<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Start new citizens on quasi-national service
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to last Monday's letter by Mr Ooi Teck Chau, 'Have new citizens do community service'.
Mr Ooi made an excellent suggestion that new citizens perform quasi-national service by doing community service. Besides being seen to contribute to society, they can also integrate into society faster by interacting with people at various levels. By serving in hospitals or charities, they will gain an instant insight into cultural and religious aspects of the community of which they will become part.
I foresee new citizens from the financial sector advising charities how to manage their accounts, and perhaps helping them prepare for mandatory financial audits. Those with an academic background may volunteer to give tuition to needy children. Others with architecture or engineering training can provide professional consultancy to the charities in the upkeep or expansion of their facilities.
Those without special skills can contribute simply by spending time with residents of charities or helping to organise activities.
The National Council of Social Service and Ministry of Manpower should work together to develop a system to manage this quasi-national service. A minimum number of hours should be mandated, say 10 hours a month over a period of one year. An online system can be developed to match demand for services with those the new citizens can provide.
Bryan Tan
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to last Monday's letter by Mr Ooi Teck Chau, 'Have new citizens do community service'.
Mr Ooi made an excellent suggestion that new citizens perform quasi-national service by doing community service. Besides being seen to contribute to society, they can also integrate into society faster by interacting with people at various levels. By serving in hospitals or charities, they will gain an instant insight into cultural and religious aspects of the community of which they will become part.
I foresee new citizens from the financial sector advising charities how to manage their accounts, and perhaps helping them prepare for mandatory financial audits. Those with an academic background may volunteer to give tuition to needy children. Others with architecture or engineering training can provide professional consultancy to the charities in the upkeep or expansion of their facilities.
Those without special skills can contribute simply by spending time with residents of charities or helping to organise activities.
The National Council of Social Service and Ministry of Manpower should work together to develop a system to manage this quasi-national service. A minimum number of hours should be mandated, say 10 hours a month over a period of one year. An online system can be developed to match demand for services with those the new citizens can provide.
Bryan Tan
