Singapore, 25 August 2023 – Singtel today announced that it has raised a record $1.28 million, the highest ever, through its annual charity golf fundraiser for the Singtel Touching Lives Fund (STLF), bringing the total raised since 2002 to over $55 million. The STLF supports six special education schools that teach children and youth social and communication skills, academic subjects from literacy to numeracy and science, and vocational training in industries like food and beverage and retail operations so they can assimilate into society and live independently.

Held at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club, the fundraising event attracted over 30 Singtel partners including Ericsson, Huawei and Samsung, and its regional associates AIS, Globe and Telkomsel.

“We’re committed to building a better world where we can all progress and prosper together. We continue to be heartened by the good work of our beneficiary schools, in equipping students with critical life and vocational skills, as well as empowering them to unleash their creative talents. This is made possible with the support of our business partners, and we thank them for their generous donations and journeying with us to give these children a brighter future,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singtel, at the event’s appreciation dinner.

Putting into practice what they had learnt from their food and beverage vocational training courses, students from the APSN Delta Senior School skillfully served guests pre-dinner drinks and two of the dinner courses. The students from APSN Chaoyang School showcased their musical talents with a heart-warming performance of Home by Kit Chan.

Ms Angela Lee, Principal, APSN Chaoyang School, said “APSN Chaoyang School and Singtel have a collaborative relationship that stretches back many years. The generosity of Singtel has enabled the school to run programmes, such as the Talent Development Programme for the Arts, that have impacted and enriched the lives of many of our students. Chaoyang students who demonstrate potential in either visual or performing arts are identified by the teachers and enrolled into this programme. Students are then given additional coaching and the necessary resources for them to further develop their skills in their specific area of talent. Through this programme, Chaoyang School has nurtured many cohorts of budding artists whose artworks have been featured in exhibitions, like Singtel’s Expressions Through Art 2022 or who have performed at the National Day Concert at Gardens by the Bay. Thank you, Singtel!”

In a first, this year’s event included 20 pieces of artwork out of the 128 from the exhibition, Expressions Through Art, which debuted at the National Gallery of Singapore last year. The collection of artworks is created by the students from the six special education schools, using a wide variety of materials and styles like acrylic and oil paintings.

All funds raised from this event will be channelled to the STLF, which supports six beneficiary special education schools – APSN Chaoyang School, APSN Tanglin School, APSN Delta Senior School, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, Eden School, and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School. By fully underwriting all fundraising costs, Singtel ensures that every dollar donated will reach the beneficiary schools in delivering critical education programmes.

Most recently Singtel was awarded the highest accolade, Impact Enterprise of the Year, at the Sustainability Impact Awards 2023, jointly organised by UOB and The Business Times, for being the leading enterprise to drive social and environmental change in Singapore.

Other initiatives by Singtel that support special education schools and students:

• Singtel Carnival: The annual carnival is specially curated to provide special needs students with a safe and controlled environment to enjoy a fun day of games, rides and handicraft activities. The event is organised and supported by a team of around 2,000 staff volunteers from Singtel who provide opportunities for the students to develop interpersonal skills and build their self-confidence.
• Singtel Enabling Innovation Centre: In a partnership with SG Enable, this community space is equipped with a variety of services, experts and assistive technologies to equip individuals with disabilities with contact centre skills and customised ICT training, enhancing their employment opportunities as they transition to the workforce.

For more information on these initiatives, please visit: Singtel Touching Lives Fund

For members of the public who wish to make a contribution, please write a crossed cheque to the ‘Singtel Touching Lives Fund’ and mail it to:

Singtel Group Sustainability
31 Exeter Road, #19-00 Comcentre
Singapore 239732

Please include your name, identification number and contact details on the back of the cheque if you would like to file the donation for tax purposes.

You may also donate online via DBS iBanking, POSB iBanking or login to your Singtel Dash app and select “More” > “Charity” > Look for “Singtel Touching Lives Fund”.

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ANNEX A: Beneficiaries of Singtel Touching Lives Fund

ASPN 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: https://www.apsn.org.sg/apsn-chaoyang-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: https://www.apsn.org.sg/apsn-tanglin-school/

APSN Delta Senior School

The APSN Delta Senior School is a post-secondary school that offers vocational training to students aged 17-21 years with mild intellectual disability. As an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), the programme equips students with skills and competencies validated by employers, unions and professional bodies, across the Food and Beverage, Retail Operations, Hotel and Accommodations and Horticulture industries. At the end of their training, students will be Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) certified.

Website: https://www.apsn.org.sg/apsn-delta-senior-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- 18 years 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 5-18 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.

Website: https://www.minds.org.sg/for-children/schools/lgs/
 

ANNEX B: Scenes from the event

Singtel Group Chief Executive Officer, Yuen Kuan Moon, kicking off the charity golf event with the first hole at Laguna National Golf Resort Club

Photo credit: Singtel

From left to right: Foo Fang Yong, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei International, Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Digital InfraCo, Singtel, Valerio Manca, Vice President, Singtel Sales Account, Ericsson, Martin Wiktorin, President and Country Manager, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Pacific Island, Ericsson, Yuen Kuan Moon, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singtel, Jo Sang Ho, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Samsung, Simon Lin, President, Huawei Asia Pacific, Aileen Tan, Group Chief People and Sustainability Officer, Singtel

Photo credit: Singtel

An exhibition of 20 artworks from the Expressions Through Art collection at the Singtel Charity Golf event. Artworks from the collection are created by students with special needs from the six special education schools supported by Singtel Touching Lives Fund.

Photo credit: Singtel

STLF supports six beneficiary schools in providing critical education programmes. Pictured are students from APSN Chaoyang School during a musical performance as part of their talent development programme (left) and learning in-line skating (right).

Photo credit: APSN Chaoyang School