http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/446989/1/.html
Flying the flag helps to CARE
By Favian Ng, channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 05 August 2009 1640 hrs
Photos 1 of 2
Singapore: 20,000 cars flying the Singapore Flag in celebration of National Day. That is the goal of local startup Alfestco, which has gone into making specially-sized Singapore flags to flutter from windows, hoods and any other corner of your set of wheels you can imagine.
The enterprising pair of Ian Choo and Lee Han Pin hit on their "National Flag Project" after taking note of a change in laws which allows the state flag to be flown from July to September on private and commercial vehicles.
"We believed in creating a product that the end user will find it meaningful. We chose the flag because it coincides with National Day and everyone can share their love for Singapore," said Choo enthusiastically when channelnewsasia.com met up with him.
Lee, who has decorated his van with several flags, added: "It's great fun, strangers will give you a heartwarming smile and you will feel very happy to be a Singaporean."
But if you are bashful over showing your true colours by waving the five stars and crescent, maybe the thought of helping a child in need might make the flag waving even more meaningful.
Sales of the specially-crafted flags, which took off outside Ikea outlets and KUHL Concepts on weekends, see S$1 from each S$5 flag sold going to CARE or Children-At-Risk Empowerment.
The school-based social work services group offers a series of programmes to help young people at risk of academic failure, behavioural problems, emotional maladjustments, self-abuse or delinquency.
"Life is bigger than just making money and when possible, we should contribute back to charity," said Choo when asked why Alfestco chose to adopt CARE and other charities for each of their commercial projects.
The business partners, who consider themselves financially secure but definitely not in the class of the super-rich, also explained that when looking for charity organizations to include under their projects they look for one criteria.
"We want to help those charities that have a social multiplier effect," said the pair.
According to Adelyn Poh, co-founder of CARE Singapore, the effort of organizations such as Alfestco helps to ease the cost of programmes, especially in the training of youth workers.
"Youth workers are not volunteers and they are actually paid for their services," said Poh. As not everyone is cut out to be a youth worker, she said CARE has to provide training to develop individuals into qualified youth workers.
The funds raised will also go some way into CARE's Youth Programme which offers motivational skills and counselling for kids.
CARE, which has had to reject three schools because it did not have enough resources, is without doubt delighted with Alfestco's initiative which comes with a Thank-You card, specially designed and drawn by the students, for each flag purchased.
"When these kids know that someone out there is holding on to their works, it creates a positive feeling in them," said Alfestco's Lee, who supervised the designing process.
If that is not meaningful enough, this project also enlists the skills of low or no income housewives, who assemble the flags.
"We try our best to create different forms of employment from the manufacturing process to assembling process," said Choo.
"We get housewives to work with us, and give them a market rate for their services. This is a commercial entity, but we also want to give it a social cost."
And it seems Alfestco is now also in the business of making wishes come true.
Those keen to fly the flag not just at their homes, have been asking just where the special item can be found – especially after catching news of it on Channel NewsAsia – and with National Day around the corner.
To this end, the company has teamed up with local supermarket retailer NTUC Fairprice, which has decided to make the special car flags available at all Cheers and Fairprice Xpress petrol marts.
All 67 outlets located at Esso petrol stations will have the car flags for sale from August 7 to August 9.
"As a social enterprise committed to helping the community, we are proud to support CARE in their noble work to help at-risk youth," said Seah Kian Peng, FairPrice managing director (Group Business).
"We hope that drivers this season will join NTUC Fairprice in supporting this project, and helping CARE empower and change the lives for these youth and the community."
So if you have always wanted to be just like the helicopter pilots on National Day flying the state flag high and to the delight of all – here is your chance!
More details about the retail outlets are available at www.alfestco.com.
- CNA
Thank-You cards specially designed and drawn by the students
Flying the flag helps to CARE
By Favian Ng, channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 05 August 2009 1640 hrs
Photos 1 of 2
Singapore: 20,000 cars flying the Singapore Flag in celebration of National Day. That is the goal of local startup Alfestco, which has gone into making specially-sized Singapore flags to flutter from windows, hoods and any other corner of your set of wheels you can imagine.
The enterprising pair of Ian Choo and Lee Han Pin hit on their "National Flag Project" after taking note of a change in laws which allows the state flag to be flown from July to September on private and commercial vehicles.
"We believed in creating a product that the end user will find it meaningful. We chose the flag because it coincides with National Day and everyone can share their love for Singapore," said Choo enthusiastically when channelnewsasia.com met up with him.
Lee, who has decorated his van with several flags, added: "It's great fun, strangers will give you a heartwarming smile and you will feel very happy to be a Singaporean."
But if you are bashful over showing your true colours by waving the five stars and crescent, maybe the thought of helping a child in need might make the flag waving even more meaningful.
Sales of the specially-crafted flags, which took off outside Ikea outlets and KUHL Concepts on weekends, see S$1 from each S$5 flag sold going to CARE or Children-At-Risk Empowerment.
The school-based social work services group offers a series of programmes to help young people at risk of academic failure, behavioural problems, emotional maladjustments, self-abuse or delinquency.
"Life is bigger than just making money and when possible, we should contribute back to charity," said Choo when asked why Alfestco chose to adopt CARE and other charities for each of their commercial projects.
The business partners, who consider themselves financially secure but definitely not in the class of the super-rich, also explained that when looking for charity organizations to include under their projects they look for one criteria.
"We want to help those charities that have a social multiplier effect," said the pair.
According to Adelyn Poh, co-founder of CARE Singapore, the effort of organizations such as Alfestco helps to ease the cost of programmes, especially in the training of youth workers.
"Youth workers are not volunteers and they are actually paid for their services," said Poh. As not everyone is cut out to be a youth worker, she said CARE has to provide training to develop individuals into qualified youth workers.
The funds raised will also go some way into CARE's Youth Programme which offers motivational skills and counselling for kids.
CARE, which has had to reject three schools because it did not have enough resources, is without doubt delighted with Alfestco's initiative which comes with a Thank-You card, specially designed and drawn by the students, for each flag purchased.
"When these kids know that someone out there is holding on to their works, it creates a positive feeling in them," said Alfestco's Lee, who supervised the designing process.
If that is not meaningful enough, this project also enlists the skills of low or no income housewives, who assemble the flags.
"We try our best to create different forms of employment from the manufacturing process to assembling process," said Choo.
"We get housewives to work with us, and give them a market rate for their services. This is a commercial entity, but we also want to give it a social cost."
And it seems Alfestco is now also in the business of making wishes come true.
Those keen to fly the flag not just at their homes, have been asking just where the special item can be found – especially after catching news of it on Channel NewsAsia – and with National Day around the corner.
To this end, the company has teamed up with local supermarket retailer NTUC Fairprice, which has decided to make the special car flags available at all Cheers and Fairprice Xpress petrol marts.
All 67 outlets located at Esso petrol stations will have the car flags for sale from August 7 to August 9.
"As a social enterprise committed to helping the community, we are proud to support CARE in their noble work to help at-risk youth," said Seah Kian Peng, FairPrice managing director (Group Business).
"We hope that drivers this season will join NTUC Fairprice in supporting this project, and helping CARE empower and change the lives for these youth and the community."
So if you have always wanted to be just like the helicopter pilots on National Day flying the state flag high and to the delight of all – here is your chance!
More details about the retail outlets are available at www.alfestco.com.
- CNA
Thank-You cards specially designed and drawn by the students
