New rules on grassroots leaders' priority for Primary 1 registration 'credit the deserving'

A candle light-up event where $100,000 was donated by Guinness to local social enterprise ChaCha Cottage. Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, who was the guest of honour, said the People's Association's recent changes to ho
A candle light-up event where $100,000 was donated by Guinness to local social enterprise ChaCha Cottage. Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, who was the guest of honour, said the People's Association's recent changes to how its volunteers can qualify for priority Primary 1 registration will ensure that those most deserving are recognised for their contributions. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

SINGAPORE - The People's Association's recent changes to how its volunteers can qualify for priority Primary 1 registration will ensure that those most deserving are recognised for their contributions, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah said yesterday.

Lengthening the duration of service before a PA volunteer qualifies for Phase 2B of the registration exercise is being made in that spirit, she added. "It's not meant to be an incentive - it's meant to be a means of recognition for those who have contributed," she said.

"We want to ensure that if somebody gets a recognition or a priority for something, that it is a recognition for something that is commensurate with the effort put in."

Speaking at a candle light-up event where $100,000 was donated by Guinness to local social enterprise ChaCha Cottage, Ms Indranee cited its founder, Ms Angella Cheng, as a prime example of volunteering out of passion. "It's something she wanted to do because she has a passion for this cause," she said. "It goes back to doing the right thing for the right reason."

The social enterprise supports single mothers by teaching them skills like candle, soap and jewellry-making so that they can earn a living from home while taking care of their children.

Each woman can make up to 60 candles a day, and earn between $1 and $4 per candle depending on its size, said Ms Cheng.

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