Caring for workers has always been at the heart of what the Labour Movement does, and this spans beyond just protecting interests at the workplace to helping them achieve better and more meaningful lives outside of it.
NTUC communities such as nEbO (NTUC’s junior membership arm), U Live (NTUC’s community of active agers), Migrant Workers’ Centre and Centre for Domestic Employees regularly organise various projects to do social good and give back to the community where they can.
Making an Impact
In the build up towards this year’s National Day, NTUC has opted to mark the celebrations a little differently by having its network of unions, communities and social enterprises come together to make a positive difference in the lives of fellow Singaporeans through the U Heart series of youth-led volunteerism initiatives.
Organised by Young NTUC in collaboration with Income OrangeAid, the U Heart programme will take place between now and August.
The U Heart initiative will reach out to people in Singapore through 95 activities across the island (see U Heart map).
The U Heart framework was designed to nurture, train, inspire and connect young workers and volunteers with a social cause they are passionate about. To enable them to do so, each of the 95 activities in the U Heart framework has received support in the form of $1,000 in seed funding, mentorship and marketing.
Collectively, more than 2,500 volunteers from 30 unions and 13 NTUC communities, including public sign-ups, will be reaching out to more than 6,500 beneficiaries through the activities.
“We want to create platforms like these where we can allow our young workers to not only contribute back to society, but more importantly, gain knowledge on organisational and leadership skills and the ability to inspire fellow young workers and Singaporeans to come forward and help other Singaporeans. This is truly in line with the Labour Movement being with workers and helping them succeed, not only in their careers, but in discovering their own aspirations and contributing back to Singapore,” said Young NTUC Executive Secretary Desmond Choo.
Kick Off at Sentosa
Taking place in Sentosa on 13 July 2016, the first U Heart activity saw more than 100 volunteers –
comprising members from the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union, Amalgamated Union of Public
Employees and members of the public who had signed up – fan out across the island to meet the staff working tirelessly behind the scenes with chocolates as little tokens of appreciation. The various locations visited included Sentosa’s nursery, the Sentosa Beach Station and Sentosa Express counter.
The volunteers were joined by NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Chan Chun Sing.
“Sentosa would not have been what it is today were it not for each and every one of you… It takes years of hard work and you would know the blood, sweat and tears that you have put in as a team to get Sentosa to what it is today, so kudos to all of you,” said SG Chan, when addressing Sentosa staff and volunteers during the appreciation tea reception.
Five Pillars, One Heart
The U Heart activities will reach out to beneficiaries across these five different categories that also spell HEART on the first letter:
HOME
Reaching out to low-income families and the elderly living alone.
ENVIRONMENT
Reaching out to nature – animals in shelters, wildlife, the environment.
APPRECIATION
Reaching out to workers behind the scenes.
RESPECT
Reaching out to individuals with physical disabilities and our pioneer generation.
TENACITY
Reaching out to underprivileged children, children and young persons in residential care programmes.
