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MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY

9 January 2020

To News Editor

THREE-FOLD INCREASE IN PARTNERS TO WARM HEARTS OF 20,000 RESIDENTS IN RENTAL BLOCKS Annual Service Weeks flagship programme, North West CDC rallies companies, schools and its volunteer network

North West Community Development Council (CDC) annual flagship event, WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks will see a three-fold increase in corporate and community partners, from 20 back in 2014’s inaugural run, to 63 in 2020 – the seventh instalment of the event. This year,1,600 volunteers will conduct door-to- door visits, as well as pack and distribute WeCare Festive Packs comprising healthier choice items such as coffee with less sugar, oats biscuits as well as non-fried instant noodles. Through this collaborative effort, corporate partners, community organisations, schools as well as volunteers will be spreading festive joy and lifting the spirits of some 20,000 residents from 6,500 families living in the North West District’s rental blocks.

2 Taking a broader view of WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks , Dr , Mayor of North West District, says, “The North West CDC has always been promoting a culture of giving back. It is the collective effort of our 3P partners that make this initiative possible.”

3 One example of a longstanding partner is Tai Sin Electric Group, which has been on board the programme since 2015. Mr Dennis Poon, Business Manager of Tai Sin Electric Group, shared: “We have been actively in WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks since 2015 and it has since been a part of our company culture. Every year we will mark it down in our calendars and rally our fellow colleagues to join and volunteer.” A new corporate partner which came on board this year is D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd. Mr Derek Wu, Director of D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd., added, “As a Club-100 @ North West member, I had a fruitful experience joining the packing and distributing of festive packs last year. This year, I managed to encourage 30 staff from my company to join this meaningful initiative.” (see Annex A for profiles of corporate partners)

4 This year’s programme is timed before the Chinese New Year festivities, with the distribution drive taking place over 3 weeks from 5 January 2020 to 19 January 2020. The main launch event will be held at Division on 11 January 2020, and graced by Mr , Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure & Minister for Transport, Adviser to Sembawang GROs (see para. 7 for sites open to media).

5 Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure & Minister for Transport, Adviser to Sembawang GROs, says, “The WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks initiative is a meaningful effort to help the needy. It is also important to promote a spirit of giving back among the community.”

6 Held annually since 2014, the WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks programme provides a platform for community and corporate volunteers to give back to the community by engaging low-income families through house visits, and also in packing and distributing the WeCare Festive Packs. Some partners have also extended their contributions by providing additional household items, home improvement services, spring cleaning services or even organised block parties for the residents.

Media Invite

7 Media friends are invited to join WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks to experience the initiative first-hand and join North West CDC and partners in the packing and distribution. You and your photographer / camera crew are cordially invited to the following sessions:

1) Main Launch Site of WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Sembawang) Date : Saturday, 11 January 2020 Media arrival : 10.45am Venue : Blk 785A Woodlands Rise, S731785 GOH : Mr Khaw Boon Wan Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure & Minister for Transport Adviser to Sembawang GROs

Host : Mayor Dr Teo Ho Pin Mayor of North West District Adviser to Bukit Panjang GROs

2) WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Gambas) Date : Friday, 10 January 2019 Media arrival : 7.15pm Venue : Blk 106A/B Canberra Street, S751106 GOH : Mr Minister for Education Adviser to Gambas GROs

3) WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Chong Pang) Date : Saturday, 11 January 2019 Media arrival : 11.15am Venue : Blk 162 Yishun Street 11, S760162 GOH : Mr K Shanmugam Minister for Home Affairs & Law Adviser to Chong Pang GROs

4) WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Limbang) Date : Saturday, 18 January 2019 Media arrival : 10.30am Venue : Blk 537 Choa Chu Kang Street 51, S680537 GOH : Mr Minister for National Development & Second Minister for Finance Adviser to Limbang GROs

Enclosed:

1. Annex A – Media profile stories of volunteers and partners 2. Annex B – Programme for WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Sembawang) 3. Annex C – Programme for WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Gambas) 4. Annex D – Programme for WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Chong Pang) 5. Annex E - Full schedule of the 3-week campaign for WeCare @ North West - Service Weeks

About North West Community Development Council (CDC)

The Community Development Councils (CDCs) were established to build a tightly-knit, compassionate and self-reliant community.

North West CDC works closely with various community and corporate partners to strengthen Singapore’s social fabric; and encourages the more able and successful to come forward to help the less successful, and to foster greater sense of community ownership and self-help among the residents.

