If you had told single mother Nageswari Raja a few years ago that she’d have no financial difficulty while prepping her children for school, she might have shed tears of joy.
The 33-year-old mother of three children – aged 10, 12 and 14 – has weathered financial difficulties and was once a victim of domestic abuse. But with the support of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) through counseling and financial aid, Ms Nageswari is paving a brighter future for her family.
Her children are among the 8,500 beneficiaries of Sinda’s annual Back to School Festival (BTSF), which gives out vouchers to underprivileged students to help them prepare for the new academic year.
The vouchers aim to ease the financial burdens for students from low-income families ahead of the new school year. They include $140 for Popular Bookstore and $60 for Bata Singapore, distributed via the SINDA Wallet app.
The launch event on Nov 23 at Resorts World Sentosa was graced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and SINDA president Indranee Rajah.
It included a visit to Universal Studios Singapore for students and their families.
“Receiving SINDA’s Back To School vouchers feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Ms Nageswari, a teacher who is pursuing a degree in childcare education through SINDA’s Women Empowerment Fund.
“These vouchers give my children the chance to begin their school year free from financial worries. SINDA’s support has been instrumental in our journey, and my children are thriving because of it.”
This year’s BTSF – its 17th edition – marks an 18 per cent increase in beneficiaries, with the revised Per Capita Income criteria raised from $1,000 to $1,600, enabling more families to qualify for the programme.
SINDA has observed a growing need for its initiatives, with 7,024 parents and children supported in 2023, up from 6,469 in 2022. To further expand its reach, SINDA will allocate $7.8 million next year for financial assistance, on top of the $1.7 million invested this year in Back To School vouchers.
Speaking at the event, Ms Indranee emphasised the importance of these efforts: “SINDA recognises every student’s potential, and we have a collective responsibility to ensure they have the necessary support to succeed.
“A strong family foundation is vital for a child’s success. By investing in students and strengthening families, we are paving the way for Singapore’s continued progress.”
