REACH 396 - What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups in Singapore? 

(SK)

19 Sep 2022 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:56 am, 19/09/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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Thank you

Megan 😊

[10:00 am, 19/09/2022] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

Speaking at the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) 30th Anniversary Open House yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Lee said that as Singapore's economy develops and the external environment becomes more challenging, "economic growth will be harder to come by, and social mobility will be tougher to sustain".

In this way, Singapore's four ethnic-based self help groups -  the CDAC, Mendaki, SINDA and the Eurasian Association, are still an important source of aid for low income families as they are able to customise programmes most relevant to their beneficiaries. 

💬 What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups in Singapore? 

PM Lee explained that while the Government provides assistance to low-income families regardless of ethnicity, these self-help groups – which are funded by the Government and community donations of 50 cents to $3 per worker each month – are able to provide additional support and address issues without raising racial or religious sensitivities. These groups also provide a vehicle for more well-off Singaporeans to support members from their own communities. 

Ethnic-based self help groups offer a range of mentoring support, tuition programmes and financial aid for low income families in their respective communities. The groups also run joint programmes - like the Collaborative Tuition Programme and Big Heart Student Care Centres - which cater to students from all races. 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ethnic-self-help-groups-still-vital-as-they-customise-support-for-beneficiaries-pm-lee

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ethnic-based-self-help-groups-relevant-singapore-raises-socio-economic-levels-pm-lee-2947021

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[10:24 am, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: Mandarin and English spee ches

https://youtu.be/3AIvbbJFRrI

[10:32 am, 19/09/2022] +SL: Ethnic-based self-help groups are important in our society. This is something we should not re-engineer until the whole community thinks self-help groups are no longer necessary. Self-help groups may want to work with others to maximize using the community resources to target and help those in need to prevent duplication of help that results in the wastage of resources.

[10:35 am, 19/09/2022] +65 8796 9013: $0.50 to $3 collect whole employment with a year it’s worth  million dollars after 30th anniversary can be billion dollars

[10:38 am, 19/09/2022] +SL: Collaboration and better resource management from society as one for charity and self-help groups is crucial, especially during post covid high inflation period, to prevent those who require help from the overlook due to different areas of responsibility.

[10:44 am, 19/09/2022] +SL: The published audited account for 2021 cdac total assets of only 120,926,835 (comprised of operation fund and endowment fund)

[10:45 am, 19/09/2022] +SL: Audited reports are available for other self-help groups on their website too

[11:14 am, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: "one helps others (in small ways) and other groups helping more others (in many ways), that's a chain reaction and a positive condition towards an inclusive and caring habits."

- - annoymous

[0:02 pm, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: 19 September, 2022

To: Our Distinguished Leaders, Community Leaders and All Honorable Members

"Take and Give, Give and Take

(饮水思源)"

The Spirit of Givings:

Is there a possibility to increase the monthly contributions to the four community funds (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian) from $1 to $50?

By encouraging especially those who earns above $10,000.00 monthly to give $10/month and those earning $30,000.00 and above to give $30-50/mth or more? Better still, any amount above all mentioned?

Is it too much (money) to ask from the higher income individuals to 'chip-in' to uplift fellow citizens of all ages to a better life and expand their outreach to a meaningful and aspiring tomorrows?

Afterwords:

"one helps others (in small ways) and other groups helping more others (in many ways), that's a chain reaction and a positive condition towards an inclusive and caring habits."

- - annoymous 

In the middle of the nite, phone rang, your 'hospice care' person has passed on! The next moment you activated the funeral process and completed that person last rites and last wish. That itself is a selfless act, it is more than giving money or donate to good causes! 

Kudos to Mr Anson Ang true stories of many suffering people he attended and the truths are lying out there every day and in many ways!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/the-serial-do-gooder-who-pays-for-the-funerals-of-strangers

    - - in progress - -

[2:03 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

Speaking at the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) 30th Anniversary Open House yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Lee said that as Singapore's economy develops and the external environment becomes more challenging, "economic growth will be harder to come by, and social mobility will be tougher to sustain".

