WELCOME ADDRESS BY MR ANBARASU RAJENDRAN, CEO, SINDA, AT THE SINDA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2021 ON SATURDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2021 AT THE CIVIL SERVICE CLUB @ TESSENSOHN

Guest of Honour, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong;

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, and Chairman, SINDA, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam;

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

SINDA Board of Trustees and Executive Committee Members;

Distinguished Guests, Award Recipients & Family Members.

Introduction

1. A very good morning and on behalf of all of us at SINDA, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 30^th SINDA Excellence Awards Ceremony, or SEA. This ceremony remains a signature event to recognise achievements and aspirations. As such, my heartiest congratulations to all 749 award recipients for your outstanding accomplishments!

2. Your journey thus far may not have been the easiest, and there would have been several challenges and obstacles. Yet, you have overcome these to the best abilities in your pursuit of success, and I commend this spirit of tenacity.

3. While we host this year’s SEA on a smaller scale due to safe management measures – and whether you’re joining us virtually or are present here – I hope that this award is a springboard that motivates your continued achievements in your chosen paths.

Education as a Social Leveller

4. As a Self-Help Group, SINDA continues to be a leading pillar of the Singaporean Indian community; one that actively focuses on building a vibrant and strong Singaporean society.

5. Academic performance and aspirations are key tenets of our work with Indians students and youths. These stem from the firm belief that education is a social leveller, and that only with a sound foundation in education, can one have access to opportunities and achieve ambitions.

6. SINDA continues to work diligently to ensure that all students benefit from the best possible support and resources, so that they are future-ready. We also strive to nurture a society where there are equal opportunities for everyone to progress in life.

7. SINDA’s focus does not stop at only education. Complementary to our various tutorial programmes are a host of student- and family-focused initiatives that build essential life-skills, develop skillsets and provide social and financial resources. We do this through our various youth and family programmes, as well as the SINDA Family Service Centre. Together, these form a holistic, multi-pronged support ecosystem, so that our students and families can achieve their life goals.

8. Close to 100 recipients from this year’s SEA cohort have benefitted from SINDA’s initiatives and programmes – either through educational, social, aspirational or financial support. All of them have worked hard, risen above their struggles and circumstances, to become top-achievers, that the community can be proud of. I applaud their resilience and we at SINDA are happy to have inspired them in their journeys, offering them optimal, effective support and encouraging them on their paths towards success.

Working Together as a Community

9. While SINDA acts as an enabler in the community, I’m thankful for the many who’ve joined us in our mission; for our students and families who believe in themselves and aim to progress in life; for the many schools and tutors who work with us to offer quality education; and for the multiple stakeholders – community partners, donors and volunteers – who all play an invaluable role. Each one helps us multiply our efforts on the ground and passionately believes that no student or family should be left behind, as we progress. It takes numerous hands to ensure our people’s continued success and I’m thankful for these partnerships in grooming our future generations.

10. To the recipients here – as our community’s top-achievers, each one of you too has a role to play in such efforts – one, is to do your very best, achieve your fullest potential and lead fruitful lives; the other is to channel your talents, skills and efforts towards the betterment of the community and the nation.

11. You would hear later from the recipients who came before you, who have made time for community volunteering, while still studying or already working. Likewise, I invite you to actively participate in such efforts. Our SINDA Youth Club and the SEA Alumni Club are some meaningful ways that you can be part of the SINDA family and be active contributors to our society.

12. These are not one-way opportunities as well. By being active volunteers and engaging people in our community,

13. you build upon your leadership abilities and hone your potential to bring about meaningful change. This is especially important in achieving a spirit of togetherness, where we collectively build a caring, gracious and inclusive society, as one Singapore.

Conclusion

14. As we celebrate your accomplishments today, I look forward to the inspiring journeys of success that lay ahead for each one of you and hope that you continue to give your very best in life. Remember, that all of us are proud of your achievements and will be with you at every step of the way, on your journey.

Thank you.