32nd Annual General Meeting: Deepening Roots, Extending Branches and Strengthening CDAC's Programmes for Children from Low-Income Families
2023 was a pivotal year in which the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) strengthened its programme offerings in line with the “Planting Grass, Growing Trees” strategy and embarked on an organizational transformational journey. Three areas of focus were Programmes, Processes, and People.
Our mission is to promote social mobility through education, and since 2023, we have introduced the following initiatives to better support children from low-income families.
Strengthening CDAC’s Programme Offerings
1. Play-Based Pedagogy: CDAC has incorporated play-based pedagogy into various programmes. In 2023, we introduced the Play-based Learning Programme for 61 Kindergarten One and Two students to enhance their creativity and executive functioning through fun and games while fostering their love for languages. In our tuition programme, lessons were redesigned to engage students through interactive activities that support learning. By reducing the syllabus by 30% and focusing on key areas, we empower students to take charge of their learning, foster collaboration, and develop essential self-regulation skills through play. These changes have benefitted 470 tuition students.
2. Relationship Building: As the CDAC tuition programme extends its reach, we are committed to providing a quality curriculum focusing on relationship-building with our students. Our tutors collaborated with CDAC colleagues and co-created lessons focused on building relationships. These lessons are shared among all CDAC tutors via Google Workspace, emphasising the significance of relationship building in our educational approach.
3. Mentoring Programmes: CDAC introduced the GEM (Go the Extra Mile) Mentoring Programme, which involves long-term mentoring for 52 children (figure as of 2023) from primary school through post-secondary years. To support this endeavour, our staff members are equipped with professional skills to conduct these programmes. For example, 16 staff members have undergone professional training to become mentors. Additionally, existing mentoring programmes like the Supervised Homework Group and Project YOUth Can Shine have provided mentorship to another 200 students.
Appointment of New CDAC Patron
We extend our deepest gratitude to our Patron, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for his unwavering support of CDAC’s cause to build a more inclusive and compassionate society. SM Lee is formally handing over the CDAC Patronship to Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong on 21 June 2024, during CDAC’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM). The change in Patron will be announced by CDAC Board Chairman, Minister Ong Ye Kung during the AGM. We sincerely thank SM Lee for his years of dedicated support and warmly welcome PM Lawrence Wong as our new Patron.
Appointment of CDAC Board of Directors and Board of Trustees (2024 - 2026)
1. The current 2-year term of the CDAC Board of Directors and the CDAC Board of Trustees ends on 21 June 2024 after its 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM).
2. The Patron, the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) have each appointed their respective representatives to the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the new term. The lists of the two CDAC Boards for the new term are in the Annex.
3. The CDAC welcomes four new members, Ms Gan Siow Huang, Ms Poh Li San, Mr Tan Thian Pong Lennon and Dr Zhou Zhaocheng, to the Board of Directors; and three new members, Mr Ivan Ho Khiam Seng, Mr Keith Tan Keng Soon and Mr Pek Ee Perh Thomas to the Board of Trustees.
4. The CDAC also wishes to express its gratitude to the retiring Directors, Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Alex Yam Ziming, Mr Hong Poh Hin, and Mr Woo Chee Chay, and the retiring Trustees, Mr Lew Chee Beng, Mr Lee Sze Leong, and Mr Wu Hsioh Kwang, for their dedicated service to CDAC in the past terms.