HIDDEN_ADDENDA, MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS

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MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS: DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN
Acting Minister for Community Development, Youthand Sports

1 MCYS’s mission is to build a cohesive and resilient Singapore - a diverse but united people, and a society that can overcome all challenges. To realise this, we will develop

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inspired and committed youth, ensure that the less able are not "left behind", support older Singaporeans, make Singapore a great place for family life, bond Singaporeans through sports, and reinforce racial and religious harmony. We will also work with our community and social service sector partners to ensure better alignment of services and achieve synergy.

**SUPPORTING INSPIRED & COMMITTED YOUTH **

2 The renaming of MCDS to MCYS on 1st September 2004 signifies the Government’s commitment to nurture young Singaporeans into self-reliant and resilient citizens. Given the right opportunities to ignite their idealism and imagination, young Singaporeans can contribute to Singapore, and in the process, develop a stronger sense of belonging.

3 A key priority is to empower our youth to make a difference to Singapore, and thus reinforce their sense of belonging. MCYS and the National Youth Council will encourage the formation of more formal and informal youth groups, link up our youth to these groups, conduct courses to enhance youth leadership skills, provide seed funding and support for youth-initiated community projects and open up more channels for young Singaporeans to discuss national and community issues, including involving them in decision making roles where appropriate.

4 Some young Singaporeans need extra support to realise their potential. MCYS will work with schools and community organisations on preventive and developmental programmes for those who need additional help. We will enhance the employability of out-of-school youths and ex-youth offenders through further education and skills training, and provide them with more opportunities for social participation.

GREATER SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR LOW INCOME SINGAPOREANS: 5 We cannot be a cohesive society if the low-income families are left behind. The most effective assistance is to equip people with the skills and attitudes to be employable. MCYS will review our social assistance schemes, and forge closer linkages between social and job assistance. We will also work towards systematic case management, with dedicated counselling for those receiving assistance.

6 More resources will be committed to help children from lower-income families. The Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) Scheme was implemented to help needy families keep their families small and concentrate their resources on uplifting their children in order to escape the poverty trap. Needy families can receive assistance of up to $100,000 for housing, children’s education, training as well as cash grants. We will enhance outreach to needy families to encourage them to participate in the Scheme. We will also focus on early childhood education to prepare the children for a better future.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: 7 MCYS will adopt an early intervention approach for children with special needs, which can help mitigate the negative effects of a disability. We will look into how parents of infants with a disability can be better supported.

8 Another strategy is to help persons with disabilities better integrate into mainstream society by improving access to assistive technology, public transport, and jobs. In

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addition, we will work with Voluntary Welfare Organisations to enhance support programmes for families of the disabled.

SUPPORTING OLDER SINGAPOREANS: 9 While our young create our future, we owe our present success to the efforts of older Singaporeans. MCYS will continue to support the social, mental and physical well-being of the growing proportion of older Singaporeans. We will create more programmes for the elderly to be engaged in society, as remaining active after retirement is critical to their well-being. MCYS will also facilitate the development of a "silver industry" to cater to the economic and social aspirations of increasingly better-educated retirees.

10 Many frail elderly are cared for by family members. These carers in turn deserve our support. MCYS will place emphasis on caregivers’ programmes, to help meet the carers’ needs.

MAKING SINGAPORE A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILY LIFE: 11 Singapore faces a dwindling birth rate. One reason is that more Singaporeans are staying single. We want to energise the local dating industry to give singles more opportunities to meet a life partner. We also want Singapore to be a great place for raising children. We will review our pro-family policies, expand childcare options, and support parenthood, including promoting the role of fathers.

BONDING THE NATION THROUGH SPORTS: 12 Sports builds character, cultivates resilience and a healthy lifestyle. Sports also bonds Singaporeans of different backgrounds, and can boost national pride. MCYS will provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to play sports. We will work with MOE and the People’s Association to open up school fields for public use. MCYS will also work with the national sports associations to develop our athletes, for the country to celebrate their achievements in future international games.

13 MCYS will be building a new Sports Hub at Kallang through the Public-Private Partnership model. It will encompass a new national stadium, an aquatics centre, and other lifestyle and commercial facilities. The Sports Hub will help us build a sporting culture, and attract more international sports and entertainment events here. MCYS will also market Singapore as a host for international sports meetings.

REINFORCING RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY: 14 Communal harmony is essential for social cohesion and resilience. MCYS will continue to encourage mutual respect of ethnic and religious diversity, and grow the common spaces between different communities. We will partner community and religious organisations to strengthen the social fabric.

MAJLIS UGAMA ISLAM SINGAPURA (MUIS): 15 MUIS will continue to provide leadership and guidance on Islamic matters to the Muslim community. MUIS will work with the mosques, madrasahs , Malay/Muslim as well

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as national organisations to build a Muslim community of excellence that is grounded with religious values and socially progressive, contributing to the nation's progress.

16 MUIS will further develop a comprehensive and progressive curriculum at all levels for Islamic religious education. MUIS strives to groom madrasah students to be credible and dynamic religious and community leaders, cognisant of the challenges of modern society. MUIS will continue to empower Malay/Muslim families requiring support through innovative programmes that aim towards self reliance. MUIS will work in partnership and collaboration with various ethnic and religious groups to enhance racial and religious harmony in Singapore. In this regard, MUIS will also facilitate greater cooperation between the mosques and other community organisations to deepen inter-ethnic understanding and relations at the community level.