CDAC Holds Annual ‘Ready for School’ Project to Support Students from Low-Income Families for the New Academic Year
• Over $3 million disbursed
• Family eVouchers worth $400 given out, benefiting over 8,000 Families
• $47 million set aside for 2026 to support low-income families
The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) today announced the launch of its annual Ready for School (RFS) Project 2025, an initiative designed to help students from low-income families prepare for the new school year. The programme supports families with school-going children through $400 worth of Family eVouchers. The vouchers help cover the costs of transport, essential school supplies and other educational needs, ensuring children begin the school year with confidence. These vouchers will benefit over 8,000 families and total over $3 million.
The initiative forms part of CDAC’s broader Assistance @ CDAC pillar, which aims to strengthen family support and ease financial stress during important transition periods. CDAC collaborates closely with community partners and volunteers to extend the programme’s reach, ensuring every child has the chance to succeed.
This year’s RFS Project is extended to families who are currently supported under CDAC’s assistance schemes, including the Tuition & Enrichment Programme, CDAC-SFCCA Bursary, Family Assistance Programme, kidsREAD Programme, Go the Extra Mile (GEM) Mentoring Programme, Post-Secondary Bursary, and eligible students under the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme at Big Heart Student Care Centres. Invited families must have at least one full-time school-going child in 2026, from kindergarten one to university.
Approximately 1,500 families attended the carnival on 7 December 2025. They enjoyed a full day of bonding activities, including photo booths, craft stations, virtual reality and arcade games, parent-child telematch, TikTok dance lessons, haircuts for students, health screenings for adults, soy milk collection, and more.
Looking towards 2026, CDAC has allocated $47 million to expand its education programmes and support families in achieving self-reliance.
¹ The ‘Vibrance @ Yishun’ Self-Help Groups Centre is a collaboration of the four Self-Help Groups: the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), The Eurasian Association, Singapore (EA), the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Yayasan MENDAKI (MENDAKI).