In this way, Singapore's four ethnic-based self help groups -  the CDAC, Mendaki, SINDA and the Eurasian Association, are still an important source of aid for low income families as they are able to customise programmes most relevant to their beneficiaries. 

💬 What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups …

[2:03 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. The CDAC ethnic self-help group just like other ethnic self-help group like Mendaki, SINDA and Eurasian Association - are meant to collect funds from the same ethnic groups to fund and help their fellow ethnic Singaporeans who are of lower income to tie through difficult period of their time and to level up to attain social mobility so as to be self-sustainable for the whole family.

2. Notably, the source of funds from these self-help groups are from monthly contribution by working people as donation (a very small amount), plus top-up by government - which in total not a big amount of money (unless the fund are also invested to growth the fund).

3. Hence the self-help group funds must be use wisely.

4. In times of badly needed money to buy food or necessities - providing a small amount of money to the lower income family to tie through - will be akin to "Giving fish to eat - to fill their stomach and sustain their lives".

But in the long run, this is not sustainable as the limited fund of the self-help group will get depleted.

5. Hence the need to level up the lower income family - to make them self-sustainable and attain social mobility to go upwards - akin to "Giving them fishing rods to help them to fish for their families" - which is more self-sustainable in the long run - and when they are able  to be self-sustained - they can in turn contribute to the self-help group fund.

a. To help lower income group to level up and attain social mobility - as correctly identified by the Government and the self-help groups --- is to provide education to the children of the lower income families ---- so that they can eventually graduate with a University or a polytechnic diploma - that can help them to gain good and high income jobs - so that they can finance their family's expenses and accumulate wealth --- and in so help the lower-income families to do an uplift - a social mobility upwards to crime the social ladder and income ladder - and pull their families out of poverty.

b. Hence help and assistance to make the children of the low-income families to be successful such as giving them free tuition to help them do well in their weak subjects, give them bursaries, scholarships, education funds etc - to help them succeed in their education will be the most effective approach to the low-income families to level up.

c. It is also important to impart the good and right values of work attitude and ethics to the children of these low-income families :-

i. Hardworking - willing to work hard to contribute to the job and the employer

ii. Hungry to succeed in education eg. Graduate with good Degrees, diplomas

iii. Hungry to get a good job, high-income jobs.

iv. Devoid of unrealistic expectations and wants from the employers (which I wish to elaborate later - continuation from the previous topic).

[2:07 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

[15/09, 7:42 am] Close friend: China workers working 9-9-6. Our people wants 4 day work week. So all contracts and SLA have to be re-written?

[15/09, 11:49 am] ☸️  Danny 心: Exactly.

Some people say, another staff cover his job on Friday.

Then it means the company will have 2 days degraded service.

If one staff work Mon to Thurs - Fri need one staff to cover.

Then that staff work Tues to Fri, the other staff cover him on Mon.

It means Mon and Fri are 2 degraded service days for the company.

Yet the 4 days week staff want equivalent salary of 5 days week staff. 

But company have 2 days degraded service.

[15/09, 11:53 am] ☸️  Danny 心: Also in an IT company, I cannot arrange database specialist to cover a network guy or a software developer or an AI specialist.

This means I need to employ 2 specialists each in my department - means higher business cost.

Likewise in a hospital, can I cover a brain specialist with a heart specialist or a lung specialist?

One people say 4 days week is non-linear.

I say it is linear - because jobs cannot be covered unless I employ 2 similar skillsets for a 4 days week - else I will have 2 degraded service for my company.

Thus if I am recruiting staff, I will put a clause:-

"5 days week candidate required.

4 days week candidate no need to apply."

What if the 4 days week staff work from 9am to 8pm Mon to Thurs just to make up the working hours?

It will cause me to have degraded service on Mon and Fri - unless I employ double staff to plug the 2 days degraded service.

Thus 4 days week staff is a gimmick to me - not providing the required service on 2 days or I will have to incur higher staff costs to higher double the staff to plug the degraded service.

