ChildAid funds help nurture kids' creative potential

Singapore

SIBLINGS Judy and Jacky Boey, who are 11 and 9 respectively, learn visual arts and music with the help of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BTBAF). Both have demonstrated interest in the arts at a young age, which prompted their mother, Madam Liu Liqiong, to enrol them at the Little Arts Academy where their fees are borne by the fund.

Judy says: "The arts classes are wonderful because they help me be more creative. And, in that way, they've also helped me with my academic subjects such English and Math."

Madam Liu is a kindergarten teacher, while her husband works in the factory. Both support their children's arts training because they believe it can help unlock their children's learning potential.

Judy and Jacky, both West Spring Primary pupils, are among the thousands of socially-disadvantaged children who receive assistance from BTBAF and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF).

The two charities have been organising the annual ChildAid charity concert since 2005 and have helped over 170,000 children.

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Halimatul Maisarah, 14, has been a recipient of STSPMF since 2019. The money has made a "big difference", not least because she can now buy revision books to help her with her studies at Canberra Secondary.

"My school pocket money used to be enough when I was primary school. But now that I'm in secondary school, there are so many more things to buy, such as revision books and specific stationeries for various classes," she says.

"Since I started receiving the fund, I've been able to purchase these things and study better, without worrying that I have to ask for the money from my parents, and feeling that I'm taking something away from the family's financial pool."