22nd Exemplary Mother Award: Time to give model mothers their due

Nominations now open; results set for Sept 27

Madam Halimah (centre) chatting with some judges (from left) OCBC remisier Jenny Yeo; People Association's Women Integration Network Council chairman Joanna Portilla; Singapore Council of Women's Organisations president Laura Hwang; Mrs Mary Hoe-Tan,
Madam Halimah (centre) chatting with some judges (from left) OCBC remisier Jenny Yeo; People Association's Women Integration Network Council chairman Joanna Portilla; Singapore Council of Women's Organisations president Laura Hwang; Mrs Mary Hoe-Tan, from Hoe Tan Co; and Dr Bibi Jan Ayyub, a counsellor at Cedar Primary. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

Know a mother who endured hardship and made sacrifices to raise her child?

Nominations for an award honouring such model mothers are now open.

The 22nd Exemplary Mother Award, organised by Muslim society Jamiyah Singapore, was launched yesterday by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob.

Singaporean mothers of all races and religions are invited to participate. Nomination forms can be picked up at community centres or downloaded from the website, http://exemplarymother.jamiyah.org.sg.

The competition will be judged by women of different races and religions, led by former Member of Parliament, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.

They will evaluate the mums based on four criteria: children's educational attainment, character, spirit of volunteerism, and the "X factor" or endurance amid adversity, like sickness or financial difficulty, to raise their children.

Nominations close on July 14. The winner and four runner-ups, to be announced on Sept 27, will each get a cash award, plaque and certificate.

At the same event, Madam Halimah presented certificates of appreciation to 30 Malay-Muslim groups that have agreed to disseminate information about the Pioneer Generation Package through their events and activities.

Madam Halimah chairs a joint committee, made up of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and self-help group Mendaki, to pay tribute to Malay-Muslim members of the Pioneer Generation.

Thanking the 30 organisations, Madam Halimah said: "Often, our challenge is not just to have good policies but how to make sure that these policies are effectively implemented and reach the people that they are meant to benefit. Such efforts require the support of the whole community."

MELISSA LIN

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