1. As for the example of durians, no use for 4 days week workers to work from 9 am to 8 pm on Mon to Thurs - because from 9 am to 6 pm all ripen durians will have been picked - the 2 extra 2 hours are not required even if a 4 days week want to work to make up for the working hours on Friday.

2. On Friday, no workers work to pick up the ripen durians. Come back on Monday, all the Fri ripen durians rotten.

3. So how does a 4 days work week worker useful to me compare to a 5 days weeks workers?

Also if the office hours is from 9am to 6pm.

Why do I need the 4 days week to work from 9am to 8pm from Mon to Thurs?

So the 2 extra hours 7 to 8 pm for them to waste around just to make up for the Fri working hours - when the company don't need them to be around?

And expect the company to pay them equivalent salary to 5 days week?

Also those staff who works 5 days week will they be happy to receive equivalent salary to 4 days week - and yet need to cover 1 day for the 4 days week workers?

Definitely not - they will get upset for unfair treatment.

Either they resign, demand for higher salary or all want to work 4 days week - which cause tremendous operational problem and higher business cost to the company.

Thus if I am the boss I will have 3 choices:-

a. Refrain from hiring 4 days week staff.

b. Cut the salaries of 4 days week staff.

c. Retrench 4 days week staff - who are causing operational and HR problems to the company.

[2:09 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

https://mustsharenews.com/boss-cancels-interview/

[2:09 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Youngster think they are kings? 🤔

[2:20 pm, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: 19 September, 2022

"Educating Leaders of Tomorrows"

Leaders creating more Leaders:

All along, decades, Prefect (Counsellor) and CCA leadership roles have been part of our education system from Primary to JC. These are existing leadership roles by selected pupils.

It is timely to introduce a New category that is 'Community Leader' (CL). Each class will have up to 10 CL and each CL will serve any two school years for Primary to Secondary and JC shall be one year. Overall, all students would have their turns to become a CL at each institution from Primary to ITE, Poly or JC. It is almost a compulsory role for all students as a CL?

These young leaders will spearhead each school outreach program (4 events per school year) to it's Community social needs like food bank and other meaningful social activities jointly organised by that particular area community organisations and the school, these are commonly known as Service to Community.

These CL efforts would be recognized by the next school he or she applies to be considered for early admission under leadership and even the enlarged society as CV.

What do we think, this CL?

[2:48 pm, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: Are these three virtues enough as KPI of one's lifetime? Or is it success, material achievements and money are above these 3 virtues?

[2:54 pm, 19/09/2022] +Umar M: https://str.sg/wKKP

[3:16 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Anyone go to cdac tuition before ?

[3:17 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I think a lot of ppl comments but who really go before in this group ?

[3:18 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Why ppl go cdac must be facing a mountain pressure .

[3:27 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My son provide free tution to such student.

He passed his exam with a few straight As.

He will be going to the University.

[3:27 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: A lot of ppl comment without going through the stress kids and their parents have to endure . Which in turn  I do have to full respect for those school teacher who volunteering their weekend precious time for the kids in the last decade for 4 cdac, mendaki etc, This show one question in mind . Ppl sent children for 18 years of schooling to be ? I don’t pity myself but the parents.

[3:28 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: A poor family kids have different thoughts than u .

[3:28 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

That student is from the low income family.

[3:29 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: He lucky lor

[3:30 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Meet ur son

[3:31 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I am please with my son volunteer efforts despite his challenging time who need to juggle his previous university exam and his work after his graduate and the time he give free service to the student.

That student also study very hard and got very good results.

[3:32 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Poor family kids got time to study not bad

[3:32 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: The worst is the kids still need to take care of ppl

[3:33 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: So poor also have different grade

[3:33 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: In case u not aware

[3:33 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Poor 

Very poor

Jin chaim

No cure liao

[3:35 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I do think school teachers play a important role than tuition teacher :)

[3:36 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

So it depends on individual attitude and aptitude.

Some no matter how poor are determined to succeed, hungry but hardworking.

Others with poor attitude and aptitude - no matter what help also no use.

