Some 2,000 needy post-secondary students will get additional financial and skills training support, thanks to a $1.5-million programme launched yesterday by the Chinese Development Assistance Council.

The Youth Empowerment and Aspiration Programme provides eligible students a grant of $720 per academic year, while also offering programmes and activities to help them develop work and life skills.

These include internship opportunities, soft skills training in the workplace and workshops to develop financial literacy.

Eligible students must be Chinese Singaporean, or a permanent resident or have a parent who is one. They must also be studying full-time and aged between 17 and 25 years, and their family's gross monthly household income must not exceed $1,900 or a per capita income of $650.

The council will be reaching out to students from institutions such as junior colleges, polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education colleges, among others.

Tiffany Fumiko Tay