Volunteer Activities

  • 2017

    September:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School

    Over 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers and management from Singapore, China, Malaysia and Vietnam participated in a three-day volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu (幸福之路, translated as ‘Road to Happiness) Hope School located in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China, from 17-19 September 2017.

    Part of CapitaLand’s biannual International Volunteer Expedition to the communities CapitaLand operates in, the volunteer expedition sought to improve the learning and development environment of over 300 students in CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School. This is CapitaLand's 24th international volunteer expedition since the Group’s philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) was set up in 2005.

    In addition to carrying out gardening work in the school field, the staff volunteers assembled and installed bookshelves for 13 classrooms. A fresh coat of paint and colourful wall murals were also added to the activity and art & craft rooms. Through the signature 'CapitaLand Little Architect Programme’, the volunteers helped the students to better understand and appreciate architecture. They also imparted their knowledge, conducting science lessons to the students.  Visits to the children’s homes were also conducted to give the staff volunteers insight to the students’ lives and families. This year, a donation of over S$50,000 was also contributed to refurbish 5 multi-purpose classrooms, dormitories as well as donations of hot water dispensers, schoolbags and more.

    Led by Mr Andrew Lim, the Group Chief Financial Officer of CapitaLand, he shared, "These expeditions to projects supported by CHF are organised for our employees to contribute to the well-being of children in rural communities, such as this trip to CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School which benefits over 300 students.  Through refurbishing and landscaping works as well as interactions with the beneficiaries through lessons in architecture, arts & crafts as well as sports, we are also building character and reinforcing the values of respect and community among our CapitaLand staff.”

    The volunteer expedition builds on CHF’s aid efforts for CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School. Since 2010, CHF has contributed to the refurbishment of classrooms, dormitories, canteen and provision of school supplies. Through the CapitaLand Kids Programme, financial assistance is also provided to academically-inclined Grade 5 & 6 students from financially-challenged background to help them continue their studies. CapitaLand staff in China have also organised regular visits to the school over the years.

    Read more about the expedition at our live blog!

    May:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand - Ascott GK Eco Village

    From 13 - 17 May 2017, over 80 CapitaLand staff volunteers, senior management and community volunteers embarked on an International Volunteer Expedition to help construct our first Eco Village, the CapitaLand-Ascott GK Eco Village in San Pedro, Batangas City, Philippines. They worked alongside our NGO partner, Gawad Kalinga (GK) and local villagers in the construction project to meet the shelter needs of underprivileged families and their children.

    Quotes from Volunteers

    "This IVE is meaningful to me because we get an opportunity to give back to the underprivileged community, sharing stories and knowledge which will inspire us to grow as a better individual. What really blows me away was how all the volunteers work together like a family regardless of which country or business unit we came from. The connect and teamwork was amazing!"
    - Magadline Voon, TAL, Malaysia


    "Not only did i contribute something for the community, but i realised that the community also contributed for my wellbeing. The experience and time spent at the community taught me that we didn't just build houses, we build the foundation of many villager's dream."
    - Romeo Adriano, TAL, Philippines


    "Volunteers are like a source of light, we might not be able to brighten up every dark corner but with love and patience, we will be able to illuminate the hearts of our beneficiaries. I hope more people can join IVE, do their part and contribute to the power of love."
    - Wang Yi, CMA, China


    "Many volunteers were a bit hesitant and skeptical about how much an impact we could bring to the community over our short trip there. However, what Gawad Kalinga told us was that our mere presence there helped the villagers to actually have a renewed sense of drive and passion towards life. My word of advice to fellow colleagues that hasn't participated in IVE before; dont hestitate, just apply, you will not regret it!"
    - Nigel Ng, CL, Singapore

  • 2016

    October:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Jinzhu Hope School

    Ascott Management Associate Lee Min Shing looks back on his experience at CapitaLand’s International Volunteer Expedition to Zhejiang, China in October 2016.

    Read about volunteer’s story here.

