• Certis’ annual Community Give-Back programme enters its fourth year with activities chosen by student volunteers
• The Community Give-Back programme has engaged over 300 disadvantaged children and youth since its inception in 2019
The annual Community Give-Back programme by Asia’s leading advanced integrated security services provider, Certis, receives a fresh twist this year. The fourth edition of the programme provides beneficiaries of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF), who are volunteering as student trainers, the opportunity to make an impact by proposing workshop activities for their peers.
Comprising three workshops over a period of seven months, this edition aims to use arts and technology to raise awareness of issues surrounding mental wellness and sustainability. Kicking off with the first workshop during the launch, Certis volunteers and BT BAF beneficiaries will befriend and engage with 15 beneficiaries from New Life Children and Student Care through a tech-enhanced dance workshop. This edition of the programme will also be its first in-person one since the pandemic.
Mr Tan Toi Chia, Chief Corporate and Human Resources Officer, Certis said: “Certis is committed to supporting the Community Give-Back programme for the fourth year running after the positive impact the programme continues to have on children and youth. Our colleagues are as excited as ever to do their part in uplifting the next generation. We look forward to the energising and meaningful tech-enabled activities lined up this year, especially now that we can do more in person.”
Since its inception in 2019, Certis’ Community Give-Back programme has partnered BT BAF in conducting workshops where beneficiaries lead sessions for their peers from volunteer welfare organisations (VWO), with the assistance of Certis employees. The programme aims to inculcate the spirit of giving back, with a focus on equipping disadvantaged children and youth with resilience and the ability to adapt in unpredictable environments – traits necessary to thrive in times of rapid change.
The past three editions — comprising an average of three workshops per edition — saw the programme reach out to over 300 underserved children and youth. These workshops featured activities such as dance, visual arts and technology.
Ms Nor Azizah Abdullah, Deputy Head, Arts and Community, TRCL which manages BT BAF shared: “Over the years, the Community Give-Back programme has touched on many different art forms, offering a comprehensive experience to the beneficiaries of the various VWOs we have partnered with. Being able to conduct these workshops has also given our own BT BAF beneficiaries the unique opportunity to grow in their confidence and craft as they prepare for each activity.”
The youth facilitators are currently enrolled in arts programmes supported by BT BAF, an arts education fund managed by charity arts organisation TRCL that provides free arts education to empower disadvantaged children and youth with artistic skills, purpose and passion for the arts.
A spokesperson from New Life Community Services shared, “Here at New Life Community Service (Teck Whye Student Care Centre), we are looking forward to bringing our kids out for a fun filled day at the fourth edition of the Community Give Back Programme. As it is in the nature of our services, we strongly believe in caring and giving back to the community so we really appreciate this warm outreach from TRCL. This is a great opportunity for our children to be exposed to arts in the form of dance and to also learn what Mental Health is. Mental Health is definitely a rising topic and one that the society always tries to combat. We hope that this programme can teach the children to exercise better mental health through healthy ways that they can learn to express themselves from.”
In support of the work of BT BAF, Certis has also donated $20,000 towards BT BAF’s programmes