1. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)’s official youth wing, Young NTUC, is organising the second run of their popular sandcastle event, Building Dreams. The difference this time is that the organisers have factored in a fundraising angle, benefiting Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Moral Home for Disabled’s intellectually disabled children, in particular, those without parental support or those whose parents cannot support them.
2. NTUC members and the public started to Do Good by purchasing pinwheels priced at $5 from any NTUC FairPrice’s 83 Cheers stores, 44 Cheers@Esso petrol kiosks and 21 FairPrice Express outlets since 20 November. Sale of pinwheels will continue till 31 December 2010. There are three different pinwheel designs to choose from, one signifying love for self, while the other two, father and mother. Please refer to Annex for all designs.
3. Pinwheel owners were encouraged to decorate their pinwheels and join Young NTUC in exhibiting them at Building Dreams – A Sandcastle Event at East Coast Park on 4 December 2010, from 3.00pm to 7.00pm. Members of the public who are unable to turn up for Building Dreams but wish to plant their pinwheels next to the sandcastles are welcome to do so at the same venue from 4 till 11 December 2010.
Building Dreams – A Sandcastle Event by Team Young NTUC (TYN)
4. A number of union members and their families had purchased their pinwheels from youth volunteers moving on roller-blades at Raffles Green near Raffles Place MRT on 26 November, as well as East Coast Park on 27 and 28 November and 4 December.
5. The popular event enabled participants to bond with their loved ones, foster stronger and more resilient family ties with them, whilst doing good for the less fortunate.
6. “Building Dreams is synonymous with Building Hope as a family unit and the pinwheels symbolise Hope for the future. Combined, this event brings forth the inclusive spirit of the Labour Movement, encouraging the inculcation of family values and raising funds for needy children at the same time,” said Mrs Josephine Teo, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Young NTUC advisor.
Young NTUC Targets to Raise $50,000 by 31 December 2010
7. Young NTUC hopes to raise at least $50,000 by 31 December 2010. It has been actively reaching out to its members and the public through various platforms including social media to promote the charity drive and instil the spirit of volunteerism among youths.
8. Proceeds collected will be channelled to Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Moral Home for Disabled which will provide morally disabled children with comprehensive education, including moral and civic aspects of life.
9. About 20 morally disabled children from Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Moral Home for Disabled and their caretakers joined Young NTUC members and their families at Building Dreams today.
10. Mr Jason Lee, Director Administrative and Operations of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK) is exceedingly touched to see many abled youths coming forth to raise funds for their disabled children: “In every community, there will always be people who are less fortunate than others. But it is more unfortunate if the disabled child comes from a poor family who cannot fend for himself as he is too young to take care of himself. We are grateful to the Labour Movement for helping raise funds for the needy children under our care.”
11. Commenting on the campaign, Mr Koh Kok Sin, General Manager (Convenience), NTUC FairPrice, said, “We are glad to be able to extend a helping hand in providing education to the children. By having the campaign pinwheels available across our network of more than 140 convenience stores spread across the island at Esso petrol stations, MRT stations, malls and housing estates, we want to make it convenient for the public to show their concern and make their contributions towards this meaningful cause.”
12. The Building Dreams event first took place on 26 June this year when some 500 participants and their families and friends came together to bond with one another.
Mrs Josephine Teo
Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC
Advisor of Young NTUC
Annex
Three Pinwheel Designs
Building Dreams - A Sandcastle Event by TYN (26 June)
