The Labour Movement celebrated the 18th year of its Educational Awards by distributing over $200,000 worth of scholarships to 1,600 award recipients.
Some 1,438 Education Grants were given out to children coming from low-income families as a means to help them cope with education related expenses.
Another 175 Scholarship Awards were distributed to the children of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) General Branch members who have performed well in their studies.
Sponsorship for these grants is supported through the NTUC U Care Fund.
NTUC Care and Share Director Zainal Sapari who was the Guest-of-Honour at the U Sparks Awards ceremony gave encouraging words to the scholars.
“Your dedication and drive to improve yourselves is to be admired and all of you truly deserve this recognition. I want you to stand tall today and take this platform that NTUC has provided to acknowledge your achievements as a start to many more achievements,” Mr Zainal said.
Primary Six student Md Alfian Alamsyah Zuraimi shared his happiness in receiving such an award. “This award will help me buy things such as stationery and my bags for secondary school next year,” he said.
Mr Rick Yeo, a proud father, admitted that the U Sparks Awards serve as a great encouragement for students like his daughter. “I hope this will continue to spur her on to do better in the future. I think such things are very encouraging,” he said.
The U Sparks Award, an event organised by NTUC and co-sponsored by Resorts World Sentosa, aims to encourage young recipients to discover and maximise their potential, live their dreams and achieve greater heights.
Original article written by Joshua Joseph, and can be found in NTUC This Week (11 October 2013)
