A volunteer programme that tutors underprivileged children in Central Singapore District in English and maths has been able to include non-academic activities because of financial support from StarHub.

Next year, with help from StarHub, the Nurture 2.0 programme can be enhanced to Nurture 3.0, said the district's mayor, Ms Denise Phua, yesterday.

The enhancement will be a module on character development and community service called I-Serve.

Nurture 2.0 is a weekly volunteer-driven programme for children aged seven to 12 .

Through StarHub's support over the last six years, it could introduce non-academic modules, like creativity through IT, crafts and robotics last year.

More than 600 children are expected to benefit from the programme this year, with StarHub's contribution of $200,000 from the StarHub Sparks Fund.

Ms Phua said: "Children do not begin at the same starting point in life, but education is a powerful leveller that closes the gaps among children from different socio-economic backgrounds. Literacy, numeracy and character development are some of the most important tools which can empower children at risk of being left behind."

The announcement was made yesterday at KidZania Singapore, where 35 staff volunteers from StarHub took 202 Nurture beneficiaries for an interactive learning experience. At the event, StarHub chief strategic partnership officer Jeannie Ong presented a cheque of $200,000 to Ms Phua.

Lee Xiao Ying, nine, who has been in Nurture since 2014, has shown improvements in both English and mathematics. She said: "My results in school have improved a lot after I joined Nurture 2.0. I'm no longer afraid to speak up in class when my teacher asks me questions about grammar or mathematics."