We strive to align our activities and efforts with our mission: (a) Assisting the needy To help the less fortunate through local assistance programmes (b) Bonding the people To bond the community through projects & programmes to bring them closer to one another (c) Connecting the community To develop strategic partnerships with corporate and community partners to better serve our residents

Contact Person for Media:

Please RSVP to the respective media officer before the day of event, 5.00pm.

WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks

Derrick Chua (Mr) Manager (Corporate Communications) North West Community Development Council Tel : 6248 5553 HP : 9827 3533 E-mail : [email protected]

Annex A

COPORATE PARTNERS WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (SEMBAWANG)

Tai Sin Electric Group

Tai Sin Electric Group is one of the long contributing partners which has stepped forward to contribute to this meaningful cause since 2015. This round of WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks 2020 would be the sixth year running that Tai Sin Electric Goup is volunteering. They will also be providing six selected households with home improvement services.

When interviewed, Mr Dennis Poon, Deputy Business Manager from Tai Sin Electric Group says, “Our company is very glad to be part of this meaningful and sustainable initiative. We have been actively in WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks since 2015 and it has since been a part of our company culture. Every year we will mark it down in our calendars and rally our fellow colleagues to join and volunteer. We hope to continue working with North West CDC and continue giving back to the community. At the same time, we can also build a strong culture of corporate social responsibility in the company through active volunteerism!”

CORPORATE PARTNER WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (MARSILING)

D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd.

D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd. is one of the new corporate partners which has stepped forward to contribute to this meaning cause.

When interviewed, Mr Derek Wu, Director from D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd. shared, “I have been a Club-100 @ North West member since 2016, donating $100 monthly to the North West Food Aid Fund. Last year, I participated in Service Weeks as a volunteer and helped out with the packing and distributing of festive cheers. During the door-to-door house visits, I was warmed by the residents’ display of grateful smiles and warm gratitude when I passed bags of festive cheers to them.”

Derek elaborated that after his meaningful experience with WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks; he subsequently went back to his company and pitched the idea of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project. To his delight, his company eagerly agreed and shared their desire to come on board. In the upcoming session, 30 employees from D-Team Engineering Pte. Ltd. will be taking time out of their weekends to lend their help to uplift the lives of residents in the Marsiling division.

Lastly, Derek added, “It is a fruitful experience for me. From the perspective of a donor contributing monetary donations, Service Week is a very good platform for donors to see how their donations, no matter how small, are touching the lives of the underprivileged residents in our community. This is truly a meaningful and enrichment experience and I urge both corporates and individuals to contribute, be it volunteering or through joining us as a Club-100 @ North West member.”

Annex B

LAUNCH OF WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (SEMBAWANG) SATURDAY, 11 JANUARY AT BLK 785A, WOODLANDS RISE S(731785) PROGRAMME

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9.30am Arrival of corporate partners and volunteers 10.45pm Arrival of Media 11.00am Arrival of GOH Mr Khaw Boon Wan Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure & Minister for Transport Adviser to Sembawang GROs

Short Address by GOH Group photo Flag off Commencement of festive pack distribution

11.45am Media Doorstop

End of Programme ______Sembawang Division No. of Address Type No. of Contribution: Partners: Clusters of unit unit 2 Clusters 512, 513 Rental 300 6 households will Lih Ming Pte Wellington Units receive home Ltd Circle improvement services Distribution of Wellington festive cheers Primary School 785A Rental 290 6 households will Tai Sin Woodlands units receive home Electric Ltd Rise improvement services Distribution of Admiralty festive cheers Secondary School

Annex C

WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (GAMBAS) FRIDAY, 10 JANUARY AT BLK 106A/B, CANBERRA STREET S(751106) PROGRAMME

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6.00pm Arrival of corporate partners and volunteers 7.15pm Arrival of Media 7.30pm Arrival of GOH Mr Ong Ye Kung Minister for Education Adviser to Gambas GROs

Short Address by GOH Group photo Flag off Commencement of festive pack distribution

8.15pm Media Doorstop

End of Programme ______

Gambas Division No. of Address Type No. of Contribution: Partners: Clusters of unit unit 3 Clusters 436, 438 Rental 260 Distribution of Northbrook Yishun Units festive cheers Secondary Avenue 11 School 106A/B Rental 330 $7,000 worth of Keppel Group Canberra units NTUC vouchers as Street Angbao of $20 to the residents Distribution of Republic festive cheers Polytechnic 461A/B Rental 300 Distribution of Surbana Yishun Units festive cheers Jurong Avenue Distribution of Yishun festive cheers Secondary School

