A nationwide volunteerism movement will be officially launched in the second half of 2017.

Known as SG Cares, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said in Parliament on March 9 that the movement aims to "harness the goodwill of Singaporeans, inspire them to step forward, and support them to help others in need".

SG Cares will be jointly led by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).

Fu added that SG Cares will link "needs on the ground with the time and talent of volunteers, and resources and capabilities of corporates", so as to grow opportunities for volunteerism.

Over time, she hopes that SG Cares will "build capability" in organisations to better

engage and train volunteers, so that Singapore can "grow and sustain a vibrant giving landscape".

Tan Chuan-Jin: Building a community of volunteers

This was also the call by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who urged Singaporeans to "care through volunteering" and tend "the soul of our nation", noting that volunteering is helping one to become "better people" and to "become a more caring and inclusive society".

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He provided two ways of doing so:

1. Catalyse, support and publicise volunteering initiatives using SG Cares as a platform.

The SG Cares movement aims to involve more individuals to build a compassionate and inclusive society. It aims to organise Singaporeans better, by sharing information and by enabling volunteers through training and effective use of technology.

2. Rally and mobilise corporates and other organisations.

Tan said that the SHARE programme is a hassle-free giving programme under ComChest, where donors can sign up to donate monthly to support some 285 Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs).

Under the SHARE as One programme that was launched last year, the government will provide dollar-for-dollar matching for new and incremental donations to the SHARE programme till March 2019.

Top photo from Gov.sg Youtube channel.

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