PRESS RELEASE

4,200 Needy Students & Families Receive
SINDA’s Back To School Festival Vouchers

Increased number of recipients and increased voucher quantum
aim to ease more families’ burdens in a challenging climate

Mdm Nisa (not her real name), was thrilled to hear that her granddaughter would be receiving her first Back To School Festival school kit this year. Introduced to SINDA through the Prison Reintegration Programme in 2020, Mdm Nisa has been the primary caregiver to her grandchildren since the incarceration of her two daughters. Prior to SINDA’s involvement, the grandmother faced tremendous challenges in supporting her grandchildren but today, since becoming a beneficiary of several SINDA initiatives – Hello Baby Hamper, SINDA Community Assistance Fund and Festive Gift Packs – Mdm Nisa is heartened to be able to receive more support through the school kits.

“These vouchers are definitely great news to me. With the new school year coming soon, I was worried on how I would be able to purchase the necessary stationeries and school books for my grandchildren but SINDA’s BTSF kits has eased all of those concerns. Since 2020, it has been reassuring to receive a whole range of support from SINDA that has allowed me to provide for my family confidently and with peace of mind,” said Mdm Nisa.      

1. On 13 November 2021, SINDA’s annual Back To School Festival (BTSF) launched its distribution of school kits to encourage students on their academic journeys and ease the financial burden on their families. This year’s festival will benefit 4,200 disadvantaged students and their families island-wide – a 20% increase from 3,500 in 2020 and the largest number of BTSF recipients since its inception in 2008.

2. This increase in recipient number is also the result of SINDA’s increased collaborations with partners. By working extensively with partners and schools, SINDA has been able to reach out to over 700 families who were previously not within SINDA’s fold. Such collaborative efforts come at a time when families are recovering from the impact of the pandemic, to help offset their essential expenses for the new school year.

3. Welcoming such collaborative efforts for the community are SINDA’s partners – Mdm V. Balakrishna, Principal at Fernvale Primary School said, “We are very appreciative of SINDA and working together with them has allowed us to go above and beyond to provide our students and their families with holistic support that caters to their needs. It is heartening to see SINDA provide further help through BTSF each year. It’s not just about the vouchers, but the thought of lighting up children’s faces and getting them excited for their next school year is what matters most.”

4. Addressing the financial challenges brought upon by the pandemic, SINDA has also increased the quantum of the BTSF vouchers, to $200 worth of stationery and shoe vouchers – an increase from $180 in prior years. CEO of SINDA, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran shared, “We view education as an important social leveler and we want as many students as possible to be able to have the right resources as they prepare for the new school year. No student should be deprived of adequate support due to their family’s financial circumstances. BTSF is one part of our holistic, multi-level education support, and we hope that these school kits and increased quantum will be useful for our students and their families.”

5. Equally grateful for these vouchers is another parent, Mdm Rajani, whose daughter received the BTSF kit for the sixth time. Mdm Rajani, her daughter and her elderly mother have been benefitting from a range of SINDA’s programmes and services, which have supported the single parent in overcoming her challenges and confidently providing for her family. A thankful Mdm Rajani added, “SINDA’s support throughout the years has been a reassuring helping hand for me and my family. Every year, the BTSF kits come in very handy, especially when I need to buy essential revision material or school supplies for my daughter. I’m usually not able to buy things that my daughter likes, but thanks to these yearly vouchers that offset costs, I can also treat her to things she likes from time to time.”

6. All 4,200 families receiving SINDA’s BTSF kits are within a low household Per Capita Income (PCI). Each BTSF voucher contains $140 stationery vouchers and $60 shoe vouchers. The disbursement of these BTSF kits will take place at SINDA from 13 November to 20 November 2021, in line with prevailing Safe Management Measures.

About SINDA

The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) is a Self-Help Group, set up in August 1991 to address educational and socio-economic issues facing the Indian community in Singapore.

SINDA actively strives to build a well-educated and confident community of Indians that stands together with the other communities in contributing to the progress of multi-racial Singapore. In the course of fulfilling its objectives, SINDA works closely with many volunteers, schools and grassroots organisations. In the process, SINDA has steadily evolved into a credible organisation that serves as a pillar of the Singapore Indian community.

Today, SINDA runs a wide array of programmes that not only effectively serves to uplift the educational performance of Indian students, but also promotes family harmony and uplifts the social status of ethnic Indians.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, is Chairman of SINDA’s Board of Trustees. Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Education is President of SINDA’s Executive Committee.

For more information on SINDA, please visit www.sinda.org.sg.

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Contact our media team for the latest updates and information at corpcomms@sinda.org.sg