Singapore, 9 December 2016 – For the second year running, ISCOS awarded over $63,000 worth of bursaries to 193 underprivileged yet deserving students at the Goldbell-Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Bursary Award presentation ceremony. Solely sponsored by Goldbell Foundation, the ceremony was held at the OnePeople.SG premises today.
The awards were presented to children of former and existing offenders from low-income families under the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP). This served as a reward for their hard work and perseverance for their school term this year. The students beamed with excitement as they head onstage to receive bursaries ranging from $200 to $500 each, according to their education levels.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Madam Rahayu Mahzam, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC as the Guest of Honour.
“Be tenacious in your academic pursuits. If you have a dream or passion, pursue it to the best of your ability. Believe in yourself, keep going and never give up, regardless of the different obstacles and road blocks you may face along the way,” said Madam Rahayu in her welcome address.
Mr Arthur Chua, Chief Executive Officer of the Goldbell Group shared, “We believe in the importance of education and the provision of opportunities. In collaboration with ISCOS, this Bursary Award is a platform to acknowledge the efforts of deserving students who persevere in achieving commendable school results, despite the difficulties they face in life. Recognising that good and proper education plays a fundamental role in shaping the future of our next generation, we hope to support more children in the years to come.”
The Bursary Award is one of the key initiatives under the Yellow Ribbon Fund-ISCOS Fairy Godparent Programme (FGP), a programme targeted at children and families of ex-offenders in the areas of education and family support. FGP aims to break the cycle of inter-generational offending.
Since 2011, the Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd (ISCOS), a co-operative which provides social assistance to ex-offenders and their families, has collaborated with various corporate partners to disburse bursaries to FGP beneficiaries who have made laudable progress in their studies. Apart from defraying the costs of school books and stationeries, the bursaries serve as a motivation for many beneficiaries to do well in school, even in the midst of challenging circumstances and hardships.
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About Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd (ISCOS)
Since 1989, ISCOS has been extending friendship and support to ex-offenders and their families so that they can lead meaningful and productive lives. Together with the CARE Network/Yellow Ribbon Project partners, ISCOS takes an active role in engaging the community to help ex-offenders and their families gain a foothold in the society.
As a social Co-operative for ex-offenders under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, our programmes and services are geared towards enhancing the skills level of our beneficiaries, connecting them with supportive employers, providing social support through positive peer groups and mentors, building stronger family units, as well as extending academic assistance to their children in order to break the cycle of intergenerational offending.
For more information, please visit www.iscos.org.sg.
About Goldbell Group and Goldbell Foundation
Goldbell Group (“Group”) is Singapore’s market leader in industrial vehicles, with three business pillars comprising Distribution, Leasing and Financial Services. Coupled with our highly-trained and experienced aftersales personnel to ensure our customers’ vehicles are in good hands. The Group’s corporate philosophy of providing complete and effective solutions for their customers’ industrial vehicle needs is reflected in Goldbell Foundation’s approach in supporting critical programmes that address the social well-being of the diverse communities in Singapore.
Goldbell Foundation partners ISCOS through the Fairy Godparent Programme, which includes Project LEAP, ISCOS Family Day and Bursary Awards, to motivate these families and supporting them in achieving an equal chance in life, and to lend them the hand they need during such times. Correspondingly, this partnership positively engages their employees in the spirit of volunteerism.
For more information, please visit http://www.goldbellcorp.com/en/about/goldbell-foundation-2.html
Media Contact:
Looi Jo-Anne
Manager, Comms & External Relations
Tel: 6805 0806
Mobile: 8233 2810
Email: joanne@iscos.org.sg
Cherrilyn Baculanta
Assistant Manager, Comms & External Relations
Tel: 6805 0805
Mobile: 9616 5974
Email: cherrilyn@iscos.org.sg
