The President’s Challenge is an annual community outreach and fund-raising campaign to help those less fortunate. President’s Challenge 2019 supports 67 benefitting agencies across a wide range of social causes, including children, youth, family, disability, seniors, mental health, healthcare, rehabilitation and sports. The movement is supported by the kindness and generosity of people from all walks of life. It is the President’s call to the nation to do their part to help the less fortunate in Singapore and build a caring and inclusive society .
100% of donations raised under President’s Challenge go to its benefitting agencies.
Next year, the President’s Challenge will focus on empowering persons with disabilities through the Empowering for Life Fund, which was launched in 2018 to support programmes that provide holistic support to vulnerable groups, build their capacity to live independently and enable them to participate actively in workplace and society.
One of the benefitting agencies supported by the Empowering for Life Fund is Centre For Seniors, which creates job opportunities for persons with special needs through its Inclusive and Inter-generational Work Team Programme. The programme aids the transition of young adults with special needs into workforce by pairing them with older and more experienced workers who act as their mentors.
21-year-old Loh Chee Yong, who has autism, was hired as an office assistant under this programme. He is being mentored by Magdelene Low (66 years old), a Senior Programme Coordinator at Centre For Seniors. As Chee Yong has difficulties multi-tasking, Magdelene helps him by setting out daily routines for him and going through the tasks scheduled for the day.
Over time, Chee Yong was able to complete his work accurately as Magdelene helped to identify his strengths in dealing with repetitive tasks and focus on details. With Magdelene’s experience and support, Chee Yong is now less overwhelmed with working in the office. He learns to prioritise his work and plan his time for the day. Magdelene said the interaction with Chee Yong has helped her to be more understanding of persons with special needs.
“It is certainly a good learning experience for me. Now, I am able to understand and communicate with Chee Yong better. Patience and empathy are key success factors”, said Magdelene.
Make a donation to the President’s Challenge to support persons with special needs like Chee Yong, to attain sustainable employment and lead independent lives.
Empower someone for life.
https://go.gov.sg/pc2019-advertorial2
www.pc.org.sg
Led by: National Council of Social Services (NCSS)
In the spirit of SG Cares
Media Support: SPH
Challenge sponsors: tote board / Singapore Pools
