SP Group launches SP Kids at Heart to boost children’s learning

MEDIA RELEASE

SP GROUP LAUNCHES SP KIDS AT HEART TO BOOST CHILDREN’S LEARNING

New programme kickstarts with S$1 million donation to benefit 2,000 KidSTART children

Singapore, 23 June 2021 – SP Group (SP) has launched SP Kids at Heart to support young children from low-income families in their learning journey. Kickstarting the initiative, SP is donating S$1 million to benefit KidSTART children aged 0-6 years old from low-income families. 

The SP Kids at Heart funds will provide educational tools, books and toys in the form of learning and development packs for about 2,000 KidSTART children for a year. The funds will also enable these children to receive electronic devices such as tablets and internet routers to support their online engagement and learning during the pandemic. In addition, SP will provide grocery vouchers and other financial assistance packages including tools and equipment that enable a more conducive home learning environment. 

SP’s S$1 million donation will go to Community Chest which will administer the funds and disburse them to KidSTART to support its learning and assistance packages. 

Speaking at the virtual launch of SP Kids at Heart, Minister for Social and Family Development and Chairman of the Growing Together (GT) with KidSTART Council, Mr Masagos Zulkifli said, “We launched the Growing Together with KidSTART initiative in 2019 to help us achieve greater impact for our families through deeper government and community partnerships. SP Group has shown us how corporates can play their part in building a society of opportunities together even amid a pandemic, sustaining a culture where those who have done well give back for the betterment of society. I look forward to many more meaningful initiatives in our partnership.” 

SP Group Chairman Tan Sri Hassan Marican said, “We are expanding our community outreach to help children, who are the future of Singapore. Through SP Kids at Heart, we can give them the best possible start in their formative years, with access to the right developmental and educational materials. This includes digital tools to ensure their learning is not disrupted during the pandemic. For parents, we aim to equip them with soft skills to help them connect better with their children and support them in their holistic education.”

SP Kids at Heart complements SP’s existing programmes for seniors through the SP Heartware Fund and sustained volunteer activities throughout the year.

SP’s staff volunteers, known as SP Heart Workers, will assemble and deliver the welcome and learning packs to the families. The Heart Workers will also help install the routers for families who need assistance, and produce instructional videos to work around safe management guidelines. When physical interaction permits, SP Heart Workers will be involved on-site to engage the children while their parents attend sessions with the facilitators. 

Madam Shariffah Dayana Binte Syed Hassan Al-Yahya, mother of three-year-old Rumi, who is part of the KidSTART programme, shared, “Since Rumi joined the programme, he has become more confident and grown more interested in learning new things. The materials we have received helped Rumi to expand his vocabulary and become more expressive. As a parent, the most important thing is for our children to grow up well. With SP Kids at Heart, I am grateful that he can get the support he needs for a better future.” 

Mr Brennan Lee, father of three-year-old Shaya, said, “Through the KidSTART programme, the time we spent with the facilitator was well planned and well structured. There was an outcome in mind and we had quality bonding with our child, that has helped her development. Because of her heart condition, her motor skills were limited, and she couldn’t say many words initially. After attending the programme, we can see the difference. She is more lively, her motor skills and vocabulary have improved, she is more sociable and smiles more too.”

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, SP continues to give back to the community in a sustained manner. Since 2005, more than S$17 million has been raised for the SP Heartware Fund in aid of programmes for seniors under Community Chest. SP has also provided over 7,200 meals for seniors in Toa Payoh West – Balestier since 2018. This year, SP Heart Workers continued with its annual Power Packs charity drive to bring bags of daily essential food items to seniors in need. The SP Charity Golf event in April raised S$500,000 for the SP Heartware Fund.

About SP Group

SP Group is a leading utilities group in the Asia Pacific, enabling a low-carbon, smart energy future for its customers. It owns and operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses in Singapore and Australia, and sustainable energy solutions in Singapore and China. 

As Singapore’s national grid operator, about 1.6 million industrial, commercial and residential customers benefit from its world-class transmission, distribution and market support services. These networks are amongst the most reliable and cost-effective world-wide.

Beyond traditional utilities services, SP Group provides a suite of renewable and sustainable energy solutions including solar energy solutions, microgrids, cooling and heating systems for business districts and residential townships, electric vehicle fast charging and green digital energy management tools for customers in Singapore and the region. 

For more information, please visit spgroup.com.sg or follow us on Facebook at fb.com/SPGroupSG, on LinkedIn at spgrp.sg/linkedin and on Twitter @SPGroupSG.

About KidSTART

KidSTART Singapore Ltd. is a dedicated agency that provides upstream support to eligible children up to 6 years old and their families. We seek to give children a good start in life by empowering low-income families to build strong foundations for their children and fostering positive child development outcomes. Research has shown that experiences in a child’s early years can significantly influence his physical, cognitive and social development, and these have an impact on his lifelong outcomes. 

Under KidSTART, we provide support for child development, coordinate and strengthen holistic services for families where needed, and monitor the developmental progress of children from birth onwards. Parents on KidSTART will be guided with skills and knowledge where their children can benefit from warm and nurturing relationships, achieve ageappropriate and holistic child development, and have a safe and secure home environment to grow up in. 

Click here for more information on KidSTART. 

About Growing Together with KidSTART 

In 2019, the “Growing Together with KidSTART” initiative was launched to invite corporates and individuals to partner specific local KidSTART communities over a sustained period, through regular volunteering and/or contributions. 

Building sustained partnerships with the community play a big part in bringing about better outcomes for KidSTART children and our families. 

Click here for more information on Growing Together with KidSTART.