Part of the work of unions is caring for members. But going the extra mile and caring for the less privileged in our society is something that more unions are doing these days. On 12 November 2012, 44 students from the Lighthouse School were brought to the Gardens by the Bay by 30 union members and executive council members from the Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union (PUBEU) and the Singapore Airlines Staff Union (SIASU).
Lighthouse School is a special school for children with visual impairment, hearing impairment as well as children with autism. During the trip, members from the unions were paired with the students with special needs to go around the Gardens by the Bay. The students were all smiles throughout as they had a chance to touch the plants and flowers with their hands.
It was not just about fun for the students and union members but a learning journey as the students took the opportunity to experience stone drawing and union members learning how to care for children with different impairments.
PUBEU President Tan Yeong Kang, who was paired with a visually impaired student, said: “A lot of times we are unaware of the people out there who are less fortunate than us. Giving is not confined to just monetary gifts, but also spending time with those in need.”
The trip truly showcased the unions at work, not just being the voice of workers but also lending a hand to care for the less privileged in our society. SIASU General Secretary Logannaathan said: “To help the less privileged in our society, we need to be inclusive with the community and to move away from the norm of union work to help people.”
The project was funded under the U Care Caring∙Sharing∙Reaching out (U Care CSR) Co-Funding Scheme. This initiative aims to showcase that the Labour Movement (LM) goes beyond helping our workers and our members, but also reaches out to care for the underprivileged in our society.
