» Address by Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, CEO, SINDA, at the SINDA Appreciation Ceremony on Saturday, 19 April 2025 at The NUS University Cultural Centre Theatre

Guests-Of-Honour,

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, and Chairman, SINDA, Mr K Shanmugam;

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and President, SINDA, Ms Indranee Rajah;

Members of the SINDA Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Sub-Committees and Resource Panels;

Community Leaders, Donors, Partners and Volunteers;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Brothers and sisters.

Introduction

A very good afternoon and it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the SINDA Appreciation Ceremony, or SAC.

I’ve always looked at SINDA, not as a singular entity, but more a vast and strongly interconnected network within the community, involving many passionate hearts, minds and hands. So, today is an important day for us to recognise and appreciate this extended SINDA family, the individuals and organisations whose support has shaped SINDA into what it is today; and whose efforts have bettered the lives of countless individuals in our community.

We honour 328 passionate partners, donors, and volunteers today, all of whom have gone above and beyond the call in serving our community. I am incredibly proud to share that this number surpasses the 236 recipients we recognised in 2023 – an increase of almost 40%, and a testament to our collective efforts growing both in number and strength.

On behalf of SINDA and our community, I offer my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your passion and dedication to the cause of community upliftment.

SINDA’s Impact

In 2024, SINDA had the privilege of supporting close to 31,500 individuals in our community through a wide range of programmes. These initiatives provided holistic support across multiple fronts, reflecting our continued commitment to empower every individual who walks through our doors.

What’s truly heartening, is that our outreach has steadily increased year-on-year, a testament not just to the impact of our efforts, but to the growing trust placed in us by the community. Our numerous programmes include education, family support, youth development and leadership, women empowerment, and community betterment.

These varied efforts and programmes speak to our innate desire to better lives. We want each child to do well in school; we want our youths and young adults to have the right resources and attitudes as they advance into the world; we want our parents to be well-equipped as they build and nurture their families. Ultimately, we want every individual to be the best version of themselves possible.

Your efforts and collaboration have made these possible. Because of your dedication, our initiatives have been able to reach the communities that needed them the most. You’ve been the bridge between our vision and real-world impact.

Partners and Donors

2024 has been especially meaningful for SINDA. We had the privilege of collaborating with 578 partners from diverse sectors – a 58% increase from the previous year. We are also joined by several donors, whose generous contributions empowered SINDA in enhancing our programmes and support to our beneficiaries.

All of you have played an important part in advancing our goals, generously opening up your spaces for our programmes, providing in-kind donations to our beneficiaries, and contributing manpower to support the smooth execution of our initiatives.

Beyond material and logistical support, many of our partners have also contributed their knowledge and expertise. From mentoring youths to supporting STEP tutorials, your involvement has allowed our students to take the right step in their educational journeys.

Thanks to your collective efforts, SINDA’s programmes have remained holistic, far-reaching, and accessible, benefitting individuals of all age groups across the island.

Volunteers

Adding immense value to our work are also our passionate volunteers. Many of you would know that SINDA was founded as a volunteer-led organisation in the early years. Over 400 dedicated individuals contributed their energy and an incredible 3,254 hours of their time in 2024, to champion our mission. In SINDA, we track every hour and every minute.

Your roles extend far beyond simply lending a helping hand at events. You are our eyes and ears on the ground, deeply connected to the pulse of our community. By being a part of our beneficiaries’ lives, you understand their concerns and needs intimately, providing encouragement, and instilling confidence in them that they are not alone at a time of need.

Today, I’m heartened that several SINDA initiatives are fully-led by volunteers. From the Door Knocking Exercise and Book Wizards, to Project Shine and Elderly Engagement initiatives, these programmes span across all age groups in our community. These programmes’ success is a testament to your commitment and compassion, and your continued efforts to uplift and empower lives.

Closing

I’m glad that so many of you could join us today, as we celebrate the spirit of kindness, empathy and care that each one of you embodies.

In gratitude for your dedication, we’re presenting you with a token of appreciation – a beautiful painting by our partner, SIFAS, and talented artist Raguveeran Palraj.

The painting, titled “Empowering Hearts: Nurturing the Community through Education”, features a teacher engaging young learners, symbolising the powerful blend of education and cultural heritage in shaping a compassionate and united community. It also reflects the spirit of traditions being lovingly handed down, teaching children important values like unity, kindness, and moral support – much like how each one of you is uplifting those around you and inspiring others to give back. We hope you find our token of appreciation meaningful.

On that note, thank you once again for journeying with us and for making a lasting difference. I look forward to having you with us, as we bring our community to further heights, together.