Mr Joel Tan, Founder, YYD Education Centre
Grassroot Leaders,
Sponsors, Volunteers,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
1. A very good evening to one and all. I am happy to be here at the YYD Education Centre Annual Gala Dinner this evening. It warms my heart to see everybody coming together to contribute to a good cause.
2. Since YYD Education Centre Ltd started in 2016, they have been providing free education programs for primary school children from lower-income families. These programmes are designed to help students attain not only academic excellence but also to be ready for the real world. Lessons and feedback in a safe and stimulating environment have helped students develop holistically and realise their potential.
3. I am very thankful that YYD Education Centre Ltd has been working very closely with our Social Service Offices in Tampines, Hougang, Sengkang and Serangoon to support children from lower-income families. Under Community Link, or ComLink, YYD provides weekly English and Math academic programmes for primary school going children.
4. Education is very important in our aim to partner families to achieve social mobility. This is what we ultimately want for our families to achieve under ComLink. In order to do so, we first have to ensure that family situations are stable and families have resources to be self-reliant. Under ComLink, we proactively reach out to families to understand their needs and aspirations, work with partners like YYD to offer relevant programmes, and offer families befriending support.
5. Families in rental housing often face multiple, complex challenges. It takes a whole-of-society effort to partner these families and address their needs.
The Government will continue to do our part to ensure that lower-income families receive assistance in a comprehensive, convenient and coordinated way, so that they can attain stability, self-reliance and social mobility. I also encourage all active citizens and organisations to come forward to do what you can, to bring what you have to the table. Working Together, we can achieve a Better Tomorrow.
6. Our social compact is a shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities families, individuals, the community, and the Government play to shape society. Our social compact has evolved over the years and over time, we continually review, renew and strengthen this social compact.
7. In the coming months, as part of Forward Singapore, we will continue to engage and partner Singaporeans to discuss on how we can work together to build a society that ensures no one gets left behind.
8. We will need everyone’s help to do this and this mission cannot be achieved by the Government alone. The community must also step up, so that together we can support families and individuals in need, be it as businesses, community groups, social service agencies, or individual volunteers. We can’t work individually, but we can work together, weaving a stronger tapestry of support to achieve a much stronger social impact.
9. With this many helping hands approach, I believe that our social compact of tomorrow will have greater and more sustained impact to support lower-income families. Although there is no ready blueprint for the Singapore of tomorrow, it is up to each of us to chart our new way forward together.
10. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all doners, volunteers, and staff for your contribution towards the education of our children. I urge all of you to remain steadfast and continue contributing to this very meaningful cause.
11. On that note, I thank all of you for your attention and I wish all of you a great evening ahead.