1,200 needy kindergarten students to receive bursaries worth $240,000 in total

Pupils at the PAP Community Foundation Teck Ghee kindergarten on July 27, 2012. The North West Community Development Council said on Saturday that it had raised $240,000 in donations and will be using it to give bursaries to 1,200 kindergarten studen
Pupils at the PAP Community Foundation Teck Ghee kindergarten on July 27, 2012. The North West Community Development Council said on Saturday that it had raised $240,000 in donations and will be using it to give bursaries to 1,200 kindergarten students from low-income families. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 

SINGAPORE - Kindergarten student Ophelia Loh's father was recently retrenched. But thanks to the donations of companies and people in Singapore, the five-year-old will be receiving a $200 bursary to help defray the costs of books, stationary and household needs.

The North West Community Development Council said on Saturday that it had raised $240,000 in donations and will be using it to give bursaries to 1,200 kindergarten students from low-income families.

The bursaries will be given out during a series of parent-child health and nutrition workshops that are part of the council's We Care @ North West - Ready for School programme.

Each one-day programme consists of three main segments, namely: the health and nutrition workshop to educate parents on healthy eating for the family, the bursary presentation, and booth activities such as colouring, puzzles and word searches.

Minister for National Develoment Khaw Boon Wan, the guest of honour at one such event in Woodlands on Saturday, said: "This is a meaningful activity to teach our kindergarten pupils healthy eating and the importance of nutrition. It is also a great way to strengthen parent-child bonding."

The programmes will be rolled out to the Holland-Bukit Timah, Nee Soon and Sembawang GRCs, and Bukit Panjang SMC in the North West District.

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