Building Self-Worth, Empowering Futures: SINDA’s Back To School Festival Supports 8,500 Students Through $1.7 Million in Aid
22 November 2025 – The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) today hosted its 18th annual Back To School Festival (BTSF) at Rainforest Wild ASIA, supporting 8,500 students from 5,600 families with school vouchers worth $1.7 million to prepare for the new school year. Each student received $200 in vouchers through SINDA’s Digital Wallet, which can be used to purchase textbooks, stationery, school shoes, and other essential items needed for the new school year.
The number of students receiving BTSF vouchers has doubled over the past five years, made possible through stronger outreach efforts in collaboration with schools, community partners, and grassroots organisations. These partnerships have helped SINDA identify families who were previously not in our network, allowing more children to be supported.
Last year, SINDA also raised the Per Capita Income (PCI) eligibility to $1,600, enabling more households to qualify for assistance. Notably, two in three students supported this year come from families with a PCI below $750, reflecting SINDA’s continued commitment to support and uplift lower-income households.
Ms Patimah Bhavani Robert, mother of 13-year-old Raffael Saran Balamurugan and 15-year-old Jairus Devan Balamurugan, shared that the BTSF vouchers help ease the family’s load amid rising living costs. She added that SINDA’s programmes have helped her sons grow in confidence while ensuring the family feels supported and prepared each school year. “The camps and enrichment activities have shaped my boys into more confident learners, and the vouchers really lighten our load each year. We’re very thankful to SINDA for its continued care and support.”
With global studies highlighting the link between low self-esteem, youth stress, and risky behaviours, SINDA is amplifying its upstream approach — equipping families with skills and resources to become stable and self-sufficient, beginning with early childhood interventions that nurture self-worth and emotional literacy. BTSF 2025 is a continuation of this effort, reminding families that mental wellbeing and emotional confidence are as vital as academic readiness.
Mr Anbarasu Rajendran, CEO of SINDA shares – “Through BTSF, we support families, not just finances. Books and shoes matter, but self-worth and confidence matter most. When children feel supported and confident, they are better prepared to face school and life”
This year’s theme “Building Self-Worth, Empowering Futures,” underscores SINDA’s ongoing commitment to nurturing confidence and emotional wellbeing among children and families. Through its programmes, SINDA continues to strengthen three key areas:
Stronger self-worth, healthier minds for youths: Prioritise self-worth lessons for Upper Primary–Secondary, with talks/workshops plus early screening and referral so youths get timely support.
Confident parents, resilient kids: Parenting programmes under the Early Learners framework and Understanding Early Childhood Series help parents build confidence in guiding their children’s development, particularly within lower-income families.
Pay-it-forward character building: Embed micro-acts of giving (peer mentoring, family kindness challenges, community projects) to grow empathy, belonging, and positive character from an early age.
Ten-year-old Shivana D/O Sivamaran has been practising kindness and gratitude through small but meaningful acts — she writes letters to doctors and community workers to thank them for their service. Her younger sister, eight-year-old Shivani, discovered courage through SINDA’s Camp Adventure programme, where she overcame her fear of the high-elements challenge with encouragement from her peers.
“I was scared at first, but my friends believed in me,” Shivani shared with a smile. “After I crossed it, I started cheering for others. It made me happy to help them feel brave too.” The sisters added: “We like to help and cheer people up, it makes us feel happy and proud” the sisters added. Their stories reflect how SINDA programmes help children build confidence, empathy, and a spirit of giving — the foundation of self-worth in action.
The event was graced by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development and President, SINDA. They were joined by 180 parents, students, volunteers, and partners, and featured family bonding activities that emphasised emotional connection, self-confidence, and belonging.
