South East CDC and NTUC FairPrice celebrated 10 years of partnership for FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East
South East CDC and NTUC FairPrice announced an extension of the project for another three years
NTUC FairPrice would also be increasing their sponsorship to include more nutritious products.
The project saw corporate and community partners coming together to do their part for the community. They walked a total of 1,150,000 km to garner about 5 million bowls of brown and white rice for 70,000 needy residents in South East district
Singapore, 28 November 2018 – South East Community Development Council (CDC) and NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) celebrated 10 years of partnership at the finale of the annual FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East 2018. The project drew corporate and community partners to come together to raise white rice and brown rice for the vulnerable families in South East District. In total, about 5 million bowls of rice were raised for 70,000 low-income families over the past 10 years.
At the finale of FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East 2018, together with Guests-of-Honour Mr Lee Yi Shyan and CEO of NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mayor of South East District, Dr Maliki Osman, announced an extension of the FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East (WFR) for another three years. The project would also see NTUC FairPrice increasing their sponsorship to include more nutritious products. The items would be decided annually based on needs of the community. As a pilot this year, oats are also given to the community to encourage healthy eating.
Dr Maliki commended the efforts, “FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East started with the objective of encouraging fellow Singaporeans to participate in a simple activity, such as walking, to raise rice for the needy families in the South East District. Over the last 10 years,the community has actively and increasingly shown their support. In its first year, our corporate and community partners walked a total of 61, 583Km. This year, the 10th year of the programme, we garnered a total of more than 500,000 km, more than eight times when we first started. It is heartening to see that the community increasingly gearing up and doing their best for those in the community who need their help, and I believe that more will step out to do their part for the community in the years to come. As the project continues into its eleventh year, the sponsorship by NTUC FairPrice to include other products would mean that the project stays relevant, and South East CDC will continue to do our part to focus on matching needs on the ground. We hope this will inspire more corporates to come forward and do their part for the less fortunate in the community. South East CDC stands ready to partner them. ”
For every 200 metres of walking completed at various community activities between the campaign stipulated period, FairPrice Foundation would donate one bowl of brown rice and one bowl of white rice, up to half a million bowls in total, towards the campaign. This will continue as South East CDC and NTUC FairPrice extends its partnership for the next three years.
Mr Seah Kian Peng, CEO, NTUC FairPrice said, “FairPrice Walk For Rice @ South East brings the community together to promote healthy living and at the same time contribute to needy families in the South East district. Over the last 10 years, this event has raised about 5 million bowls of rice for 70,000 low-income families. FairPrice has also pledged our continued commitment to this project for another three years, and we will extend our sponsorship by including oatmeal in addition to the current brown and white rice donations. This provides beneficiaries with more access to nutritious products and is part of our efforts to inculcate healthy eating.”
FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East is conceptualised under the South East 5E Approach. 5E involves using an Easy and Enjoyable activity that Encourages widespread participation within the community which Earns sponsorships for the needy. In doing so, South East CDC also Enlarges the value of the giving and thus enabling the CDC to Enhance community ownership and spirit.
Since the project’s inception in 2009, about 5 million bowls of rice have been donated and South East residents and community partners have collectively walked about 1,150,000 km to support this cause.
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