Category: Programmes

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ECF launches Teacher Everywhere™

ECF has launched Teacher Everywhere™, the first teacher training volunteer programme in Singapore to support disadvantaged children.

The EtonHouse Community Fund (ECF) has launched Teacher Everywhere™, an innovative programme to train ‘Volunteer Teachers’ for free to enable them to work with and teach children from disadvantaged backgrounds.


Recruitment of volunteers started in October 2020, and within three weeks, ECF received an overwhelming response from more than 200 volunteers stepping forward to express interest to be a part of Teacher Everywhere™. They come from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and professions, from homemakers, scientists to doctors. Many of them are parents, while some secondary and high school students have also signed up to volunteer.


EtonHouse educators and trainers have been hired to train the volunteers.

The key highlights of the programme are

The course will be delivered over 6 sessions and includes 2 practicums.

Volunteers are not required to have a prior background or experience in teaching.

The course content will include child development, classroom management, communication with children, managing challenging behavior, positive guidance, strategies for leading effective story-telling and learning experiences.

The course including all materials are free of charge and will be delivered by highly experienced and trained early childhood leaders and facilitators from EtonHouse.

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On the successful completion of the course, the volunteers will be certified to facilitate Joyful Learning, an exclusive programme created for children 4-6 years old. Based on 40 classic storybooks, the year-long programme delivered every week to children from disadvantaged families will cover literacy, numeracy, creative expression and fine motor skills. Volunteers will also engage parents during these sessions, supporting them with practical tips to extend their children’s learning at home.

No child should be left behind. Through Teacher Everywhere and our Joyful Learning programme, ECF hopes to increase our outreach and improve the lives of underprivileged children by equipping them with skills and knowledge to be successful in school and beyond.

Mrs. Ng Gim Choo, Founder and Director of EtonHouse Community Fund

The programme was inspired by a ground-up initiative in 2019 which saw EtonHouse teachers providing weekly English enrichment classes to 3-4-year-old children at Henderson WeLL Centre. Says Ms. Josephyne Ho, Principal of EtonHouse at Mountbatten who led her team on the year-long volunteering journey and has now joined as a Teacher Everywhere™ mentor, “As many of my teammates are teachers with young families, it took a lot to give up their family time during weekends.

I am extremely grateful to have a team of like-minded teachers who understand the value of literacy skills especially for children who are at risk. The children picked up literacy skills and experienced the joy of learning and reading. To see them attend the sessions with enthusiasm and learn to read was extremely rewarding.”

Mrs. Ng Gim Choo, Founder of the EtonHouse International Group and EtonHouse Community Fund, who initiated the thinking behind Teacher Everywhere™ says “No child should be left behind. Through Teacher Everywhere™ and our Joyful Learning programme, ECF hopes to increase our outreach and improve the lives of vulnerable children by equipping them with skills and knowledge to be successful in school and beyond.”

Upon completion of training, Teacher Everywhere™ volunteers will partner with various community groups to work directly with children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds. To sign up as a volunteer or partner, connect with ECF at enquiry@ehcommunityfund.org.sg

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Events Programmes

Record number of donors and beneficiaries for Box of Joy 2020

Way to go! This year, we gifted a record high of 2,450 Boxes of Joy to beneficiaries from 13 different homes and organisations.

A huge thank you to all who have contributed to our annual Box of Joy, and a shout-out to our volunteers who have worked #behindthescenes, giving their time distributing, packing, wrapping and delivering Boxes of Joy to beneficiaries from 13 different Homes and organisations.

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This year, we received overwhelming support and gifted a record high of 2,450 Boxes of Joy to vulnerable children from 3Pumpkins, Tasek Jurong, Morning Star Community Services, MSF SSO @ Geylang Serai/Bedok, SSO @ Boon Lay/Taman Jurong, Children's Wishing Well, KK Women's & Children's Hospital, E-Bridge Pre-School, Anglican Family Centre, Prison Fellowship Care Club, MacPherson Sheng Hong Childcare Centre, Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre and Hougang Sheng Hong Student Care Centre.

 

Here's to the joy of giving, and a festive season that is beautiful and meaningful!

