CDAC pledges $36.4 million to continue support for needy families in 2022
SINGAPORE – Lower-income families hit hard by the pandemic can look forward to more help from the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) in 2022.
A budget of $36.4 million has been set aside by the CDAC next year to improve its ongoing initiatives such as tutoring and mentoring programmes for students as well as physical wellness activities targeted at seniors.
In a statement on Sunday (Dec 5), the self-help group said the amount pledged is 8.5 per cent higher than their projected spending this year.
Senior Minister of State for Transport and CDAC board member Chee Hong Tat said the CDAC recognised that more families were asking for help during the Covid-19 pandemic and attributed the increased spending to two reasons.
He said: “The first reason is that the CDAC wants to continue to provide support for vulnerable families so that they can provide for their children’s education.
“Secondly, we’re also looking to ramp up the activities organised for seniors to maintain their physical and mental well-being.”
Mr Chee was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CDAC’s annual Ready for School event, which provides low-income families and their school-going children help in preparing for the coming school year.
Each of the 8,800 beneficiary families will receive vouchers totalling $200 from FairPrice as well as transport e-vouchers.
About 17,600 school-going children are also entitled to receive vouchers amounting to $80 that can be used for school-related supplies such as textbooks, uniforms and spectacles.
Up to three children per family will be able to collect the school vouchers.
The event is taking place over three days, from Dec 4 to 6 in two venues – the Singapore Sports Hub library and Nanyang Junior College.
Other than handing out vouchers, the CDAC is also extending its help to families that require assistance by increasing the duration of casework support in order to overcome their challenges.
Students, who are academically weaker, will also receive more help with an increase in the number of tuition sessions from 30 to 33 and one-to-one lessons for those requiring more guidance.
The CDAC will also be organising a range of online activities from Dec 9 till 11 such as a virtual tour of the giant panda exhibit, a qigong workshop and a traditional Chinese medicine talk on acupuncture and dynamic breathing.
A motivational talk titled YOUth Can Do It Too! Courage To Conquer will take place on Friday (Dec 10). It is aimed at children aged 12 and above.
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