SINGAPORE, 13 November 2020 – Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) launched Asia’s first charity stamps on World Kindness Day today, featuring designs drawn by four special needs students from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).
The stamps, launched by President Halimah Yacob at MINDS Fernvale Gardens School, are the first in the region to have their sales proceeds wholly donated to a charity. SingPost will match all donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis, effectively doubling the amount donated.
The inaugural charity stamps bear designs drawn by Tan Zhe Kai, 16, Nurul Liyana Binte Mohd Arshad, 15, Leong Shuyi, 14, and Diman Bin Mamat, 14, who are students of MINDS Towner Gardens School, MINDS Woodlands Gardens School, MINDS Fernvale Gardens School and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School respectively.
The stamp designs were chosen by a panel of judges from SingPost, Community Chest, MINDS, Singapore Philatelic Museum as well as the Stamp Advisory Committee, following an intra-school competition held in each of the four MINDS schools. Each school was given a unique theme for the students to base their designs on. The themes, as well as details of each stamp design, can be found in the Annex below.
As a gesture of support, the Istana has generously agreed to affix the charity stamps on all seasons’ greetings sent via mail from the President’s Office during the year-end festive period this year.
President Halimah said: "Congratulations to SingPost on the successful launch of Asia’s first charity stamps. I am glad that SingPost has provided this useful platform for students with special needs to showcase their talents and creative potential through original artworks. I hope that this initiative will not only raise awareness, but also change public perceptions of persons with special needs. With the support of corporate partners and wider community, it will shape a broader culture of inclusivity and help persons with special needs to achieve their fullest potential.”
In addition to having their artwork featured on the charity stamps, each winner also received a cash prize of S$1,000 dollars from SingPost.
“SingPost would like to thank Zhe Kai, Nurul Liyana, Shuyi and Diman for their lovely artwork. It is our honor and privilege to be able to feature their designs on Asia’s first charity stamps, and we hope to share their talent via the universal medium of stamps, with Singapore and the world,” said Paul Coutts, Group Chief Executive Officer of SingPost.
“We would also like to thank MINDS for their hard work through the decades in nurturing the talents of truly special individuals, and allowing us a glimpse of the potential of all the budding artists who have contributed to our success today. Special thanks as well to Community Chest, who has been our stalwart partner through the years as we continue to serve Singapore beyond post.”
CEO of MINDS, Mr Kelvin Koh thanked SingPost on behalf of MINDS, “SingPost not only gave our students a canvas to express what matters to them most - their hobbies, school, family and dreams, more importantly, they honoured our students’ talents and giftings. Above all they have provided Singapore with an insight into the abilities of PWIDs and all special needs children, to contribute to the nation, through this extremely momentous and heartfelt collection. MINDS is very grateful for SingPost this initiative to raise the self-esteem for our students, the important role that families can play in this endeavour and also their donation to further our work in MINDS.”
Mr Phillip Tan, Chairman of Community Chest, said: “It is truly an honour for Community Chest to be a part of Asia’s first Charity Stamps initiative that showcases and nurtures the talents of our youths with special needs. We are also heartened by the generous giving from SingPost and their engaging collaboration with MINDS’ students in enabling this inspiring initiative. Meaningful partnerships such as this will go a long way in ensuring the less privileged amongst us receive the support they need to achieve their potential.”
At a launch ceremony earlier this afternoon attended by the President, SingPost presented a cheque for S$168,000 to Community Chest, in support of MINDS. The sum is a representation of the total donation amount (70,000 stamp issue together with the S$1.20 price, as well as SingPost’s dollar-for-dollar matching donation). The President also toured an exhibit of all 16 participating artworks, and had a dialogue with the four student winners.
Under the category of ‘My Dream’, 14-year-old, Leong Shuyi from MINDS Fernvale Gardens School took part in the competition and was one of the winners. Upon hearing that her drawing will now be featured in the stamp series, Shuyi said, “I am the golden hair princess and I feel very happy about my drawing. Mummy and Daddy will be proud of me.”