Annex D

WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (CHONG PANG) SATURDAY, 11 JANUARY AT BLK 162, YISHUN STREET 11 S(760162) PROGRAMME

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10.00am Arrival of corporate partners and volunteers 11.15am Arrival of Media 11.30am Arrival of GOH Mr K Shanmugam Minister for Home Affairs & Law Adviser to Chong Pang GROs

Short Address by GOH Group photo Flag off Commencement of festive pack distribution

12.15am Media Doorstop

End of Programme ______

Chong Pang Division No. of Address Type No. of Contribution: Partners: Clusters of unit unit 2 Clusters 108 Yishun Rental 30 30 households will Esun Ring Road units receive automatic International rice cooker Pte Ltd 162 Yishun Rental 260 20 households will Master Street 11 units receive home Contract Pte improvement Ltd services Distribution of Yishun Town festive cheers Secondary School

Annex E

SCHEDULE OF WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS

Information is correct at the time of release. Please liaise with our CDC media contact persons on actual details and timing.

Week 2 of WeCare @ North West – Service Week 2020 S/ Division Location Event Home N improvement services/ Others 1. Gambas Blk 106A/B Date: 10 January 2020 Keppel Group Canberra Street is distributing (250 packs) Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm $6,000 worth of NTUC GOH: Minister Ong Ye Kung, vouchers as Minister for Education Ang Bao of Adviser to Gambas GROs $20 to the residents. 30 volunteers from Keppel Group and 50 students from Republic Polytechnic are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

2 Canberra Blk 462 Date: 11 January 2020 13 selected Sembawang households Drive Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm will be (200 packs) provided with GOH: Dr , home Adviser to Canberra GROs improvement services. Partners: 40 students from Canberra Secondary School and 20 volunteers from Suncity Contracts Ptd Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

3 Chong Blk 108 Yishun Date: 11 January 2020 30 sets of Pang Ring Road automatic rice (30 packs) Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm cookers will be distributed Partners: 10 volunteers from to the Master Contract Services Pte residents, Ltd are involved in packing and donated by distributing festive packs. Eusun International Pte Ltd. 4 Chong Block 162 Date: 11 January 2020 20 selected Pang Yishun St 11 households (260 packs) Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm will be provided with GOH: Minister K Shanmugam, home Minister for Home Affairs & improvement Law services. Adviser to Chong Pang GROs

Partners: 40 students from Yishun Town Secondary School and 20 volunteers from Master Contract Services Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

5 Sembawang Blk 785A Date: 11 January 2019 6 selected Woodlands Rise households (290 packs) Time: 9.30am – 12.00pm will be provided with GOH: Minister Khaw Boon home Wan, improvement Coordinating Minister for services. Infrastructure & Minister for Transport Adviser to Sembawang GROs

Partners: 20 volunteers from Tai Sin Electric Ltd and 30 students from Admiralty Secondary School are involved packing and distributing festive packs.

6 Zhenghua Blk 632A, Date: 11 January 2020 1 selected 632B, Senja household Road Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm will be provided with Blk 634A/634B GOH: Mr , home (Studio) Adviser to Zhenghua GROs improvement services. (340 packs) Partners: 40 students from Westspring Secondary School are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Week 3 of WeCare @ North West – Service Week 2020 S/ Division Location Event Home N improvement services/ Others 1 Admiralty Blk 569A and Date: 17 January 2020 1 selected Blk 569B households Champions Way Time: 4.00pm – 7.30pm will be (370 packs) provided with GOH: Mr Vikram Nair, home Adviser to Admiralty GROs improvement services. Partners: 30 students and volunteers from Innova Primary School and 30 volunteers from The Nielsen Company are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Blk 693D Date: 17 January 2020 - Woodlands Avenue 6 Time: 5.30pm – 8.00pm (250 packs) GOH: Mr Vikram Nair, Adviser to Admiralty GROs

Partners: 40 Students from Christchurch Secondary School and National University of Singapore and 20 staff from Eligo Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

2 Woodlands Blk 806 Date: 17 January 2020 - Woodlands St 81 Time: 4.30pm – 7.30pm (120 packs) GOH: Mr Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Health Adviser to Woodlands GROs

Partners: 30 students from Qihua Primary School and 20 volunteers from The Rotary Club are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Blk 852 Date: 17 January 2019 - Woodlands St 83 Time: 5.00pm – 8.00pm (150 packs) GOH: Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Health Adviser to Woodlands GROs

Partners: 20 students from Riverside Secondary School and 20 volunteers Select Group are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

3 Kebun Blk 244, 245 Date: 18 January 2020 10 selected Baru Ang Mo Kio households Ave 3 Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm will be (240 packs) provided with GOH: Mr , home Adviser to Kebun Baru GROs improvement services. Partners: 30 students from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School and Gain City Pte 30 volunteers from Gain City Ltd will be Pte Ltd are involved in packing conducting a and distributing festive packs. block party.

