Initiative helps ComLink+ families get sponsors for enrichment, upskilling courses, tuition

SINGAPORE – A ground-up initiative is helping to empower vulnerable families by providing them with additional opportunities and resources for enrichment, upskilling and tuition.

Soft-launched in 2022, the Gift-A-Family initiative has already provided 100 course sponsorships to ComLink+ families in Jurong West. ComLink+ families are lower-income families with children living in rental HDB flats.

It was co-developed by the Social Service Office @ Boon Lay and Taman Jurong, Boon Lay Constituency Office, Boon Lay Grassroots Organisations and SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Boon Lay.

Gift-A-Family was officially launched on Dec 1 at Boon Lay Community Club, and aims to provide these families in Jurong West with the opportunities and resources necessary to overcome their challenges and meet their aspirations.

This is done by having discussions with family coaches from the Social Service Office and social workers from the Family Service Centre, helping the families identify courses and programmes they can attend.

Programmes that may be sponsored include those for upskilling, enrichment and tuition.

The sponsorship requests will then be matched with donors and sponsors such as real estate agency ERA, which has contributed more than $400,000 in the last two years.

Up to 800 ComLink+ families in Jurong West may benefit from the initiative, with plans for Gift-A-Family to be extended nationwide at a later date.

One of the beneficiaries of the initiative’s pilot, Ms Nurul’ain, 39, was retrenched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The mother of three comes from a single-income household, and would have taken a long time to save up enough for upskilling courses.

But the pilot allowed her to take up a WSQ Diploma in Human Resources, and she is now looking forward to graduating and finding a full-time job.

She said: “Without the support from Gift-A-Family, I would not be able to achieve my dreams in taking up this course to pursue my studies and to obtain a certification. Although I had previous experience in HR, this course allows me to expand my knowledge and enables me to have a more competitive edge in the job market.”

Speaking at the launch, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who is also Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration and adviser to West Coast GRC grassroots organisations, called on more community partners and individuals to support the initiative.

He said: “Gift-A-Family was created to invite Singaporeans who have done well to work with the Government and the social services, to partner and support our ComLink+ families. In doing so, we can provide our ComLink+ families with additional resources over and above what our existing support networks provide.”