SS Chapter 4

Chapter 4

How Can We Work Together

for the Good of Society?

(Textbook pg. 94-115)

Follow the lesson on SLS!
Social Studies Chapter 4 IDT:

Open Ended

1) Identify a group of people in Singapore who face challenges in meeting their needs, and 2) List one need of this group of people.

Identify a group of people in Singapore who face challenges in meeting their needs.
List some needs of this group of people.

In Singapore, there are many elderly groups with various needs.

• some elderly people may feel lonely because their family members have no time for

them.

• Some elderly live alone and need assistance with medication and daily necessities

Citizens (as individuals or community groups) and the government can work together
to address the various needs of the elderly in Singapore.

•individuals such as Mdm Malligesvari d/o Krishnaraj;
• a community group, RSVP Singapore (the Organisation of Senior Volunteers); and
•government agencies such as the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).

4.1 Addressing the needs of society – the elderly

4.1 Addressing the needs of society

Citizens contribute in areas they are passionate and concerned about.

This gives a greater sense of ownership and commitment toward the cause.

It also leads to long term involvement which would ensure sustainable
benefits to society.

Citizens can work as individuals or in community groups.

4.1 Addressing the needs of society – Individuals (Example 1)

1.

What motivates Mdm Malligesvari to
volunteer?

_______________________________

2.

How did she decide on the areas she

could volunteer in?

_______________________________

3. Why is Mdm Malligesvari’s role as an
individual volunteer crucial in helping
senior citizens?
_______________________________
_______________________________

(textbook – pg98-100)

Work in pairs and write down your answers in your notes!

4.1 Addressing the needs of society – Individuals (Example 1)

1.

What motivates Mdm Malligesvari to
volunteer?

_______________________________

2.

How did she decide on the areas she

could volunteer in?

_______________________________

3. Why is Mdm Malligesvari’s role as an
individual volunteer crucial in helping
senior citizens?
_______________________________
_______________________________

(textbook – pg98-100)

Inspired by her late mother who helped
others

Her beliefs – what she think is important
–e.g. keeping fit

Can complement community / govt efforts
Additional support and resource person

Homage- App for Elderly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11fuc-n_KBg

4.1 Addressing the needs of society – Individuals (Example 2)

Multiple Choice

Ms Gillian Tee created the Homage app to address a challenge faced by senior citizens. What was the challenge faced by senior citizens?

• They found it difficult to find caregivers.

• They found it difficult to find jobs.

• They found it difficult to find their family members.

Multiple Choice

How did the app address the need of senior citizens?

• The app connects the elderly to the caregivers.

• The app connects the elderly to their family members.

  Feedback

• The app connects the elderly with one another. 

4.1 Addressing the needs of society – Community Groups

Citizens with common interests organise themselves into groups to
contribute towards needs of society

These groups can direct collective efforts, ideas and resources towards
their causes.

Community groups can be formal or informal groups.

Efforts by Community Groups

RSVP Singapore is an example of a social service agency (SSA)
It is a formal community group organised by citizens
It actively engages senior citizens in volunteerism.
It believes that seniors can play a vital role in society and seeks
to provide them with meaningful opportunities to contribute to
the community

It serves more than 200 000 beneficiaries each year
These include socially isolated seniors, elderly patients
discharged from hospital care, at-risk children from low-income
families, etc

Open Ended

1) List 1 other example of a social service agency, and 2) Describe their role.

• AWWA Senior Activity Centre
• Bizlink Centre Singapore Ltd
• Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home
• Care Link
• Fei Yue Neighbourhood Link
• Handicaps Welfare Association
• Lions Befrienders
• MINDS Ville @ Napiri - Home
• NTUC Eldercare
• Pertapis
• Rainbow Centre
• Red Cross Home for the Disabled
• Silver Centre (SAC)
• ST Andrew's Autism Centre
• St Luke's Eldercare
• Touch Centre for Independent Living

Examples of Social Service Agencies

Formal

community

groups

Informal

community

groups

4.1 Addressing the needs of society

Example 1

In 2013, Mr Jeremy Chua created an informal
community group to help Singaporeans manage
the ill-effects of the haze.

Started a Facebook page called “SG Haze Rescue”
Requested for mask donation

Requested for volunteers

He and a group of 10 volunteers distributed 200
masks in 5 blocks of flats.
In doing so, he contributed towards the efforts to
ensure that Singaporeans remain healthyduring
the haze period.

Informal

community

groups

4.1 Addressing the needs of society

Example 2

‘We’re ready to help’: University students rallying volunteers to give free tuition - CNA

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​https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/university-students-volunteer-tuition-covid-19-hbl-764556

Multiple Choice

1. Who was TEMPORARY ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE set up for?

• Students

• University students

• Working adults

Multiple Choice

2. When was it set up?

• During Covid

• During Home Based Learning (HBL), during Covid.

