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Back to school
festival Equally appreciative of SINDA’s support during a difficult year was single mum Nasheela Begum d/o Nizammudin, who says the family “always looks forward to BTSF”. She explained, “(It allows) me to purchase good books, stationery and shoes for my children.” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and President of SINDA Ms Indranee Rajah noted that BTSF is “a huge part of SINDA’s DNA”, and testified that the spirit of the event remained despite its toned-down activities. Meeting several of the BTSF recipients and their families virtually during the launch of the Festival, Ms Indranee urged them to remain resilient and to stay positive in order to prevail over trying times.
With safe-distancing measures still in place, SINDA’s annual Back To School Festival (BTSF) last November had quite a different feel. Unlike previous years, there was no carnival to celebrate the end of the academic year, and the BTSF school kits—a cherished tradition—were collected over 11 days.
She also highlighted two key points: the first, that education continues to remain very important and the second, that getting the right support is also important. Ms Indranee assured parents that such assistance will continue until the Covid-19 situation eases. “Having the right support, and having it at the right time, will ensure that you continue to be cared for, while you overcome personal challenges,” she affirmed.
Even so, parents such as Senthamarai d/o V Subramaniam were glad to receive the kits—comprising $180 worth of book, stationery and shoe vouchers—again. Senthamarai runs a small home-based business while her husband cares for their four children.
“Take heart,” Ms Indranee encouraged everyone. “Lean on these support structures, so that these can be your pillars of strength in times of need.” Indeed, SINDA will be here for you.
“When Covid-19 struck, our financial situation worsened and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to cater to their needs. It’s a relief to know that even in the current situation, I can rely on SINDA’s help to ease my expenses and ensure my children are prepared for school next year.
Visit us at www.sinda.org.sg to explore how we can help today.
For BTSF 2020, a total of
Senthamarai d/o V Subramaniam, BTSF Recipient
$630,000 worth of school kits was distributed to
3,500 disadvantaged
students from every academic level, primary to tertiary.
Connect with us at www.sinda.org.sg/contact-us to benefit from our various help schemes today.
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