUNDTABLE

The Indian Business-leaders’ Roundtable (IBR) engages Indian leaders from across the Singapore business community, bringing together its members’ rich experience, expertise and networks in support of SINDA’s mission to uplift the Singaporean Indian community. Since inception, IBR and its members have played a multi-dimensional role in assisting SINDA’s beneficiaries, enabling them by providing funding support, offering career opportunities and engaging youths in the community. Over the last decade since its inception, IBR has grown to comprise 141 members in 2021.

Mentoring from the Heart

141 members were part of IBR in 2021.

“Through SINDA, our family has been blessed with many opportunities to shape young lives and serve the community. We are grateful to be able to play a small role in uplifting our youths.”

Amidst their hectic schedule, Bipin and Damayanti always find the time to guide future generations. As active members of IBR since 2018, their priority has been to support Indian youths in Singapore that will sustain them well into adulthood. As one of the key advocates of the SINDA-IBR pilot Mentoring Programme with Republic Polytechnic (RP), Bipin took two students under his wing as their career coach. Modelling hard work and perseverance, he mentored them and helped with their search for obtaining quality internships in their respective fields of study − while seeking out internships for other students who had lost theirs due to COVID-19.

Equally passionate about empowering youths, his wife, Damayanti also signed up as a mentor under the same programme and journeyed with a female student. Using her experience and knowledge, she instilled in her mentee the skills and empowered her to remain resilient throughout any obstacles she may face in her path ahead.

Bipin and Damayanti are also active donors, contributing to Project Give 2019 in support of SINDA’s programmes and services. The couple also gave towards the SINDA Women Empowerment Fund in 2021. Their desire to uplift others has rubbed off on their young daughters, who joined in last year’s Deepavali Festive Give Pack distribution to bring joy to SINDA beneficiaries and their families.

Bipin Balakrishnan – 48 & Damayanti Shahani – 48 Programme: Indian Business-leaders’ Roundtable (IBR), SINDA-IBR pilot Mentoring Programme, SINDA Women Empowerment Fund and Project Give

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

DIGITAL COMMUNITY

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. The digital platforms also serve as an outlet for beneficiaries to communicate with SINDA.

marketing SINDA’s programmes, services and events, the Division also undertakes corporate communications, media management and content production for a spectrum of platforms.

CORPORATE WEBSITE & MICROSITES

SINDA’s website and several other microsites collectively serve as information portals for SINDA programmes, key events and include content marketing that improve brand awareness.

SOCIAL MEDIA

SINDA MEDIA MENTIONS

196 mentions of SINDA were recorded in 2021, worth $2.5M in Advertising Space Rate (ASR)1, across news media platforms.

TELEGRAM MARKETING

SINDA launched a Telegram channel to reach out to younger audiences, with the channel primarily marketing upcoming programmes and informing audiences on efforts for the community. Since the launch of the channel in December, it has steadily grown to more than 400 users.

EMAIL MARKETING

Weekly EDMs were sent to subscribers on SINDA programme updates, and include content marketing such as impact stories and brand videos.

BROADCAST MEDIA

In 2021, SINDA primarily utilised broadcast media to increase awareness on its signature events for the community, including the SINDA Excellence Awards, the Back To School Festival and Project Give. These event interstitials were primarily broadcast on Mediacorp’s Vasantham channel.

SINDA CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER

In 2021, the SINDA Connections newsletter was sent to 61,200 households and community organisations.

2020 2021 YouTube

Code of Governance Disclosures

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SINDA is managed by an Executive Committee (EXCO) comprising 10 members, of whom five members are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The remaining five members are elected once in two years at an Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee may co-opt up to a further five members.

The key responsibilities of the EXCO are to:

• Manage all matters of the Association except as reserved to the Board of Trustees.

• Manage and administer the funds of the Association in line with the Annual Budget and Investment Policy approved by the Board of Trustees.

• Raise, by donation or otherwise, funds to finance activities of the Association.

