The AustCham Community Fund was established in November 2004 to foster stronger ties between AustCham and the community, promote better understanding of the people and culture of Australia and Singapore, as well as promote caring in the community in Singapore.
Monies raised from certain events throughout the year, direct allocation of funds from General Funds as well as individual donations will be placed into the AustCham Community Fund for distribution in accordance with the objectives of the Fund.
The AustCham Community Fund committee has identified the following activities as a guide for donation:
- Cultural – e.g. work with education departments to sponsor a visit by Aboriginal story tellers to local schools
- Educational – e.g. scholarships or school visits/exchanges in Singapore
- Arts/Literature – e.g. art competition, art exhibits
- Charitable – e.g. donations to local charities or care organizations. Donations to regional organizations (e.g. Care Australia)
- Business - e.g. business awards, sponsorship of Singaporean business event, business forums, Annual Guest speaker program (invite prominent Australian to deliver an address to Singaporean business – work with Singapore Business Federation)
Tsunami Relief
The first project that the AustCham Community Fund committee donated money to is the Australian International School, Singapore’s (AISS) ‘Schools to Schools’ Partnership project’. The project aims to support others who are disadvantaged and have little or no access to a quality education.
AISS has partnered with a school in Sri Lanka in an area affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami. The BT/ Mankerni RCTM school, located 48 km north of Batticaloa city in Sri Lanka, saw much of its village and surrounding areas destroyed by the tsunami, except for a couple of sturdy buildings including the church and some of the school buildings.
The AustCham Committee has agreed that the proceeds from the 1 February 2005 AustCham Business Luncheon, featuring Australian Prime Minister John Howard, be donated to AISS for this project. The amount raised was S$12,455.40.
This amount, and money raised by AISS, will pay for a 120 ft by 22 ft building, catering to five classes, at a cost of approximately USD$15,000.
Click here to find out more about the AISS project and see the progress report and photos.
Prior Charitable Donations
Bali Bombing Victims
AustCham organised a Business Luncheon with the Rugby Legends Glen Ella and Mark Ella as well as Wallaby coach Eddie Jones on 26 November 2002. AUD$ 10,401 was raised from the luncheon, and donated to the Australian Red Cross to assist victims and families devastated by the Bali bombings in October 2002.
The AustCham UNSW Golden Jubilee Scholarship
In 2002, AustCham established the UNSW Golden Jubilee Scholarship to assist outstanding Diplomates from Singapore who found the transition to study in Australia difficult because of social and/or financial circumstances. Recipients of the UNSW Golden Jubilee Scholarship were provided with course fees for their study as well as an allowance to assist with their living expenses.
AustCham is proud to have sponsored two outstanding students in their studies, Sindy Kueh (2002 to 2003) and Kou Shan Shan (2004 to 2005). We are pleased that they have had the opportunity to further their studies, as without the scholarship, they would have had great difficulty in pursuing their dreams.
Click here to read Sindy Kueh and Kou Shan Shan’s account of their UNSW Golden Jubilee Scholarship experience.