MR SAMUEL Kitehpar never did well in school, failing his Primary School Leaving Examination and, later, dropping out of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

But his life changed during his national service, when his regimental sergeant major Kanesan, drilled into him the importance of education.

The then Second Warrant Officer wanted to promote Mr Kitehpar to the rank of sergeant, but could not as the teenager did not have the required educational qualifications.

'He told me to go back to school, or I won't be able to have a good life,' recalled Mr Kitehpar, now 23.

He did, going back to ITE in 2006.

With the help of the Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda), which gave him free tuition, he brushed up on his studies and earned the 'Most Outstanding Student' award.

Mr Kitehpar's 'comeback kid' story is among 20 featured in a book by Indian self-help group Sinda that was launched by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sunday.

Called Symphony Of Triumphs, Sinda's book on its beneficiaries, from struggling students to single mothers, brought to life how each of them overcame the odds to achieve a better life.

Mr Tharman, before launching it, hailed the efforts of Singapore's self-help groups in reaching out to needy members of their ethnic communities.

Such help is especially critical in this recession and will help Singapore survive the economic crisis, he told about 5,000 participants at the annual grassroots event called Narpani Family Day.

That is why, he said, the Government is pumping in more funds to the four self-help groups: the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Mendaki, Sinda and the Eurasian Association. Government funding of self-help groups was raised to $9 million this year.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.