• Make, repeal and amend bylaws not inconsistent with this Constitution for the internal management of the Association and the conduct of business at General Meetings effective after approval by the Board of Trustees.

BOARD MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE)

A total of four Executive Committee (EXCO) meetings were held in 2021. Members’ attendance was as follows:

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 11 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 Sarjit Singh has served as a Member of the Executive Committee as Secretary for 10 consecutive years. Mr Sarjit was re-nominated by the Board of Trustees as Vice President in consideration of his valuable insights and relevant expertise.

A newly appointed Board / Committee Member receives orientation from the management, including a briefing on their tenure, duties, and responsibilities.

SUB-COMMITTEES AND RESOURCE PANELS

The Executive Committee establishes Sub-Committees and Resource Panels as required to serve as advisory bodies to SINDA divisions. These Sub-Committees and Resource Panels are governed by individual terms of reference, which are reviewed every two years.

Members of these Sub-Committees and Resource Panels are selected from diverse fields for their expertise. All newly-appointed members receive an orientation from the management. In addition, an appointment letter and the terms of reference, setting out the tenure, duties and responsibilities, are issued to the members.

Code of Governance Disclosures

COMPENSATION AND REMUNERATION

All Board and Committee Members are independent and do not receive any remuneration for their services to SINDA. The compensation structure, including that of Key Management, is annually reviewed and approved by the Personnel Committee, which endorses Human Resources policies, compensation, promotions and succession. There are no close members of the family related to the Board/Committee and Executive Head (Chief Executive Officer) in employment with the Association.

INTERNAL CONTROLS

SINDA’s financial reporting, risk management and governance, including internal and external audit functions, are managed by the Audit Review Committee. It also reviews the effectiveness and adequacy of these internal financial controls and processes for compliance with existing laws and regulations governing financial reporting standards. SINDA’s investments are overseen by the Investment Committee, which manages SINDA’s surplus fund through establishing investment guidelines and parameters, appointing external fund managers and monitoring investment performance on behalf of the Board of Trustees. SINDA does not have endowment funds as all funds, as disclosed in the Statement of Financial Position, are unrestricted funds.

DISCLOSURE AND TRANSPARENCY PRACTICES

The Executive Committee adheres to regular evaluation of its performance and effectiveness to ensure 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.

ETHICAL REPORTING / WHISTLEBLOWING 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. If a conflict of interest 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.

DATA PRIVACY POLICY

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.

GOVERNANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST (GEC)

All charities and IPCs are required to submit their extent of compliance with the Code to COC within 6 months after the end of each financial year. Below is the Governance Evaluation Checklist for the period Jan 2020 – Dec 2020.

3

4 There is a maximum limit of four consecutive years for the Treasurer position (or equivalent, e.g. Finance Committee Chairman or person on charity not have an appointed Board member, it will be taken that the Chairman oversees the finances.

5

6 The Board conducts self-evaluation to assess its performance and effectiveness once during its term or every 3 years, whichever is shorter.

there Board member(s) who have served for more than 10 consecutive years?

7 The charity discloses in its annual report the reasons for retaining Board member(s) who has served for more than 10 consecutive years.

8

Code of Governance Disclosures

29

charity discloses in its annual report:

i) The total annual remuneration (including any remuneration received in its subsidiaries), for each its three highest paid staff*, who each receives remuneration exceeding $100,000, in bands of $100,000; and

ii) If any of the 3 highest paid staff* also serves on the Board of the charity. The information relating to the remuneration of the staff must be presented in bands of $100,000.

30 The charity discloses the number of paid staff* who are close members of the family* of the Executive Head or Board Members, who each receives remuneration exceeding $50,000 during the year, in bands of $100,000. OR The charity discloses that there is no paid staff* who are close members of the family* of the Executive Head or Board Member, who receives more than $50,000 during the year.

31 The charity has a documented communication policy on the release of information about the charity and its activities across all media platforms.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S PROFILE

Singapore Indian Development Association

1 Beatty Road

Singapore 209943

T: 1800 295 3333

E: queries@sinda.org.sg

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