Singapore Airlines And Lions Befrienders Launch Island-Wide Community Project

A programme of regular weekend get-togethers for Singapore's lonely elderly poor, designed by voluntary welfare organisation Lions Befrienders, and supported by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its staff, was launched today.

Called SIA Club Sunday, these monthly events, which will be held on Sunday mornings all over Singapore, are aimed at maintaining the social and physical well-being of this group of elderly citizens, who are known as Befriendees. SIA Club Sunday events will be organised in eight different geographical areas and will serve a target group of 50-60 lonely elderly poor citizens in each area, or around 460 in total. The eight areas are:

· Bedok/Marine Parade/Mountbatten

· Kampong Glam

· Kreta Ayer/Hong Lim Green

· Marsiling

· Queenstown (Mei Ling Street)

· Redhill

· Teck Ghee

· Tiong Bahru/Henderson

The Lions Befrienders concept involves organising a collage of simple activities, including exercises and games, that are designed to stimulate physical and mental interaction, build relationships and enhance community spirit. The anchor for each programme is a hot meal, served at the end of the activities.

"Club Sunday provides a new dimension to elder care that goes beyond merely alms giving," said Mr Chan Chee Keong, Chairman of Lions Befrienders. "It is an excellent vehicle that allows SIA and the Lions Befrienders to work in unison on a programme that encourages our lonely elderly poor to age with grace and dignity."

Explaining why SIA is supporting the programme, SIA Executive Vice-President (Administration) Chew Choon Seng said: "We wanted to be involved in a project that would allow us to give something back to the people of Singapore, to less privileged members of the community who can benefit from our help, even though they may never have travelled with SIA. We also wanted a project that presents opportunities for our staff to volunteer their help."

SIA has pledged over $500,000 to support this programme over the next three years. This donation is being used to purchase two 11-seater commuter vehicles and cover the cost of staging all SIA Club Sunday programmes during this period. The commuter vehicles, painted in a colourful livery, will be used by Lions Befrienders volunteers to transport Befriendees to SIA Club Sunday events and, on other days, for a variety of other purposes, including visits to clinics. They will be fitted with special ramps for those with wheelchairs.

Staff of SIA have been signing up to volunteer their help, too. They will join Lions Befrienders volunteers in organising outings and other activities as part of the SIA Club Sunday programme.

SIA and its staff have a long track record of contributing to the community. This included annual contributions of S$150,000 to the Community Chest to supplement donations by its staff amounting to over S$500,000 per annum. Other than monetary donations, volunteers from SIA's Community Services Club regularly visit old folks' homes and handicapped children. Every November, SIA's cabin crew organises a party for the aged. SIA's subsidiary SATS runs an old people's home and, also in collaboration with volunteers of the Lions Befrienders, distribute food parcels to over 40 Befriendees living in the Kg Chai Chee Constituency once a month.