News
Minding the gaps: 10 friends collaborate to take on social issues in Singapore
Widening social inequality, an ageing population, and the threat of climate change – these are the issues that frame our world today. Amidst increasing recognition of these complex issues, a collective formed of ten donors have come together to establish Mind the Gap 200 (MtG 200), a multi-fund project, with the Community Foundation of Singapore.
Motivating trainees towards a brighter future
In recent years, Singapore’s education system has been seeking to move beyond academic grades to a more holistic approach towards learning. Seeking to change broader mindsets towards the value of applied learning and work experience, Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) has been steadily championing a ‘work-study’ approach through its Traineeship Scheme.
The Business Times: DAFs still quite new concept: charities index
DAFs are charitable fund accounts that people or organisations can open. An amount of money will be pledged to a cause they are passionate about. Former CFS chairman Laurence Lien says DAFs are motivating philanthropists to think more about the cause they would like to donate funds to and how their donations will help to solve the problem.
The Business Times: A S$10m fund with a difference to address Singapore’s social issues
Lunch affairs with Singapore Exchange (SGX) head of global sales and origination and executive vice-president, Chew Sutat, does not come cheap. But it is not because he prefers fine dining or a lavish meal, but rather, he is always looking out for opportunities to raise funds.
Including the Excluded: Everyone Plays a Part
Through working and volunteering in the non-profit sector, I often meet people living in dire circumstances. I vividly remember one incident while distributing breakfast to families living in public rental units. Speaking in simple English, the mother thanked us profusely for the warm porridge and noodles – generously contributed by a donor – so the money saved could go towards their monthly transport.
HOME: Helping vulnerable migrant workers through crisis
With almost one million low-wage migrant workers in Singapore, there is an increasing appreciation of the important role they play in our society. Yet, while migrant workers make up a significant part of our social fabric, their issues and challenges may often remain invisible from public view.
TODAY: New S$528,000 fund to help disadvantaged people stay employed
When stereotypes, stigmas and prejudices prevent people with disabilities or mental health problems from finding jobs, they are often financially or socially disadvantaged for life. To overcome these barriers, a new fund was launched to address the problem of social exclusion of disadvantaged groups here, bringing employment and vocational training support to where it is needed most.
The Business Times: New fund to help Singapore’s marginalised groups land jobs
The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has launched a new fund to raise the participation of marginalised groups in Singapore’s workforce. Among other things, the Lift (Learning Initiatives for Employment) Community Impact Fund will support programmes that provide vocational training for marginalised individuals, and place them in jobs in the open market.
LIFT (Learning Initiatives for Employment) Community Impact Fund – Training and placing marginalised persons into stable jobs
The LIFT Community Impact Fund supports programmes that provide vocational training and social support for marginalised groups in Singapore before placing them in jobs in the open market. The programmes target persons with disabilities, persons recovering from mental illnesses, disadvantaged women and youth-at-risk.
Media release: CFS launches community impact fund to raise marginalised groups’ participation in the workforce
CFS has launched a new community impact fund to address social exclusion from the country’s workforce. Called the LIFT Community Impact Fund, it will support programmes that provide vocational training for marginalised groups in Singapore and place them in jobs in the open market.
A Call for Collaborative Giving: Bridging the Divide for Persons with Disabilities
This second Colabs publication reveals some of the challenges that persons with disabilities in Singapore face integrating into our community. This includes the lack of sustainable employment options and other opportunities to participate meaningfully in society. Some suggestions for collaborative solutions based on the collective feedback of over 80 participants in the series are outlined here.
A turning point for community philanthropy
In the life of any organisation, there are special moments that will be remembered as being turning points. CEO Catherine Loh reflects on a phenomenal year and muses on a new era as CFS looks forward to the next decade with the exponential growth of community philanthropy and a new Chairman at the helm.
Singapore Tatler: Kith and Kin
The family behind Naumi Hotels and Rang Mahal Restaurants, Surya, Ritu and Gaurang Jhunjhnuwala, shares how its late patriarch Shyam Sundar Jhunjhnuwala’s spirit of entrepreneurship and giving lives on through the generations through the S S Jhunjhuwala Charity Fund established with the Community Foundation of Singapore.
938Now: Night Chat with Susan Ng
CEO Catherine Loh and donors Lim Wei-Jen and Ashely Ong from Liontrust were guests on 938Now’s Night Chat with Susan Ng talking about giving back in a more structured and impactful way. In Wei-Jen’s words: “CFS is like a school that gives you professional tips on how to give in a more meaningful way. Take the first step and see how amazing philanthropic work can be.”
Singapore Tatler: Living Legacy
More people are starting to think about philanthropy and giving back, instead of leaving it as a post-retirement consideration. Thio Shen Yi and Stefanie Yuen Thio, and Adrian and Susan Peh tell Singapore Tatler how they are making more strategic and effective giving through their private charity funds with the Community Foundation of Singapore.
Singapore Youth Impact Collective helps youths progress from classroom to working life
The Singapore Youth Impact Collective – a first-in-Singapore initiative – uses the collective impact model to empower disadvantaged youths to progress more smoothly from the classroom to fulfilling careers. The Collective launched two youth empowerment programmes and opened a new A.P.T.I.T.U.D.E. Centre at ITE College Central.
Berita Harian: Programme to prepare youths for the workplace launched
The Singapore Youth Impact Collective is an initiative in Singapore that uses the collective impact model and allows donors and non-profit organisations to solve complex social issues together. The Collective wants to increase the ability of youths from underprivileged backgrounds to advance in the workforce through training and skills development.
Lianhe Zaobao: By encouraging participation in interest groups to improve skills, youth collective helps students plan their careers
The Singapore Youth Impact Collective consists of six organisations including Changi Foundation, TOUCH Community Services and the Community Foundation of Singapore. It aims to help students from ITE improve their professional skills by encouraging them to participate in different interest groups and pick up workplace skills.