We kicked off Flag Day in 1990, which has since evolved into an annual tradition to nurture the spirit of volunteerism and charity.

Mentorship Programmes

In 1996, we started the BP-Mentoring Scheme. Under this scheme, Ngee Ann appoints mentors to take care of students in Pei Tong, Shuqing and Yuneng Primary Schools. Besides providing tuition and keeping them company, the mentors also organised outdoor activities for students, such as telematches and visits to the zoo.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Schools also organise regular fund-raising events, whereby funds are channelled to charitable organisations such as Club Rainbow (non-profit organisation supporting children who suffer from major chronic and life-threatening illnesses), the Rotaract Club and other organisations under the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Over the years, the Students' Union has also raised nearly half a million dollars for the Assissi Home & Hospice.

An International Outlook

The Polytechnic also collaborates with the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to undertake community projects in Third World Asian countries. We enlist the expertise of staff in areas such as construction, environmental science, information technology and life sciences for the benefit of needy communities in other countries.

Under the SIF's Youth Expedition Project, we have sent staff and students on various community service expeditions in Asia. These include technology awareness programmes, computer donations and fund-raising projects. In May 2002, more than 140 students participated in building/construction and IT projects in Cambodia, Thailand and China.

In November 2002, about 130 students, accompanied by lecturers and staff, will be proceeding to Sarawak, Cambodia and Vietnam on five different community expeditions. Students will set up a Nyok Palm Tree research centre in a Sarawak village. In Cambodia, students will refurbish an orphanage and build a playground.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic is also collaborating with the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Council. In October, students and staff embarked on "Care for East Timor" a campus-wide initiative to collect donations in cash and items to help needy children in East Timor. Some 19,000 needy children and more than 60 schools in East Timor are direct beneficiaries of the initiative.

Environmental and Green Initiatives

Ngee Ann Polytechnic also supports Singapore's annual Clean & Green (C&G) campaign. We have an active Green Volunteers network which organises activities such as recycling and conservation projects, tree planting, environmental awareness programmes and Earth Day exhibitions. Our environmental initiatives have received accolades including the HSBC-NYAA Young Environment Award 2000 (Merit), The Green Leaf Award 2000 (Youth category) and the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Award 2001.

Helping the Hearing Impaired

Within the Polytechnic, we actively help disadvantaged students through various initiatives. Ngee Ann's Hearing Impaired (HI) Club has customised a curriculum for students based on requirements set down by the Singapore Association for the Deaf. The Club also organises sign language classes for students, activities such as Street Soccer and visits to the Singapore School for the Deaf and the Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired. In addition, the Polytechnic has developed a proprietory hearing device and multi-media programme for children at the School for the Deaf, enabling children to learn human speech sounds and differentiate words.

In April 2002, under the auspices of Singapore Kindness Week, we organised Sports Awareness Day for 200 handicapped and non-able bodied athletes. There were friendly competitions such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, swimming, archery, wheelchair fencing, boccia, athletics and cheerleading for the Blind and Deaf and the Intellectually Challenged, co-organised with the British Cheerleading Association.

In March 2002, Leo Club, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic community service club, conducted a major fund-raising event, called the "Wealth of Love" for Little Sisters of the Poor, Home for the Aged. Our students raised around S$25,000 for this cause.

Fostering IT Appreciation

In March 2002, Ngee Ann's Rotaract Club conducted an IT Appreciation Programme for Rainbow Club children.The event was organised in collaboration with mobile operator Starhub, who sponsored the Internet startup kits and email accounts.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic has won numerous awards for its community service initiatives. These include the Festive Care and Share Award by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), the Friend of the Deaf award by the Singapore Association for the Deaf, and the Gold Award from the Singapore Blood Transfusion Service and the Singapore Red Cross Society for being the top corporate blood donor organisation.