    March:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School

    On 5 March 2016, over 50 CapitaLand staff volunteers and senior management embarked on a five-day volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School located in Phu Tho Province, one of the most impoverished provinces in Vietnam.

    The school provides close to 200 pupils from surrounding villages with education from Grade 1 to 5, equivalent to that offered by primary schools in Singapore. CapitaLand staff volunteers helped build more toilets and sheltered walkways to cater to the growing pupil population, cemented damaged walls, and refurbished the library with more shelves, which were filled with books gathered from the local community through a book donation drive organised by CapitaLand staff in Vietnam. A series of educational activities, including sports sessions, art and craft workshops, and CapitaLand’s signature Little Architect Programme, were also organised for the pupils. 

    CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School was built in 1975, and classes were previously conducted out of makeshift classrooms made from clay and leaves. In 2011, CHF donated VND2.2 billion to fund the construction of new school buildings and facilities, including a two-storey block with 10 classrooms, a library-cum-reading room, and upgraded equipment for outdoor activities. CapitaLand organised an expedition to the school in 2011 to put the finishing touches to the refurbished school and to welcome the children from the surrounding villages into their new learning environment. Since then, our local staff have regularly visited the school to better understand the needs of the students and the community. 

    Watch a video of the expedition

  • 2015

    October:
    CapitaLand #100KHopeHours Challenge Experiential Heritage Trail

    In celebration of SG50, CapitaLand Group in Singapore combined its annual Volunteer Day and Family Day for the CapitaLand #100KHopeHours Challenge Experiential Heritage Trail on 3 October 2015. More than 1,600 staff, their family and friends as well as business associates and community volunteers registered for event to discover more about the country's history, learns to overcome some of the hardships of disadvantaged children and earn donations from CapitaLand Hope Foundation for President’s Challenge. Despite the cancellation of the experiential heritage trail on 3 October due to health and safety concerns for the participants over the haze, CapitaLand kept the intent of the Challenge by bringing key activities indoors. Conceived as a special SG50 edition of the annual CapitaLand Volunteer Day, the participants gathered at Raffles City Singapore for the finale of the Challenge to show their unwavering support for volunteerism.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    10 Purposeful Years of Giving Time, Hope and Aid to Less Privileged Children Who Need a Leg-Up in Life

     

    September:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Chengmagang Hope School, Wuhan

    CapitaLand Chengmagang Hope School is one of the earliest government schools in Macheng City. The school currently has about 460 students and 23 teachers. With limited dining area and shabby classroom building, CapitaLand Hope Foundation donated RMB400,000 to improve the students’ study condition and improve the students' study and dining condition in 2012. The project was completed in 2014.This year, more than 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines to the school with the aim of improving the learning and living condition of the students.

    July:
    Volunteer expedition to Doi Wiengpa Witaya School, Thailand

    Doi Wiengpa Witaya School is located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Rai, which CapitaLand Hope Foundation and Ascott Thailand have been supporting since 2014. This expedition will see 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers from Singapore, Thailand, China, Philippines, Malaysia & Vietnam working hand-in-hand to improve the study environment of the students. Apart from physical school improvement, the volunteers will also have meaningful interaction with the children through CapitaLand Little Architect Progamme, arts & crafts and many more, hopefully leaving an unforgetable experience for both volunteers and children.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Bridging Cultural Differences Through a Common Goal

    April:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School, Vietnam

    More than 50 staff volunteers from Vietnam, Singapore and China as well as management from CapitaLand Vietnam and Ascott Vietnam joined hands to improve the study environment for 150 underprivileged children in rural Vietnam. They worked hard in the sweltering 38°C weather, from painting wall murals and redecorating classrooms, leveling and laying concrete, plowing a new plot of land for a vegetable garden to planting trees so the children can enjoy the shade when it grows.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Making School Cool

