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Sembcorp employees braved the Sahara to raise funds for at-risk youth in Singapore
Between October and November 2007, Paul Low and Victor Sun tracked across The Great Desert in a grueling seven-day, 250-kilometre race organised by "RacingthePlanet". Mr. Low, a Deputy General Manager, and Mr. Sun, a Senior Trader, are both employees of Sembcorp. They were two of the three participants representing Singapore to complete one of the world’s most gruelling and challenging races.
In conjunction with our employees' participation in the race, Sembcorp mounted a group-wide fundraising effort. We raised a total of $250,000 for the WINGS Counselling centre, a non-profit counselling organisation working with at-risk youth in Singapore.
The money raised for the WINGS Counselling Centre (CC) was presented to the Centre at a ceremony on May 15, 2008 at WINGS’ premises. Dr Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker for Parliament, was the Guest-of-Honour at the event. Representatives from the WINGS CC and the youth it worked with were also present.
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Making a difference to society
WINGS CC is one of very few centres to tend to the psychological and emotional health of schoolchildren who are susceptible to negative influences, or who come from dysfunctional families. Working closely with the Community Chest and the National Council of Social Services, Sembcorp raised funds for this meaningful endeavour as we believed in the importance of their contribution.
Sembcorp hoped not only to support the WINGS CC through fundraising, but also to identify with the challenges of the youth at the Counselling Centre. We aim to inspire them to meet their difficulties in life with determination, strength and fortitude.
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Supporting work-life balance
In line with the Sembcorp belief in maintaining work-life balance, the company fully supported Paul and Victor’s mission across the Sahara. We sponsored their flights to Egypt and supported their training and preparation leading up to the event. Sembcorp also provided all equipment, food supplies, lodging, allowances and leave for our Sahara Racers. Throughout the race, Sembcorp employees closely followed their colleagues’ thrilling progress through regular email updates.
We encouraged our employees to actively pursue sports hobbies and develop themselves through undertaking personal challenges. This underscores the company’s believe in the importance of its staff leading well-rounded and fulfilling lives.
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About our beneficiary WINGS Counselling Centre
WINGS is a not-for-profit organisation which pioneered the concept of school-based counselling in Singapore. It is one of the very few centres to offer medical and psychiatric consultation for children locally. It is fully funded by the Community Chest, the fund-raising arm of the National Council of Social Services.
WINGS operates a School Social Work programme, which helps youths who are susceptible to negative influences, or who come from dysfunctional families. This programme reaches out to at-risk youths and provides the necessary support and mentoring against negative peer influence.
Services include counselling and casework, educational and psychological services as well as student services such as group work, workshops and talks. WING’ school social work also offers parental education services such as parents’ support groups, training workshops and educational talks.
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About the Sahara Race |
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The Sahara Race is one of the four desert races organised by "RacingThePlanet". Called "the world's most extreme endurance races" by Forbes Magazine, the four desert races comprise 250-km footraces across the largest and most forbidding deserts in the world. The races include the Gobi March in China, the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica, and take place at locations representing the driest, hottest, coldest and windiest places on Earth.
Each event is a 250-kilometer footrace stretching over 6-7 days. However, each individual must also carry his or her own gear, food and clothing in a backpack. The only assistance provided is water (plenty), tents and medical assistance. The average backpack weighs about 20 pounds (9 kilos).
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Sembcorp's giving back to the community |
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Sembcorp has conducted annual group corporate social responsibility programmes and events since 2006. In 2006, the group conducted a charity 24-hour run round Singapore involving employees & their families, business associates and community partners and the beneficiary of the funds raised was the Children Cancer Foundation. In 2007, the Group raised funds for the WINGS Counselling Centre through its participation in the Sahara Race.
Sembcorp has also administered a Group-wide charitable fund, the Trailblazer-Wong Kok Siew Fund, since 2005. The Fund supports a range of causes in aid of children, education and stroke-related assistance and medical research.
For more information on Sembcorp’s community efforts and the Trailblazer-Wong Kok Siew Fund, please refer to the “Community” section of our 2006 CSR report published within our Annual Report. This is available online here.
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