– Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, author and motivational speaker
There are many issues that the community is facing. And only when we take the effort to find out more and keep ourselves up-to-date, can we be part of the solution and change can happen, to truly build a community that cares.
Affordable help so disabled wife can stay home
When tour guide Chandra Mogan, 73, realised he was unable to care for his disabled wife any longer, he decided to admit her to a nursing home. But that just caused more distress. Madam Kaliammal Narayanasamy Krishnasamy, 68, has Parkinson's disease, cannot walk and...
Lower-income groups worry about GST hike
Lower-income families are among groups who could be hit hardest when the GST goes up from 7% to 9% sometime between 2021 and 2025. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on 19 February 2018 said the hike is to help pay for "recurrent needs", such as security demands,...
GST set to rise to 9%
Goods and Services Tax (GST) will rise from 7% to 9%, but it will take effect only some time from 2021 to 2025, depending "on the state of the economy, how much our expenditures grow and how buoyant our existing taxes are", Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on 19...
Power generation company looks for ways to be greener
PacificLight is one of the newest kids on the power generation block. Its $1.2 billion plant on Jurong Island began operating four years ago and is fitted with relatively new equipment, making it more energy efficient than older plants. Since then, the firm has spent...
Senior care services to come under Health Ministry
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will hand over senior-related social support services to the Ministry of Health (MOH) from April 2018 in a move to streamline care for the elderly. These services include managing senior activity centres, befriending...
S’porean with cerebral palsy pays it forward
Over the past three decades, Mr Paul Lee, who was born with cerebral palsy, has experienced numerous acts of kindness from Singaporeans. These acts of kindness spurred Mr Lee, now 38, to go on to help others in need. The tax consultant is an avid volunteer, and he...
Catering to children with different needs
The Canossian family has started an inclusive pre-school that takes in both mainstream children and those with special needs. The new pre-school, which comes under Canossaville Children and Community Services, has 70 children, seven of whom have hearing loss. It is...
Volunteers bring festive cheer to low-income residents
Scrap metal collector Tan Yew Huat is looking forward to celebrating Chinese New Year - his home of more than 40 years has been spruced up for the first time. "It is in some way like a new beginning," said Mr Tan, 59, who has lived in his Hougang four-room flat since...
Bringing cheer to other seniors
Strict upbringing by her father, who was a firm disciplinarian, left Madam Victoria Rany Francis with a lifelong fear of speaking to strangers. To avoid prying neighbours, the 82-year-old keeps the windows and door of her three-room flat closed most of the time. She...
Peers on campus provide support to students in distress
Mr Cho Ming Xiu, 30, a social work undergraduate at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) first saw what mental illness does to a person when he was in junior college. His classmate, who was an accomplished student and president of the student council,...
NUH’s little house of comfort
Volunteers who help maintain rest facility for loved ones of very sick children are also a source of support. Darren Ng, 43, who works at a fintech company, spends three times a week last year and once a month this year to volunteer at the National University Hospital...
Special needs Singaporeans with a never-say-die attitude
On Thursday evenings, Ms Chris Hortin-Tan, who has only 5% of her central vision in both eyes, usually dons a running singlet, shorts and track shoes. Ms Hortin-Tan is preparing for the Spartan Sentosa Sprint in March 2018. It is an obstacle course race which is more...
Keeping loneliness at bay
When her daughter suffered a stroke more than 20 years ago, Madam Tan Ah Hiang, 78, became her main caregiver and helped raise her grandson. But two years ago, she fell into a rut when pain in her knees affected her mobility and her vision blurred because of...
Stories of sacrifice and selfless acts
Big Hearts, Big Dreams compiles the stories of the 31 people in the running for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award, which was begun in 2015 by The Straits Times and supported by bank UBS to recognise Singaporeans who had made headlines and inspired the...
Spending on seniors’ services a ‘big item’ in Budget 2018
Spending on services for seniors will be a "big item'' in the upcoming Budget, Senior Minister of State for Finance Indranee Rajah said yesterday when she underlined the growing challenge of addressing the needs of Singapore's rapidly ageing population. She did not...
Cooking for President a dream come true for him
As a Singaporean, cook Paul Simon's ambition was to make lunch for President Halimah Yacob. His wish came true on 24 January 2018 when the head of state enjoyed a three-course meal he prepared at the Istana. "I never expected to get this chance," said Mr Simon, who...
More can be done to meet needs of older Singaporeans
A group of younger leaders have banded together to mull over what Singapore "needs to do differently in the coming years" as its population ages, underscoring how the issue has become one of the most urgent challenges for the Government. At the Singapore Perspectives...
No sitting still after loss of both legs
The lowest point in Madam Zainon Arshad's life came just over five years ago when doctors told her they had to amputate her right leg because of diabetes. A year earlier, she had her left leg amputated for the same reason. Alongside the need for dialysis three times a...
Caring for the less fortunate in Singapore
The Straits Times explores the nature of caring in Singapore. Angels in our midst She may have retired from her job as a nurse, but Madam Tan Ow Lang still makes it a point to help strangers in need as a volunteer befriender to the elderly served by Presbyterian...
Efforts to promote inclusion lauded
Several individuals with disabilities were recognised at two events on 20 January 2018 - one celebrating inclusive employment and another honouring organisations that back socially responsible initiatives. Bursaries totalling $117,550 were handed out at the...