Multiple Choice

3. What did this group do to help students?

• Provide answers to students homework.

• Provide free tuition to students.

Efforts by the Government

Government agencies work with community groups to encourage
seniors to stay active healthy and engaged.

National Council of Social Service (NCSS) develop resources to
enhance capabilities of social service agencies (SSA)

NCSS developed the Volunteer Management Toolkit 2.0 to provide
SSAs with a framework and guidelines on how to manage
volunteers effectively.

The government can create opportunities for the community to
show care to those around them by:

- Setting up structures and national programmes
- Providing resources in a targeted manner

Both government and citizens (as individuals or community groups) complements each
other in addressing the needs of society
Citizens can use the resources, programmes and structures provided by the
government to supplement their efforts and offer their knowledge, skills and
experiences to initiate new efforts.

4.2 Influencing

decision-making in

public affairs

4.2 Influencing decision-making in public affairs

Citizens and government work together to make
decisions through engagement platforms such as
REACH and the Citizens’ Jury for the War on Diabetes.

REACH (Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry@
Home) set up in 2006.

A National feedback and engagement unit under the
Ministry of Communications and Information.

To engage citizens’ views on public policies and listen
to their concerns and issues through social media
platforms, listening points and dialogues and public
consultations

The Citizens’ Jury (refer to TB pg 103-105)

In 2016, the Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a nationwide effort, the War on Diabetes
to help Singaporeans prevent and manage diabetes.

MOH organised Singapore’s first Citizens’ Jury to riaise awareness about diabetes and
develop community-based and community-driven recommendations to combat the
problem of diabetes as a nation.

MOH | War on Diabetes

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​https://www.moh.gov.sg/wodcj#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20(MOH,manage%20diabetes%20as%20a%20nation.

4.2 Influencing decision-making in public affairs

Over 7 weeks (Nov 2017-Jan 2018) participants sought advice from experts, discussed
and debated ideas and proposals among themselves, to come to a consensus on the
recommendationsthat they, as a jury, wanted to put forth.

In 2018, MOH supported 14 out 28 recommendations

- Campaign to drink more water - more water coolers in public areas

- Diabetes awareness campaign and curriculum for children

Multiple Choice

How did citizens participate in decision making in the "War on Diabetes"?

• Participants got: 1) advice from subject matter experts, 2) before discussing ideas and among themselves, 3) and proposing recommendations

• Participants: 1) discussed ideas and among themselves, 2) got advice from subject matter experts, 3) and proposing recommendations.

• Participants: 1) proposed recommendations 2) got advice from subject matter experts, 3) before discussing ideas and among themselves,

4.2 Influencing decision-making in public affairs

4.3 Strengthening
Citizens’ Sense of

Belonging

(refer TB p.108- 111)

4.3 Strengthening citizens’ sense of belonging

Outcome of citizens’

participation:

Strengthening

citizens’ sense of

belonging

Addressing the

needs of
society

Influencing
government

decisions

Being involved in the discussion of views related to the future of Singapore can develop
a stronger sense of attachment towards Singapore among citizens.

Citizens will feel they have a role to play in the country’s development.

Thus, their sense of belonging will be strengthened.

4.3 Strengthening citizens’ sense of belonging

Role of community groups

Role of government

Role of individuals

Open Ended

What were some of the residents' concerns about moving?

Multiple Choice

Why was this video made?

• To change the government's mind.

• To preserve memories and help those affected.

• To practise movie-making skills.

In 2016, Mr Cai from Dakota Adventures and Mr
Jeremy HO from Run& Gun Media (a private
company) formed an informal community group
project called Between Two Homes – to preserve
memories of Dakota Crescent and render
assistance to those affected by the relocation.

The group produced a multimedia website to
document the rich heritage and community of
Dakota Crescent and the impact of the relocation
on the residents

Conducted educational workshops in schools to
discuss how redevelopment and relocation can be
improved.

Efforts by the government

In 2016, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) launched Our Singapore
Fund to support ground-up projects that build national identity or meet social and
community needs.

As of 2020, MCCY has given out $4.3 million to support about 240 ground-up projects,
including Between Two Homes

Efforts by individuals

Citizen volunteers conducted interviews with the residents of Dakota Crescent and
documented their stories.

Some volunteers formed the Cassia Resettlement Team (CRT) to help residents
overcome the challenges of relocation – organised weekly house visits and potluck
parties for the residents

Individuals’ role is important as they can come together as an informal community
group to support one another. This is complemented by government support.

These efforts help to build a sense of belonging as the citizens share and build
common spaces, experiences and values and develop an attachment to the history,
people and places in the country.

With a stronger sense of belonging, citizens show care and take actions to help fellow
Singaporeans and become more concerned about shaping the country’s future;
playing an important part for the good of society.