    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School

    March:
    P.E.E.K @ Westgate

    In conjunction with CapitaLand Kids’ Food Fund 2015, CHF kicked off Providing Educational Exposure for Kids event (P.E.E.K) with a fun-filled food and nutrition trail for more than 88 children beneficiaries. Some 50 CapitaLand staff took Volunteer Service Leave to host these children and accompany them on an interactive food and nutrition journey at Westgate in Singapore. Through interacting gaming, sandwich-making and other unique food-theme activities across six pit stops, the children learned about food nutrition in a fun and engaging manner.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Trail Blazing Their Way to Healthy Eating

     

  • 2014

    December:
    Volunteer Visit to the Singapore Zoos

    33 underprivileged children from REACH Family Service Centre were invited by The Ascott Limited’s Singapore cluster staff volunteers for a day of fun outing at the Singapore Zoos during their school vacation. For some of the children, it was their first time visiting the zoo. Each child was paired with one of the 38 staff volunteers as they walked through the zoo trail. They learnt some interesting facts about nature such as effects of global warming and why it was necessary to save the earth to protect the existence of some of the animals. The memorable time together came to a sweet ending with a meal and gifting each child with a BPA Free Collapsible Water Bottle to reinforce the message of going green.

    December:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Daping Hope School, China

    With lessons, games, books and willing hands, CapitaLand volunteers brave a chilly winter in the mountains to bring warmth to the children of CapitaLand Daping Hope School in Guangdong Province, China. In 2012, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) donated RMB400, 000 to the school to build canteen and a dormitory. Going beyond donations, 55 volunteers including staff from China, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam as well as community volunteers spent five meaningful days at the school during the CapitaLand International Volunteer Expedition in December 2014. Volunteers came with expertise and experience to conduct a gamut of enrichment classes for the children including music and dance, art and craft, and health and nutrition lessons as well as a day of fun and games and home visits. They also painted wall murals and brightened up stairways for the students. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    For a Better Tomorrow

    November:
    CapitaLand Volunteer Day, Singapore

    250 senior management and staff volunteers from the CapitaLand Group in Singapore took time off work to participate in our second CapitaLand Volunteer Day (CVD) on Friday. They devoted more than 2,000 man-hours through Volunteer Service Leave - paid leave for staff to do volunteer work. Together, CapitaLand staff volunteers reached out to 150 underprivileged children, a 3-fold increase from 2013. They carried out “makeover” refurbishment works at 2 children’s homes, Melrose Home and PERTAPIS Children’s Home, and 16 residential units of underprivileged families with children. Ms Chew Weiting, a second-time CVD staff volunteer, said: “CVD is a meaningful and enriching event where we can make a difference and bring happiness to families who need a helping hand. Seeing the beneficiaries with tears of joy at CVD 2013 made me feel contented and eager to contribute to this worthy cause again.”

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Spreading More Love this Volunteer Day

    November:
    My Schoolbag, Singapore

    In Singapore, My Schoolbag programme partners with five Community Development Councils (CDCs) for the fourth consecutive year to benefit 1,000 children from low-income families. The children were each given S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers to shop for schoolbags, as well as other school and daily necessities at a CapitaMall located in their CDC districts – namely The Star Vista in North East, Westgate in South West, Bedok Mall in South East, Junction 8 in Central Singapore and Lot One Shoppers’ Mall in North West. During their outings to the CapitaMalls, the children were also treated to lunch and entertainment, including a ventriloquist performance imbued with environmental protection messages. 451 staff volunteers and 220 student volunteers interacted with the schoolchildren.

    November:
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Xiecun Hope School, China

    On 15 November 2014, 33 staff volunteers from CapitaLand China’s eastern region convened at Hangzhou to journey to CapitaLand Xiecun Hope School in Lishui City of Zhejiang province, to conduct a volunteer expedition. CapitaLand Hope Foundation funded the purchase of new paints to do paintworks and library chairs, so the school environment would be enhanced. In addition, the volunteer team brought schoolbags, thermal flasks, uniforms and books to benefit 264 underprivileged students. Over a few days of expedition, the volunteers constructed reading room and painted a large wall mural with cheerful design. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story (in Chinese),
    Building for Tomorrow•Drawing the Future

