CDC Council Meeting

Very thankful to the many District Councillors (DCs) who serve in my Central Community Development Council (CDC). In our district, there are now 25 constituencies where more than one million residents live.

I chaired a Council Meeting last Friday with the DCs to review the past six months' achievements and upcoming programmes in the next. The enthusiasm and energy were motivating.

Happy that Grassroots Advisers (GRAs) Shawn Loh (Whampoa) and Yin Zhou (Toa Payoh) were able to join us.
DCs are volunteers who sit in our council and help in brainstorming, procuring, promoting, and attending many of the 52 programmes our CDC produces.

For example, Educators DCs like Leong Fatt, Wilfred, and Dr. Ethan Chong, along with former IMDA CEO Chuen Hong, spent much time evaluating the tenders of the many digital bootcamps and enrichment programmes we offer to our district's students from lower-income families.

For example, Charles and Kwong Weng, both corporate lawyers in their day jobs, help coach our younger staff and disability volunteers in The Purple Parade and The Purple Symphony.

For example, entrepreneur Puay Seng, who used to run Gongcha, blessed the hospital staff during Covid with much-loved bubble tea drinks.

Too many instances to share here.

All of them were super excited to learn not just about the 160,000 participants (beneficiaries, attendees, and volunteers) we reached out to for the financial year so far, but also the popularity of the CDC vouchers scheme we run, and the almost 300 partners we managed to engage as a CDC.

We also discussed what Prime Minister Lawrence has tasked the five CDCs to now coordinate — in getting more jobs nearby for residents and ramping up volunteerism in our districts. That was announced by Minister Edwin Tong to the public this weekend too at a PA Community Seminar. Look out for further details in the coming months!

Big thanks to all of you who have cared to find out what CDCs do and who have encouraged us all these years!

Media Clips for reference:
(1) CDCs to play active role in providing job support and promoting volunteerism in community
(2) CDCs to take on bigger role; all five to roll out job-matching scheme by October
(3) 打造“我们为先”社会 五社理会加大力度推志愿服务发展