As part of our ongoing commitment towards an inclusive society, SingPost also hired three MINDS trainees last month to positions within our mail processing operations. We will continue to work with MINDS to train and employ prospective candidates to augment our operations.
About Singapore Post Limited
For more than 160 years, Singapore Post (SingPost) as the country’s postal service provider, has been delivering trusted and reliable services to homes and businesses in Singapore.
Today, SingPost is pioneering and leading in eCommerce logistics as well as providing innovative mail and logistics solutions in Singapore and around the world, with operations in 17 markets.
Building on its trusted communications through domestic and international postal services, SingPost is taking the lead in end-to-end integrated and digital mail solutions. The suite of SingPost eCommerce logistics solutions includes front end web management, warehousing and fulfilment, last mile delivery and international freight forwarding.
About the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS)
MINDS has been serving persons with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs) across their entire lifespan in the past 58 years. Helping and enhancing the quality of life of 3,000 PWIDs annually, MINDS also focuses on care and support of families and caregivers. Today, an 800-strong workforce, with the assistance of volunteers, runs over 30 facilities, services and programmes island-wide.
MINDS has 4 Special Education Schools, 3 Employment Development Centres, 8 Training and Development Centres, a Residential Home for Adults, a Children’s Home, a Hostel, a Caregivers Support Services Centre, a Special Student Care Centre, and a Developmental Disabilities Medical Clinic, and numerous other significant services such as Appropriate Adults for Persons with Mental Disabilities (AAPMD), Allied Health Professionals (AHP), Me Too! Club (MTC) and MINDS MYG (a volunteer subsidiary wing of MINDS).
These efforts are supported by MINDS Institute which specialises in the research and development of holistic and sustainable approaches to nurturing and developing PWIDs.
To learn more, please visit http://www.minds.org.sg/.
About Community Chest
As the hallmark of care and share, Community Chest has been uniting the community to fundraise and serve those in need, since 1983. Under the Bicentennial Community Fund, the Government will provide dollar-for-dollar matching for donations* to Community Chest, up to 20% of the total funds raised from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2020. Through this, Community Chest hopes to encourage the community to give and maximise the impact to enhance the sector’s capabilities, create impactful partnerships and make caring a part of our everyday lives.
Community Chest supports about 80 social service agencies to meet underserved, critical social needs. As our fundraising and operating costs are covered mainly by Tote Board, 100% of your contributions goes towards empowering the lives of:
- Adults with disabilities
- Children with special needs and youth-at-risk
- Families in need
- Persons with mental health conditions
- Vulnerable seniors
*Donations include all private cash donations. Grants from government agencies, including Tote Board, which are not donations will not qualify for the matching. Community Chest, as the fundraising arm of the National Council of Social Service, will not be subject to the $400,000 per IPC cap. Instead, 20% of the total donation (net of the donation that is already matched by existing grants) received by ComChest in the qualifying period will be matched by the BCF.
Find out more at comchest.gov.sg.
Annex
 | Artist: Tan Zhe Kai, 16 Title: My Family Medium: Colour pencil with outlines in black ink Description: I am a cheerful teenager who enjoys spending time with my family and friends. I love sharing my family stories with others, and these are the happy faces of my family members with my imaginary pet dog. |
 | Artist: Nurul Liyana Binte Mohd Arshad, 15 Title: My School Medium: Crayon, pencil and marker Description: My school is colourful and beautiful, with many trees and flowers. I have a lot of fun in school every day. |
 | Artist: Leong Shuyi, 14 Title: My Dream Medium: Crayons Description: |
 | Artist: Diman Bin Mamat, 14 Title: My Hobbies Medium: Crayons, marker and cut-and-paste Description: My favourite hobbies are riding a scooter, cycling and running in the park, together with my friends |
