PICTURES

Coming soon: Gift for Singaporean babies born next year to celebrate Golden Jubilee

Focus group for the Jubilee Baby Gift. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN
Focus group for the Jubilee Baby Gift. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN
Minister Grace Fu speaking to a focus group on Jubilee Baby Gift. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN
(Left) Ms Anita Fam, Chairman of the Jubilee Baby Gift Advisory Panel, with members of the Jubilee Baby Gift Advisory Panel (from left) Mrs Joni Ong, Ms Toh Hwee Tin, Mr Jim Lim and Dr Jazlan Joosoph. -- ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN

Every Singaporean child born next year will receive a special Jubilee Baby Gift to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.

The gift will be "a uniquely-Singaporean keepsake filled with practical yet symbolic items for our Golden Jubilee babies", said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu, who oversees population issues, on Tuesday.

Its exact contents will be up to Singaporeans to suggest. People with ideas are asked to send them to the National Population and Talent Division over the next seven weeks, until May 15.

A five-member panel led by Families for Life council member Anita Fam will advise on the suitability of the suggestions. A list of the top ideas will be drawn up for people to vote and those with the most votes will be included in the gift set.

Other panel members are parent advocacy group I Love Children's president Joni Ong, director of NTUC's family development unit Toh Hwee Tin, Raffles Hospital gynaecologist Jazlan Joosoph and relationship consultancy firm REAL Academy founder Jim Lim.

This newest call for gift ideas comes about a week after the end of an earlier call for ideas to celebrate Singapore's golden jubilee.

Meanwhile, Singapore has already started celebrating its 50th birthday, which falls on Aug 9 next year.

It began with an Istana garden party in February this year that paid tribute to the pioneer generation who built Singapore.

Speaking to a focus group discussing ideas for the gift, Ms Fu, who is also Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, as well as Foreign Affairs, underlined the important role of the family in Singapore's development.

She said: "We found comfort and support in our families during the uncertainty of Singapore's early years and shared with them the joys of our achievements as we progressed as a nation. It is also with our families that we feel a sense of home."

"As we celebrate Singapore's past and honour the contributions of our Pioneer Generation, we also set our sights on the future. In celebrating Singapore's 50th birthday, we want to also celebrate the birth of every Singaporean baby in 2015. Children are our hope for the future and our Golden Jubilee babies symbolise our hopes and aspirations for the Singapore of tomorrow."

Singaporeans with ideas on the items to include can send them to Jubilee Baby Gift microsite, http://www.nptd.gov.sg/jubilee, or hand them at booths to be set up across the island. The first two booths will be at Jurong Point (April 5 to 6) and VivoCity (April 12 to 13).

Focus groups discussions, organised by government feedback arm Reach, to decide on gift ideas will also be held. People keen to take part can email outreach@reach.gov.sg to register for these sessions.

What do you think should be in the Jubilee Baby Gift? Email chinlian@sph.com.sg

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