The Global Schools Foundation (GSF), which runs the Global Indian International Schools (GIIS) and One World International School (OWIS), has contributed SGD250,000 towards the welfare and community development of the COVID-19 affected in Singapore.
The donation raised by teachers and staff who contributed a portion of their three months' salaries has been handed over to the Citizens Consultative Committees (CCC) of 5 constituencies in Singapore.
His Excellency Jawed Ashraff, the High Commissioner of India in Singapore commended GSF’s efforts, "They are working at various levels including citizenship consultative committees and working directly with other organisations. They have made a major contribution here (in Singapore) and should be recognised and appreciated".
“In #SGUnited, ours is a humble contribution towards the community, to ensure that the most vulnerable in the society get the right kind of help at the right time,” said Atul Temurnikar, Executive Chairman of GSF.
“GIIS has always been a conscientious educational institution, always ready to help out in social causes. Our teachers are equal contributors to our social activities, and during these trying times, it is only right that they do their part for the larger good of society. We are very proud that they have risen to the occasion and helped in a way that is both beneficial and timely,” said Melissa Maria, Principal at Global Indian International School’s SMART Campus.
The beneficiaries of the SGD 250K donation are:
- Tanjong Pagar – Tiong Bahru CCC Community Development and Welfare Fund,
- Joo Chiat CCC Community Development Welfare Fund,
- Buona Vista CCC Community Development And Welfare Fund,
- Punggol North Community CCC Community Development And Welfare Fund,
- Taman Jurong CCC Community Development and Welfare fund.
“The CCC’s are already doing an outstanding job and they have an absolute pulse on these needy people and would be able to respond quickly to their specific needs”, explained Temurnikar on why GSF chose to work with the CCCs.
GSF has donated S$50k to each of the above CCC CDWF which will go towards helping the needy or the most distressed through food vouchers, and other social means.
The initiative is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of GSF which has in the past made extensive donations for public welfare and social causes for the benefit of communities in Singapore.
“At a time when many companies are encouraging employees to take voluntary pay cuts to help with the bottom line, we strongly felt the urgency, instead, to help the needy in our own way,” Termurnikar said.
“Our teachers and staff applaud all the frontline health care contributors and our Migrant workers from the bottom of their hearts and have generously contributed to this social cause, because each one of us appreciate their contributions in making Singapore the beautiful home that it is for all of us,” he added.
GSF has contributed nearly S$1.25 million towards Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) towards curriculum development and as well as supporting tuition programmes and education needs of students who come from lower income strata of society.
“As social distancing and circuit breaker measures have come into force, many have lost a source of income,” Mr Temurnikar observed. “Ours is just a small helping hand to ensure that our overall social structure remains strong, and no one is left behind in this time of crisis.”
GSF schools, honoured with more than 150 international and national awards over a span of 18 years for achieving excellence in school education, is continuing education through Virtual Classrooms in this time of COVID-19.