Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the NDP 2023 Give as One SG Campaign Launch

Colonel Terence Ho, Chairman, NDP 2023 Executive Committee

Mr John Ang, President, Fei Yue Community Services

Volunteers, Community Partners and Friends of the SG Cares Volunteer Centres

We are gathered here today to launch the National Day Parade (NDP) 2023 Give as One SG campaign. This is a collaboration between the NDP 2023 Executive Committee and SG Cares Movement to encourage Singaporeans to step forward and volunteer.

The NDP 2023 theme “Onward as One” calls upon Singaporeans to look forward with confidence and come together to create a shared future, and to support one another in this journey as one people and one nation. The pandemic has shown us that we are stronger when we stand together, and volunteerism can help to strengthen the sense of belonging and unity among Singaporeans.

Volunteerism is a crucial aspect of nation-building and an integral part of our social compact. Volunteerism is not just something we do as individuals when we have spare time. It is fundamentally a reflection of who we are as a people, who we want to be, and the kind of society we want for Singapore.

In my recent Address at the Opening of the Second Session of the 14^th Parliament, I spoke about the need for a refreshed social compact. The act of volunteering brings people together and strengthens unity. It is our collective responsibility to shape this new compact and create a Singapore where we care for one another. These are the key values of our Singapore core and everyone has a part to play.

When we volunteer, we become a part of something larger than ourselves. We meet people with different life circumstances; we learn to appreciate the diversity in our communities; and we understand the important role we can play in making our neighbourhoods safer, stronger, and more vibrant. We become part of a community with a sense of shared identity and mutual responsibility towards one another.

There are many existing initiatives that promote volunteerism, such as the President’s Challenge Volunteer Drive. It encourages everyone, including youths, to be more involved in the community and promotes volunteerism as a way of life through the giving of time and skills. We must not lose momentum of such work and the need to build a stronger network of stakeholders to participate in nation building.

On this end, I am heartened to note that the SG Cares Movement has been creating opportunities for Singaporeans to donate or volunteer for causes they are passionate about, enabled by the network of SG Cares Volunteer Centres in every town. Beyond that, the SG Cares Volunteer Centres also equip volunteers with the skills needed to serve the community and match like-minded organisations with a common purpose to work together and extend their reach. Since the launch of the first Volunteer Centre in 2018, the growing network of these Volunteer Centres has made an impact in our communities.

·      More than 64,000 volunteers engaged, with 16,700 volunteering regularly.

·      More than 5,000 volunteer leaders trained and developed.

·      More than 437,000 beneficiaries served.

SG Cares Volunteer Centres are critical in coordinating the “many helping hands” so we can deploy resources and volunteer efforts efficiently. The Volunteer Centres have established more than 3,000 collaborations with diverse community partners to match volunteers and resources to community needs.

One example is the participation of 18 SG Cares Volunteer Centres in SAFRA’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative “Let’s Gift for A Reason”. Under this initiative, members of public granted wishes to children and caregivers of persons with disabilities, or donated a food pack to lower-income and elderly households. Collectively, SAFRA Community Services Club and the SG Cares Volunteer Centres assisted in the distribution of gifts to over 10,000 beneficiaries since 2020.

Today, we have the volunteers and community partners of the SG Cares Volunteer Centres seated among us. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for stepping forward to contribute to a good cause and for making a difference to the lives of other Singaporeans.

I am also happy to announce that SG Cares Volunteer Centres in Chua Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Hougang operated by Fei Yue Community Services will be embarking on their Town Volunteer Empowerment Initiative to recruit and channel volunteers towards meeting needs in the communities. Since their appointment, they have mobilised some 2,300 volunteers to improve the well-being of close to 9,000 beneficiaries. Well done!

Allow me to share a heart-warming story from South View Primary School Parents Association. What started out as a conversation about vulnerable seniors needing house cleaning, evolved into a home improvement project carried out by parents and their children with various Active Ageing Centres in the Chua Chu Kang town. The initiative then developed into continued visitations and house painting projects to create a better living environment for the seniors. Since March 2022, about 130 parents and student volunteers have participated in the project. This is the essence of volunteering and a good example of active citizenry in action.

In line with the theme of NDP 2023 – Onward as One, I encourage all Singaporeans to step forward to volunteer. You can do so by signing up with any of the SG Cares Volunteer Centres or through the SG Cares App. No matter how big or small the contribution, every act of volunteering makes a difference. Let us give others a hand. In doing so, it also helps us grow personally, learn new skills, and fosters a sense of purpose and fulfilment. Let us build a better Singapore together.

In closing, I would like to thank the NDP 2023 Executive Committee, the SG Cares Movement and the network of SG Cares Volunteer Centres for jointly organising this meaningful national campaign, and to Fei Yue Community Services and the volunteers for organising these engaging activities for the beneficiaries today.

Thank you.