CHARITY STORIES Archives

A Gift of Hope: Igniting A Child’s Passion for Learning

Five-year-old Levon Sim dreams of becoming a doctor. But for children like her, the path of learning isn’t always easy.Raised by her grandmother, Judy, who is her sole caregiver, Levon faced early challenges in school. She couldn’t recognise the alphabet, and coming from a Chinese-speaking background, English was especially difficult. When a social worker flagged her developmental delays, Judy knew Levon needed extra support – but she wasn’t sure where to turn.

Avoiding Death Row: A Mother’s Journey of Redemption and Strength

June never imagined that she would stand at a crossroads between life and the death penalty. A series of choices led her to a moment that could have ended everything—but instead, she was given a second chance. She served a five-year prison sentence, an experience that forced her to reflect, grow, and redefine her future.Since her release in 2019, June has been rebuilding her life with courage and determination, reconnecting with her family, and proving that transformation is possible. With the support of New Life Stories’ Family Strengthening programme, she is not only healing but also helping others find hope.

More Than a Roof: How KeyStart Empowers Families Through Home Ownership

The KeyStart programme provided Mr Borhan and his three children with a stable home and a fresh start.A stable home environment is crucial to overall well-being, particularly for families with children. Lower-income families often encounter hurdles in achieving homeownership, which may include the inability to accumulate sufficient savings for a down payment, or to keep up with mortgage payments.

Opening Doors: Making Education Accessible to Vulnerable Children and Youth

Can a child truly focus on education if their family struggles to afford basic needs like food and shelter? Research has shown that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty, but for children from lower-income families, daily survival often takes priority. This can hold them back and widen opportunity gaps. At CFS, we seek to address these challenges so every child gets the support they need to succeed.Our donors recently had the chance to learn more from two charities who are working to bridge this gap. Working in close collaboration with government ministries, schools, and communities, they deliver accessible education and renewed hope for children and youth through mentorship, befriending, and activities.

Lighting the Way Together: CFS Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with the Association for Persons with Special Needs

The Mid-Autumn Festival held special significance for the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) team this year. They joined trainees at APSN Centre for Adults (CFA) for a creative lantern painting activity, transforming simple lanterns into vibrant artworks. The event served as an excellent icebreaker, sparking conversations and even some impromptu dance performances.

Ensuring A Brighter Future for Vulnerable Families and Children

Imagine being released from prison after a decade, returning home to children who barely know you. How do you begin to rebuild your life and relationships with your family? Imagine being a child who does not have good relationships at home or in school, having little trust and confidence in the people around you. How do you find a sense of belonging and begin to develop your self-identity?

Improving Employability: Creating Opportunities for All

In Singapore’s vibrant economy, employment is a key driver of social mobility and well-being. However, some groups face unique challenges in securing and maintaining meaningful work. At the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), we recognise the importance of creating pathways to employment for all members of our community. Through strategic partnerships and innovative programmes, CFS is working to enhance employability and open doors of opportunity for those who need it most.We invited donors to Bettr Group’s new space to learn more about three impactful initiatives offered by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Bettr Group, and Assumption Pathway School (APS). These initiatives are making a positive impact on the lives of Singapore citizens and residents by promoting skills development, workplace inclusion, and supportive environments.

Strengthening Social Services: The Bluejacket Foundation’s Commitment to Capacity and Capability Building

Charities often struggle to secure funding for capacity and capability building, as donors tend to prioritise direct programme support over long-term infrastructure development. Yet, enhancing these areas is crucial for sustaining financial health, delivering effective and reliable services, and increasing their overall impact. Recognising this, the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) partnered with the Bluejacket Foundation in November 2022 to launch a two-year pilot initiative—the Capacity and Capability Building Grant—designed to support growth of charities and equip them for greater community contributions.The grant currently supports six charities, assisting them in retaining and recruiting essential talent, optimising resources, boosting efficiency, and expanding their impact.

Celebrating 15 Years of Impact: CFS Annual Report 2024

We are pleased to share our 2024 Annual Report, celebrating The Community Foundation of Singapore’s 15th anniversary. This year’s report outlines our progress over the years, and reinforces our firm commitment to being the community foundation focused on uplifting and supporting communities across Singapore.A Year of Exceptional Grantmaking

Donor Learning Trip – St Joseph’s Home’s Inspirational Inter-Generation Programme

At CFS, we work closely with over 400 well-governed charities to link donors to programmes that achieve meaningful impact. With our deep experience, we understand the importance of improving lives through community initiatives. St Joseph’s Home (SJH) is a good example of this.About St Joseph’s Home (SJH)

CHARITY STORIES