 

#givingback #christmas2020 #boxofjoy

Event details

Event:

Box of Joy 2020

Venue:

13 participating homes and organisations

Thanks to partners:

EtonHouse International Education Group

Participating beneficiaries:
  • 3Pumpkins
  • Tasek Jurong
  • Morning Star Community Services
  • MSF SSO @ Geylang Serai/Bedok
  • SSO @ Boon Lay/Taman Jurong
  • Children's Wishing Well
  • KK Women's & Children's Hospital
  • E-Bridge Pre-School
  • Anglican Women Shelter
  • Prison Fellowship Care Club
  • MacPherson Sheng Hong Childcare Centre
  • Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre
  • Hougang Sheng Hong Student Care Centre
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Media coverage Programmes

Launch of CDA Top-Up programme featured by CNA

About 1,300 pre-school children from low income families to receive more financial aid.
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We have partnered with the Ministry of Education, Singapore and the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) on a Child Development Account (CDA) top-up programme to benefit about 1,300 pre-schoolers from 57 pre-schools.

ECF and CFS will contribute nearly S$1 million to top-up CDA accounts of eligible children over the next three years, and the Government will provide dollar-for-dollar matching contributions for the top-ups.

Dr. Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Ministry of Education, Singapore and Chairman of UPLIFT, Ms. Catherine Loh, CEO of Community Foundation of Singapore and our Founder Mrs. Ng Gim Choo visited E-Bridge Pre-School Punggol Large Child Care Centre to mark the launch of the CDA Top-Up Programme.​

I am hopeful that the CDA top-up programme will encourage more lower-income families to send their children to pre-school. We welcome the partnership with ECF and CFS, who have stepped forward to contribute to this initiative, especially during this trying period of economic uncertainty and job losses which have impacted many families.

Dr. Maliki Osman, Second Minister for MOE, Singapore and Chariman of UPLIFT

 

Access the full CNA news report here.

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Accolades Programmes

Minister Mr. Desmond Lee thanks KidSTART partners on Facebook

Continuing to give every child a good start through COVID-19.

During the Circuit Breaker, the KidSTART team is working hard to continue supporting KidSTART families. They have been finding new ways to stay in touch with parents and providing them with practical tips to meaningfully engage their children at home. Our KidSTART colleagues are also working closely with corporate partners to help our KidSTART families stay connected.

 

I would like to thank our Growing Together with KidSTART partners – including Prudential Singapore, Singtel, EtonHouse Community Fund (ECF) and the Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore) – who have been providing resources to our KidSTART families since April. For about 100 KidSTART families who needed IT and Wi-Fi support to stay connected with the KidSTART team, Prudential Singapore sponsored tablets, while Singtel and ECF provided mobile routers and free data plans. AECES also raised over $40,000 which was distributed as grocery vouchers to about 500 KidSTART families.

 

Previously, the team would visit the families’ homes or run playgroup sessions in the community. With the safe distancing measures and circuit breaker rules, the support from our Growing Together with KidSTART partners have enabled our programmes to keep running in new and creative ways so that we can ensure the health and well-being of our families and team.

 

I am encouraged that we are looking out for one another in these exceptional times, especially in our support to families who may need more help. If you would like to contribute, you can find out how to do so through Growing Together with KidSTART: https://www.comchest.sg/growingtogether.

 

#SGUnited #SingaporeTogether #GrowingTogetherWithKidSTART

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Press release Programmes

ECF partners with KKH Health Fund to support children with diabetes

Learn about children with diabetes and how Glucose Monitoring Systems can make their lives easier in our press release.

The EtonHouse Community Fund (ECF) has partnered with the KKH Health Fund (KKHHF) to improve the care of less privileged children with diabetes through the use of technology such as a Glucose Monitoring System (GMS) and educational and outreach initiatives such as diabetes camps for patients and their caregivers.

 

Over 400 active paediatric and adolescent patients with diabetes are seen at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) each year. Blood glucose monitoring is a critical need for these patients living with this chronic condition, as glucose levels that are too low can result in the loss of the ability of the nervous system to function normally and levels that are too high can result in long term health complications.

 

Traditionally, glucose levels can be monitored by administering a finger-prick test at least four times a day. For young children, this can cause disruption to their school life, as they would have to pause their day-to-day activities to administer the test. With the GMS, children with diabetes can monitor their glucose levels more conveniently and less painfully.

How the GMS works

The GMS comprises a small, circular sensor discreetly inserted in the upper arm.

