Media Release for Care Deeply Share Freely

In support of
MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL 21 MARCH 2017, 8.30AM
SHARITY PARTNERS SCHOOLS TO CELEBRATE
INCLUSIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION AND
INTERACTION
Sharity Club reached out to more than 110,000 Primary 1 and Primary 3 students
in past two years. Online platforms will extend the reach.
SINGAPORE, 21 MARCH 2017 – Community Chest will kick off its 2017 school
outreach programme with the launch of a new Sharity website, to provide primary
school students, teachers and parents with easy access to information on relevant
topics such as dealing with challenges in school and interacting with persons with
disabilities, with the aim of nurturing the next generation of givers to build a caring and
inclusive society.
Launched by Guest-of-Honour, Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim,
Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social
and Family Development, the new Sharity website houses a repertoire of information
such as songs and lyrics, teaching materials for classroom activities, role playing,
games and contests etc. Also available on the website are 2 pilot animation episodes
featuring Sharity & Friends. 6 more animation episodes with themes focused on
learning difficulties, teamwork, cyber-bullying, filial piety, and accepting and respecting
persons with disabilities, will be developed and launched by the end of 2017.
The Care Deeply, Share Freely with Sharity & Friends event, held in conjunction with
Methodist Girls’ School’s (MGS) 130th anniversary celebrations, saw over 1,300
mainstream and special needs students from MGS and Rainbow Centre, interacting
and learning alongside one another through various inclusive activities, such as a
Sharity skit, screening of a Sharity & Friends animation episode and experiential booths.
“Community Chest saw the need to engage young children to care and share through
platforms that are close to their hearts. The website and animation episodes were
specifically developed to target young children who are technologically savvy and can
relate well to animation characters. For parents, teachers and students, a one-stop
portal enables them to access the information they require anytime, anywhere, at one
click of the mouse,” said Mr Chew Kwee San, Vice Chairman of Community Chest and
Chairman of the Sharity Programme Sub-Committee
As demonstration of their support for inclusiveness, MGS students will step up as
emcees for the launch, facilitators for the experiential activities, and hosts to their peers
from Rainbow Centre. MGS, a long-time supporter of Community Chest’s Children’s
Day Appeal, also piloted a project to provide meaningful employment for persons with
intellectual disabilities in 2013. The project – a smoothie stall set up in the MGS
canteen, is manned by two beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities from the
Association for Persons with Special Needs.
“The care and share values conveyed through the Sharity animation and resources
found on the Sharity website complements the character and citizenship lessons that
we currently have in schools. We hope that our students can put into practice what they
have learnt, when they interact with persons with special needs,” said Ms Grace Ng,
Principal of Methodist Girls’ School.
Sharity has reached out to over 110,000 primary school students, since it made a
comeback through Ministry of Education’s character and citizenship lessons. In 2015,
Primary 3 students participated in the “Good Deeds with Sharity” initiative, where
students were encouraged to journal 6 good deeds at home, in school and in
community spaces. In 2016, “Family Time with Sharity” care packs were distributed to
Primary 1 students to grow small acts of service, care and empathy at home.
- END –
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Appended is the programme for the event.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Desmond Cher
Senior Account Executive
Ogilvy Public Relations
Tel: 6213 7701/ 9712 0053
Email: [email protected]
Ms Deng Qinyi
Manager, Corporate Communications
National Council of Social Service
Tel: 6210 2708/ 9622 8426
Email: [email protected]
Community Chest
For over 30 years, Community Chest has been engaging the community to support
people in need through fund-raising and volunteering. Community Chest supports
about 80 charities in Singapore, allowing them to focus on caring for the disadvantaged.
As Community Chest’s fund-raising and operating costs are covered mainly by Tote
Board and Singapore Pools, 100% of your donations will go towards helping:
 Children with special needs and youths-at-risk to reach their potential

Adults with disabilities to integrate into society

Relationships of families in difficulty to stay resilient

Seniors to age graciously in the community

Persons with mental health issues to integrate into society
Give Hope. Share Joy at comchest.sg.
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APPENDIX
COMMUNITY CHEST CARE DEEPLY SHARE FREELY WITH SHARITY & FRIENDS
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Methodist Girls’ School
11 Blackmore Drive, Singapore 599986
Programme
7:30 am
Media Registration
7.55 am
Arrival of Guest-of-Honour, Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim
8:10 am
Opening Address by GOH, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal
8:15 am
Sharity Skit: Celebrating Abilities
8:45 am
*Photo Opp
Launch of Care Deeply, Share Freely with Sharity & Friends with Sharity,
GOH, VIPs and students from MGS
Token Presentation by Mr Chew Kwee San, Vice Chairman of
Community Chest and Chairman of Sharity Programme Sub-Committee
and Ms Grace Ng, MGS Principal to GOH
8:55 am
Screening of Sharity & Friends animation episode
9.00 am
GOH to tour the Experiential Activities Booth, and Smoothie Stall
manned by adults with intellectual disabilities
*Photo Opp
GOH and students take part in experiential activities, such as
blindfolding, buttoning and lip-reading, to experience everyday
challenges faced by people with disabilities, facilitated by MGS students.
*Photo Opp
Sharity Meet & Greet with MGS students and special needs students
from Rainbow Centre. The students will also mingle to facilitate
interaction and build friendships.
9.30 am
GOH to take his leave/End of programme
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