    September:
    My Schoolbag, China

    Into its fifth year in China, the My Schoolbag programme gave out new schoolbags to about 16,000 children in over 200 schools nationwide, including 22 CapitaLand Hope Schools; and the staff volunteers conducted volunteer activities with . Cai Lesheng, General Manager of CapitaMall Yuhuating and CapitaMall Taohualun, has been volunteering with the programme every year since it started. No matter how difficult the journey has been to reach the children, every encounter he has had with them has been meaningful. “This year, we travelled more than 600 kilometres in heavy rain and fog over rugged, mountainous terrain to reach the children in Xinhua County, Loudi City in Hunan Province. Some of these children have been left behind by their parents. Their schools lack qualified teachers. Some schools don’t even have classrooms. The children face such dismal conditions, yet they display such cheerfulness and fortitude,” shared Cai.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    A Bag Full of Happiness and Hope

    August:
    My Singapore Fundraising Concert

    Held at The Star Theatre, My Singapore 2014: “Moments of Love” Fund Raising Charity Concert was a charged night of song and dance, and giving. CHF pledged to match dollar-for-dollar the proceeds raised from the concert for children charities of President’s Challenge 2014. With a total of S$100,000 raised and CHF’s pledge, a S$200,000 cheque donation was presented by Director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, Mr James Koh Cher Siang, to Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the concert. 4 talented CapitaLand staff volunteers joined in the meaningful concert by performing two songs: a piece written by staff volunteer Crystal Deng, titled ‘Song of Hope’, and a cover of the classic ‘Stand By Me’.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Building For Tomorrow

    August:
    P.E.E.K @ The Star Vista

    On the same day when My Singapore Fundraising Concert was held, CHF hosted the Providing Educational Exposure for Kids event (P.E.E.K) for more than 30 children beneficiaries from Beyond Social Services at The Star Vista shopping mall. P.E.E.K is an educational tour for underprivileged children. 30 staff volunteers led the tour and explained CapitaLand properties’ eco-friendly features. Some of them even brought their children – nine in total – to join in the fun. Besides witnessing rainwater irrigation, the kids were also presented demonstrations on using the escalator safely and reducing light and water usage for efficiency. They also learnt about NEWater air coolers that help provide natural ventilation for the mall.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Building For Tomorrow

     

    June:
    CapitaLand Volunteer Day, Shanghai/ Beijing/ Chengdu/ Guangzhou/ Wuhan, China

    CapitaLand ‘Building for Tomorrow • Walk for Hope’ experiential charity walk was held on 28 June 2014 as the first CapitaLand Volunteer Day in China. More than 3,000 participants comprising government officials, CapitaLand’s senior management and staff, celebrities, business associates and community volunteers played their part for charity and endured ‘hardship challenges’ in the two-hour, 10-kilometre charity walk. Participants carried weights, wore blindfolds, kept silent and balanced on one foot during the charity walk to experience and empathise the daily challenges faced by underprivileged children who walk several kilometres to school every day carrying heavy schoolbags or are physically impaired. Participants were also encouraged to load their backpacks with food, necessities and educational materials which were collected at the end of the walk and donated to students of CapitaLand Hope Schools in China. CHF donates RMB200 (about S$40) for every participant who completes the walk. About S$100,000 was raised to be channelled to the education, healthcare and shelter needs of underprivileged children in China.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Take a Walk in Another’s Shoes

    June:
    Volunteer Visit to Doi Wiengpa Pitaya School, Chiang Rai, Thailand

    Ascott organises humanitarian trip to improve the lives of underprivileged children in Thailand. The Ascott Limited, CHF and iCare Thailand Foundation have together provided school dormitory furniture to needy students at Doi Wiengpa Pitaya school in the Chiang Rai province of Northern Thailand. 84 new bunk beds, sheets, mattresses and individual storage boxes to store clothing have been donated to the school. Jean Keijdener, Country General Manager for Thailand, Ascott said: ‘We are delighted our contributions will help and support by creating better living conditions for those children in poverty. The improved dormitories allow boys and girls who live too far away the opportunity to attend school. More education could lead these children to a healthier life and a better chance for a brighter future.’ Besides the dormitory furniture donation, Ascott’s staff and iCare Thailand Foundation’s team also visited the Doi Wiengpa Pitaya school, played games, helped set up the new beds for the children and presented some boxes of milk and snacks to all the children.