4 Limbang Blk 536, 537 Date: 18 January 2020 - Choa Chu Kang St 51 Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm (240 packs) GOH: Minister Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development & Second Minister for Finance Adviser to Limbang GROs

Partners: 40 students from Regent Secondary School and 30 volunteers from City Developments Limited are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

5 Marsiling Blk 180C Date: 18 January 2020 - Marsiling Road (340 packs) Time: 7.00am – 10.00am

GOH: Mr Zaqy Mohmad, Minister of State, Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Manpower Adviser to Marsiling GROs

Partners: 40 students from Marsiling Secondary School and 30 volunteers from D-Team Engineering are involved in packing and distributing festive packs

Blk 16 Date: 18 January 2020 Goldkili Marsiling Lane Trading (190 packs) Time: 7.30am – 10.30am Enterprise (S) Pte Ltd is GOH: Mr Zaqy Mohmad, sponsoring Minister of State, Ministry of Kopi 3 in 1, National Development & Chocolate Ministry of Manpower Gao Siew Dai Adviser to Marsiling GROs and 3 in 1 Cereal for all Partners: 30 students from 190 Fuchun Secondary School and households. 20 volunteers from Goldkili Trading Enterprise (S) Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs

Blk 185A/ 182A Date: 18 January 2020 - Woodlands Streets 13 Time: 7.30am – 11.30am (160 packs) GOH: Mr Zaqy Mohmad, Minister of State, Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Manpower Adviser to Marsiling GROs

Partners: 60 students from ITE College West, 20 volunteers from Singapore Carpentry are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Blk 3, 4 Date: 18 January 2020 15 selected Marsiling Road households (500 packs) Time: 9.00am – 1.30pm will be provided with GOH: Mr Zaqy Mohmad, home Minister of State, Ministry of improvement National Development & services by Ministry of Manpower Malayan Adviser to Marsiling GROs Daching Co. Pte Ltd. Partners: 60 students from Woodlands Secondary School, 20 volunteers from Malayan Daching Co. Pte Ltd and Club - 100 @ North West members are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Blk 218 Date: 18 January 2020 40 sets of Marsiling automatic rice Crescent Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm cookers will (40 packs) be distributed GOH: Mr Zaqy Mohmad, to the Minister of State, Ministry of residents, National Development & donated by Ministry of Manpower Eusun Adviser to Marsiling GROs International Pte Ltd. Partners: 15 students from Marsiling Secondary School are involved in packing and distributing festive packs

6 Nee Soon Blk 269A, 269B Date: 18 January 2020 - East Yishun St 22 (230 packs) Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm

GOH: Mr Kok Kwang, Adviser to Nee Soon East GROs

Partners: 50 volunteers from Lumileds Singapore Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

7 Ulu Pandan Blk 16, 17, 18 Date: 18 January 2020 21 selected Ghim Moh Road households (460 packs) Time: 1.30pm – 5.30pm will be provided with GOH: Mr Christopher De home Souza, improvement Adviser to Ulu Pandan GROs services.

Partners: 80 students from St Margaret’s Secondary School and 30 Bigfoot Logistic Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

8 Kebun Blk 115, 116 Date: 19 January 2019 - Baru Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 Time: 8.30am – 11.30am (210 packs) Partners: 20 volunteers from SIBL are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

Blk 257 Ang Date: 19 January 2020 - Mo Kio Ave 4 (210 packs) Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm

Partners: 30 volunteers from Sunray Woodcraft Construction Pte Ltd are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

9 Nee Soon Blk 510A and Date: 19 January 2020 South Blk 510B - Yishun Street 51 Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm (350 packs) GOH: Er. Dr. , Adviser to Nee Soon South GROs

Partners:50 students and parent volunteers from Northland Primary School and 20 volunteers from Advisor Alliance Group are involved in packing and distributing festive packs.

10 Sembawang Blk 512, 513 Date: 19 January 2019 6 selected Wellington households Circle Time: 9.30am – 12.00pm will be (300 packs) provided with Partners: 20 volunteers from Lih home Ming Pte Ltd and 30 students improvement from Wellington Primary services. School are involved packing and distributing festive packs.