The patient and caregivers can wave a reader over the sensor at any time to obtain a reading of the glucose level.

This greatly reduces the frequency of finger-prick tests and keeps children from experiencing unnecessary anxiety in the classroom, in turn allowing for better concentration and learning outcomes.

It also enables the child to better monitor glucose levels through the night without needing to be woken up for regular finger-prick testing, thereby improving sleep quality.

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Says a parent with a type one diabetic child, “When my child was about two years old and newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I was administering the finger-prick test for my child more than 10 times a day. I had to prick him in his fingers and toes. I couldn't tell whether his blood sugar is high or low just by looking at him physically. He could run into the risk of hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia anytime. The multiple finger pricks were then the only way to check his blood sugar and making sure that he is safe. With the GMS sensor, I can check his glucose levels regularly without causing pain or interrupting his sleep.”

 

However, children from less privileged families may not have ready access to the GMS, especially since treatment for diabetes may already be a strain on their families’ finances.

 

With a sponsorship sum of more than S$200,000, the ECF will be able to support about 60 children with diabetes from less privileged families with the use of GMS which will empower these children and adults to follow established care plans for the child. The use of the GMS also provides rapid response to the fluctuations in glucose levels in the event of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) and comes in handy in the treatment or prevention of hypoglycaemia. Additionally, by using the GMS, parents will have a greater sense of relief and peace of mind enabling them to focus on their work and in turn support their family.

Through this partnership with KKHHF, we hope that children living with this chronic disease will be more empowered and confident in school. By being able to actively participate in all aspects of learning, they will experience a more joyful and fulfilling childhood.

Mrs. Ng Gim Choo, Founder and Director of EtonHouse Community Fund

Professor Alex Sia, Chief Executive Officer, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital said, “We would like to thank EtonHouse Community Fund for their generous support, which will allow us to continue to provide holistic care for our paediatric and adolescent patients with diabetes.” The ECF, an independent IPC charity focuses on improving the lives of less privileged children and youth through education.

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Media coverage Programmes

ECF starts outreach to help youth manage their emotions news report

The Straits Times reported on the launch of our Mindfulness programme and its first run at Singapore Girls’ Home.
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Organised by the Etonhouse Community Fund (ECF), this Mindfulness program helps students realign their thoughts and improve their emotional well-being through movement. The sessions held at the Girls’ Home was inspired by our executive director Ng Yi-Xian and we aim to reach out to other children’s homes in Singapore.

 

Access the full ST news article here.

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Media coverage Programmes

Launch of Play Library media coverage

We’re honored to have Ms. Tin Pei Ling grace this occasion. Zao Bao and Wan Bao reported on how this programme helps vulnerable children.
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EtonHouse Community Fund (ECF) today launched a play library and creative languages programme for vulnerable children. This play library at Circuit Road offers a wide range of educational toys for children from 18 months to 6 years of age. There will also be a creative language enrichment programme to develop the children’s English language, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking through play-based experiences. We were honored to have Ms. Tin Pei Ling 陈佩玲, MP for MacPherson SMC, grace the play library’s official launch. We hope to reach out to more children in need and benefit them in meaningful ways.

View the full ZB media coverage here:

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View the full WB media coverage here:

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Categories
Media coverage Programmes

The Straits Times covers Box of Joy

To celebrate with children in need, we delivered “boxes of joy” to them. See what the Straits Times had to say.
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In the month of December, we embarked on a project titled EtonHouse Box of Joy to usher in the festive season of Christmas. Working towards making a meaningful contribution to children from underprivileged backgrounds, to create ‘boxes of joy’ for them. We encouraged parents to pack useful items, necessities and educational toys in these boxes for children of all ages from newborn babies to 13-year-olds. The response was overwhelming, and we are thankful for the warm support from our parents, students, and staff, who have supported this charity initiative generously, contributing hundreds of gifts. The Boxes of Joy were given to children at Singapore Children’s Society as well as children from Henderson-Dawson Citizens’ Consultative Committee’s We Love Learning programme.

150 beneficiaries of the Henderson-Dawson Citizens’ Consultative Committees’ We Love Learning programme received the Christmas gifts delightedly. The annual community party was also attended by Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira, who conducted a storytelling session for the children.

 

Access the full ST news article here.