    May:
    Volunteer Expedition to Tabontabon Central School, Philippines

    Within days of the Super Typhoon Haiyan disaster in November 2013, The Ascott Limited in the Philippines stepped in to raise funds through its serviced residences in the country. With support from CHF, the philanthropic arm of Ascott’s parent company, PHP1.87 million (S$53,622.25) was raised for World Vision Philippines’relief and rehabilitation work in the affected areas. More was to come. CHF partnered with World Vision Philippines to build three new classrooms for Tabontabon Central School, providing not just funds but labour as well. From 28 May to 1 June 2014, 42 CapitaLand staff from the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore came together and spent five days helping to rebuild the school which has nearly 900 students.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    Reaching Out in Times of Need

    March: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Tiantouyong Hope School, Guangdong, China

    Staff volunteers paid another visit to CapitaLand Tiantouyong Hope School, Guangdong on 21 March 2014 to celebrate the completion of the school with a ceremony. The district official, CapitaLand and the charity partner’s management member officiated the ceremony. The rebuilding of the school started in July last year and was completed in late November. CapitaLand also donated more than 150 sets of school uniforms. A volunteer programme was rolled out after the ceremony to interact with the schoolchildren.

    March: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Kongjiafang Hope School, Hubei, China

    On 10 March 2014, CapitaLand staff organised a volunteer visit titled CapitaLand ‘Building for Tomorrow•Hand in Hand for Happiness’ to the CapitaLand Kongjiafang Hope School in celebration of completion of the main school building donated by CHF. The school was deemed unsafe for use after a torrential rain struck in July 2013. A new school building was completed in late 2013 to provide a safe and enhanced study environment for more than 325 students. During construction, the students studied at other nearby premises, and they were delighted to return to the new school building. The students received new sports bag, table tennis tables, basketball frames and learning materials donated by the company. The volunteers held a Spring sports day, and played tug-of-war and ball games with the schoolchildren.

    January: 
    Volunteer Visit to Beijing Fengtai Hospital, China

    Following the completion of the first phase, CHF (China) embarked on second phase of CapitaLand Therapy for Children Project with a partnership with China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and China Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities on 26 December 2013. Under this collaboration, CHF (China) will support 50 underprivileged with physical disabilities from Chongqing and Hubei Provinces to receive surgery and therapy in Beijing. Staff volunteers visited 21 of the Phase 2 beneficiaries in Beijing Fengtai Hospital along with celebrity ambassador of the project on 27 January 2014. They sent over new year presents, warm clothings and well wishes. The children beneficiaries shared their post-treatment feelings with the staff volunteers. The treatment process is on-going for the children.

  • 2013

    December: 
    Volunteer Visit to Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, China

    On 30 December 2013, 11 CapitaLand staff volunteers organised a volunteer visit to the Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital to interact with the last batch of CapitaLand Therapy for Children Project Phase 1 children beneficiaries who would be discharged by January 2014. Since the start of the programme, CapitaLand staff have been visiting the beneficiaries regularly to understand their recovery progress and give them encouragement. Volunteers brought along small presents to warm the hearts of the children and had fun with them and their parents at an end-of-year party to celebrate their recovery.

     

    December: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School, Guangdong, China

    On 20 December 2013, about 40 volunteers from CapitaLand, media and public joined in a volunteer visit named “CapitaLand Building for Tomorrow -- Safety Education Activity” to Guangdong’s CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School. During the visit funded by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (China), volunteers produced a guidebook to teach about 280 schoolchildren the safety in daily life, which ranges from traffic safety, sports injury precaution to food safety. The topics embodied CapitaLand’s focus in ensuring a safe environment and healthy well-being for everyone in the workplace. The children were beaming at the end of the engagement session.

