» Address by Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, CEO, SINDA, at the SINDA Excellence Awards 2024 on 14 September 2024, at the Singapore Polytechnic

Distinguished guests, family members, award recipients, brothers and sisters.

Introduction

Welcome to the SINDA Excellence Awards 2024, the pinnacle Indian community award to recognise student achievements in our community. Today, we have come together to celebrate the achievements of 859 recipients who have excelled in their respective fields.

To all recipients, congratulations! Today reflects the countless hours you’ve dedicated to studying, practicing, and honing your skills—the diligence, determination, and unwavering will you’ve shown in overcoming challenges. We celebrate your excellence and the unique journeys that have brought each of you here.

SEA and Academic Performance

The SINDA Excellence Awards have been organised since 1992, and this award is the highest community honour for recipients., symbolising not just individual success but also the collective progress of everyone in our community.

Since last year, we’ve divided the ceremony into two sessions due to the growing number of students receiving the SINDA Excellence Awards. We are pleased to continue this format again this year, as it reflects the consistently high number of recipients in recent years, making this event even more meaningful.

Witnessing a steady number of recipients, year after year, is more than just a point of pride – it shows that our Indian students are on the right path towards excellence and achievement.

Take for example, 18-year-old Laavinia Jaiganth, who recently shattered the 50-year-old record. Not only did she surpass her own personal best, she also achieved a ground-breaking record on the international stage, setting a new benchmark for future athletes to aspire towards.

Laavinia’s achievements on the track are an inspiration to all of us, reflecting her unwavering dedication and immense talent. But her story doesn’t end there—as a business student, she skilfully balances her athletic success with academic excellence.

We wish Laavinia all the best as she continues her journey. It’s crucial that we keep nurturing youths like Laavinia, and we remain committed to helping each one of them achieve their own path to success

SINDA’s Dedicated Efforts for students

At SINDA, our commitment has always centered on nurturing the younger generations. We believe in starting early, and in 2023 alone, we provided over 2,500 children with opportunities to grow, explore, and reach their full potential through a variety of enrichment programmes.

We also engaged with over 6,200 students through our educational programmes in 2023. Many of you here have also benefitted from SINDA’s net of support, and I’m heartened that we could inspire you on your journey to success.

But education is only one piece of the puzzle. Our mission goes beyond just providing educational support; it is about nurturing well-rounded individuals who thrive in every aspect of life.

We live in a world that demands more than just academic excellence – it calls for creativity, dedication, and resilience. This is why SINDA is committed to creating initiatives that foster an environment where our youth can excel not only in their studies, but also in their passions, talents, and values. We strive to ensure that our holistic range of initiatives meet the needs of our youth in impactful ways.

SINDA’s mentoring and youth development programmes provide essential resources, skills, and knowledge for the working world. Through the SINDA Youth Club and Peer Leadership Programme, we offer leadership training and soft skills development. Additionally, we provide financial support such as Back to School vouchers, scholarships, and bursaries to alleviate financial burdens and encourage continued education. These resources are tailored to support both academic and personal success.

This year, we updated our Per Capita Income (PCI) criteria, allowing families with a PCI of up to $1,600 to access SINDA’s financial assistance schemes and enrol in our programs at no cost. Since this revision, we are pleased to see an increase in the number of students participating in our various programmes.

This change is about opening doors and removing barriers for those who need it the most. We want every student to have the opportunity to benefit from SINDA’s programmes and thrive and reach their fullest potential.

Appreciate Your Supporters

For our students here today, your family, friends and schools have played a crucial role in creating the supportive environment that has enabled your success. They will also be the ones who inspire you to keep moving forward on this journey, encouraging you to reach for even greater successes along the way.

Conclusion

As you move forward, take pride not only in your achievements but also in the person you’ve become through your journey. The lessons you’ve learned, both inside and outside the classroom, will stay with you.

Congratulations to all of you once again, on behalf of SINDA and the entire Singaporean Indian community.