[3:37 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I don’t think so luck play a part

[3:37 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Of course teachers play and important role.

But his parents come down personally to thanks my son for helping his kid to score well.

[3:54 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I can only say ur experience Is not a good example . Do U know cdac is a classroom in the past it a few lesson a few. It really eat into those teacher time.

[3:54 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I can only say ur experience Is not a good example . Do U know cdac is a classroom in the past it a few lesson a week. It really eat into those teacher time.

[3:56 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My son example is organised by cdac and community centre that tie up one to one with my son and that kid.

[3:57 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Got cca / volunteer point ?

[3:58 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Nope.

My son is in final year at that time and also have secured a job.

He don't do this for benefits.

[3:58 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I see

[3:58 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: He been doing before final year ?

[3:59 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

He did it for 3 years.

[3:59 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: I see

[4:15 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

Speaking at the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) 30th Anniversary Open House yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Lee said that as Singapore's economy develops and the external environment becomes more challenging, "economic growth will be harder to come by, and social mobility will be tougher to sustain".

In this way, Singapore's four ethnic-based self help groups -  the CDAC, Mendaki, SINDA and the Eurasian Association, are still an important source of aid for low income families as they are able to customise programmes most relevant to their beneficiaries. 

💬 What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups …

[4:23 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments (which is also my agreed comments):-

We need to target the different forms of assistance to low income groups. Are we able to segmentise them into different categories?

Eg

(1) elderly who have no dependents or their dependents are also financially deprived

(2) elderly who have dependents who are financially well off but not getting from them

(3) long illness or handicap who makes finding long term employment difficult or unable to earn enough

(4) persons who are saddled with care giving responsibilities such as looking after elderly, ill and handicapped person's

(5) low education and low skilled person's

(6) those unwilling to work

[4:26 pm, 19/09/2022] +KL: Question > I got known ex colleagues withdrawn from donating to cdac ( they live in well to do places ) . So if they request help why should cdac help them ? ? A bit not fair hor :(

[4:27 pm, 19/09/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments (which is also my agreed comments):-

Our principle for assistance should aim at helping them to help themselves. Interim, short term financial assistance can be put in place while they adapt to changes. This to me is more wholesome assistance. 

While ethnic self help groups are good, but what if problems are perennial to certain ethnic group. Then do we have the heart to see them being left behind? We teach kids about one Singapore, one people, one nation. Is it better to pick one or two segments and  widen our efforts? To avoid being miscontrued as welfarism, we can formulate policies for monetary contributions from people and non monetary support from gov agencies.

[5:23 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors, 

We’d love to HEAR MORE from you on today’s topic! 

💬 What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups in Singapore?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Megan 😊

[5:53 pm, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: 19 September, 2022

To: Our Distinguished Leaders, Community Leaders and All Honorable Members

"Battles of the Equals"

How to battle equality?

If efficiency is one of the drivers of an economy, there will be tradeoffs in terms of equity. Likewise, if we forgo some efficiency, more equity will arise. 

Can we see there is an inverse relationship between efficiency and equity? There is an old saying, "it just cannot be equal, all human, it's just so difficult!"

One thing for sure, a highly growing country like Singapore, more than half of its population demands for all sorts of goods and services over the basic necessities of life. In simple words, more than half of us are living comfortably without any worry over food shortages. 

Now the reality is we …

[6:14 pm, 19/09/2022] +Smiley face: "The struggle is great, the task divine ” to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility."

- - Epictetus

[6:18 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

Speaking at the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) 30th Anniversary Open House yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Lee said that as Singapore's economy develops and the external environment becomes more challenging, "economic growth will be harder to come by, and social mobility will be tougher to sustain".

In this way, Singapore's four ethnic-based self help groups -  the CDAC, Mendaki, SINDA and the Eurasian Association, are still an important source of aid for low income families as they are able to customise programmes most relevant to their beneficiaries. 

💬 What are your views on the relevance of ethnic-based self-help groups in supporting less-privileged communities? How else can society work together to uplift low income groups …

[6:45 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan

[7:00 pm, 19/09/2022] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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