Author: SG Volunteer Team

Acts of kindness can be spread through a community with the help of a new initiative launched by the Housing Development Board (HDB).

As part of the Shine Movement, Let’s Shine cards will be distributed to communities and cardholders can share messages on good neighbourliness with others with these cards.

Once a kind act has been carried out, the holder would then pass it on to the beneficiary of their kind act. Token holders who have participated can log their kind acts in the Shine movement website, which would help track the movement throughout Singapore.

HDB’s Shine Movement is aimed at motivating residents to gradually multiply their kind acts over a period of time, recreating the old kampong spirit among dwellers.

It was launched today by Minister of State (MOS) for Trade, Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan, and is the second event of HDB’s first-ever community week from May 21 to 27.

In 2009, HDB formed a Community Relations Group (CRG) to look into fostering ties in the heartlands and to nurture a stronger sense of community identity. The Good Neighbour Awards was launched in the same year.

In October last year, HDB introduced the ‘Roadmap to Better Living in HDB Towns’, a strategic plan that guides HDB to deliver a better living environment for residents.

One of the key thrusts under the roadmap is to develop Community-Centric Towns.

This article was first published in Asiaone

Not many children would know what they want to be when they grow up. This led the Punggol South Community Centre and CTC Travel to jointly organise a trip to Kidzania Kuala for 200 under-privileged children on 20 to 21 April 2012.

Known as “Travel for a Cause” the trip to KidZania Kuala, an indoor theme park situated in Kuala Lumpur, saw many of the children travelling out of Singapore for the first time. The trip was an eye opener as it provided kids between the ages of four to twelve the opportunity to role-play in an occupation. The children got to perform “jobs” akin to the real world (as a fireman, doctor, police officer, journalist, shopkeeper, and so on). Through such an experience, they learnt and discovered more about their dream career and aspirations.

Madam Maureen Chua, a Family Life Champion from Punggol South was delighted to see families coming together through this educational trip. She said, “It brings me great joy and happiness to see the children’s faces lighting up when they get to go on an adventure. More importantly, to witness their parents’ smiles as they send their children off on the educational trip. “

This adventure was made possible by the strong corporate and community partnership as well as the warm support of the parents of the children. The objective was to spread more love and happiness to the community, promote family bonding and encourage parents to be actively involved in their children’s development.

Before embarking on the journey, parents spent a special moment connecting with their children and together, the families took a pledge affirming their commitment to bond over a simple meal together once a day and to make time to do fun activities together.

The event was graced by Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Adviser to Pasir Ris-Punggol Grassroots Organisations.