Singapore, 12 October 2017 – The Singtel Carnival today attracted 1,500 special needs students, 50 percent more than last year’s and the most since it was first introduced in 2012. The annual event is organised for the beneficiaries of the Singtel Touching Lives Fund (STLF), as well as students from all special needs schools island wide.
Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Chairman of the STLF and CEO Consumer Singapore at Singtel, said: “We are very humbled by the record turnout this year. It’s been five years since we started organising this annual event, so it’s very gratifying for our staff volunteers to see the Singtel Carnival embraced this way by the special needs community. We are going to keep doing our best for the community.”
Put together by close to 2,000 Singtel staff volunteers, this year’s underwater theme was a hit with the children, who were entertained with activities on the stage and game stalls, and treated to delicious snacks like churros, popcorn and ice-cream. To ensure that each and every guest was comfortable, they were paired with a staff chaperone who brought them around the carnival at the Singapore Expo. For the first time, more than 20 staff volunteers from the Singapore Business Network on DisAbility group of companies also lent their support as hosts for these students.
Mrs Angela Lee, Principal of APSN Chaoyang School, which is one of the beneficiaries of the STLF, said: “Funding from STLF allowed us to further enhance our school’s programmes with effective and interesting teaching resources, as well as provide an enriched learning experience for our students. On behalf of our students, families and staff, I would like to thank Singtel for this awesome fun-filled learning experience, and for making a difference in their lives.”
Since 2002, the STLF has worked with charities that offer critical and specialised education, as well as supported programmes for children and youth with special needs. To date, it has raised over S$36 million for its beneficiaries. The beneficiaries adopted by the STLF are APSN Chaoyang School, APSN Delta Senior School, APSN Tanglin School, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, Eden School, and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School.
Below are some pictures from today’s carnival.
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Chairman of the Singtel Touching Lives Fund and CEO Consumer Singapore,
Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, assisting a student with art and craft
A Singtel volunteer teaching a student how to play a shooting game
Singtel volunteers dressed up as sea creatures to bring cheer to the students
Volunteers from the Singtel Recreation Club put together an entertaining show for the students
Beneficiaries of Singtel Touching Lives Fund 2017
APSN Chaoyang School
The School provides special education for children with mild intellectual disability and autism, aged 7-12 years. The aim of the school programme is to provide education and training to enable the children to have the necessary skills, attitude and personality to lead normal, independent lives in adulthood.
Website: http://www.apsn.org.sg/schools/chaoyang-school/
APSN Delta Senior School
APSN Delta Senior School offers a competency-based vocational programme, providing broad industry skills and know-how leading to Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) certification and open employment for students aged 17 to 21 years with Mild Intellectual Disabilities (MID), as well as MID students with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Website: http://www.apsn.org.sg/schools/delta-senior-school/
APSN Tanglin School
The APSN Tanglin School provides special education for children with mild intellectual disability, aged 13-16 years. The special education programme aims to enable children to have the necessary skills, attitude and personality to lead normal and independent lives in adulthood.
Website: http://www.apsn.org.sg/schools/tanglin-school/
Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS) School
The CPAS School serves students aged 7-18 years, diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Due to their condition, students often require specialised and intensive rehabilitation through therapy intervention. CPAS School provides individual or group therapy sessions with speech therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Website: http://cpas.org.sg
Eden School
Eden School provides education and training to help children with moderate to severe autism aged 6 to 18 years old to acquire the necessary skills, attitude and personality to lead normal independent lives in adulthood.
Website: http://www.edenschool.edu.sg
MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School
The MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School provides a basic foundation in independence and employment skills to serve children aged 5 to 18 years with intellectual disabilities. It aims to develop each child to his or her fullest potential with the long-term objective of enhancing the child's prospects of integrating into mainstream society.