    December: 
    Volunteer Event "My Schoolbag", Malaysia, Japan and India

    In December 2013, My Schoolbag took place in Malaysia, Japan and India. 150 staff volunteers in Malaysia, 37 staff volunteers in India, and 12 staff volunteers in Japan reached out to about 1,250 underprivileged schoolchildren to provide them with school and daily necessity items. In CapitaLand’s shopping mall in India, an eye-check was conducted for each child beneficiary to ensure their eyesight is in good condition to embrace the new school year.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Bagging a Brand New Beginning"

    November: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Xiecun Hope School, Zhejiang, China

    On 9 November 2013, CapitaLand China galvanised more than 20 home owners, community volunteers and media from the East China region to participate in a three days volunteer expedition alongside with CapitaLand staff volunteers. Students of CapitaLand Xiecun Hope School, Zhejiang, learnt enrichment lessons from the volunteers. The volunteers also held a sports day and decorated the school canteen for the school beneficiaries. Since the Hope School was completed in late 2012, this is the first volunteer expedition held by school donor CapitaLand. CapitaLand Hope Foundation (China) donated sports equipment and lunchboxes with the wish of strengthening the children’s health.

    November:
    Volunteer Expedition to Jihong Village in Tiantaishan Town, Sichuan, China

    In the Sichuan Province of China, CapitaLand donated S$100,000 and partnered Habitat for Humanity to provide disaster relief for children and their families affected by the devastating earthquake in April 2013. In support of “4.20 Sichuan Post-earthquake Rebuilding Project”, about 57 staff volunteers from Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam participated in a four days international volunteer expedition to construct safe homes that can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.0-magnitude around Tiantaishan Town. Staff volunteers applied their real estate expertise and skills at the worksite. This community project is of great significance to the company and demonstrates its duty to contribute to the communities it operates in.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Rebuilding with Love, Building for Tomorrow"

    November:
    Volunteer Event "CapitaLand Volunteer Day" Home Improvement Programme, Singapore

    200 CapitaLand staff volunteers took part in the inaugural CapitaLand Volunteer Day where they helped to improve the living environment of 20 needy families. The full-day volunteer initiative served the objective of providing a better living environment, including a conducive study area, will help boost the children’s desire to learn and their confidence to realise their full potential. It was a key event in the series of community development activities rolled out over the months of October and November to commemorate the Group’s 13th anniversary.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "V is for Volunteer"

    November:
    My Schoolbag, Singapore

    More than 500 CapitaLand staff and community volunteers accompanied 750 children on the fun-filled outings at The Star Vista, Junction 8, Tampines Mall, IMM Building and Lot One Shoppers’ Mall in Singapore as part of the My Schoolbag programme. All the children beneficiaries received a new schoolbag, school shoes, stationery and some household essentials to start the next school year. They also received S$20 worth of CapitaVouchers to do their own shopping. Other than a delightful shopping experience, the children were entertained with magic show, dance-exercise and an educational green-theme drama skit.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Bagging a Brand New Beginning"

    October:
    Volunteer Event "Kids' Food Fund Junior Chef Cooking Competition", Singapore

    On Children’s Day, over 100 children beneficiaries from Singapore’s five Community Development Councils (CDCs) were at a food-themed party to launch CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s Kids’ Food Fund 2013. The highlight of the party was the Kids’ Food Fund Junior Chef Cooking Competition with CapitaLand staff volunteers teaching the children to cook and eat healthily. Eight teams of three children took part in the healthy cooking contest where they had to prepare a two-course meal created by the volunteers that was simple to make, yummy to eat and good for the body. Some children have no one to prepare healthy meals for them at home. Under Kids’ Food Fund, 1,000 underprivileged children will receive healthier meals in 2014; the fund is administered by the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) through their outreach partners, which include primary and secondary schools, student care centres, family service centres and grassroots organisations.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Healthy, Happy Meals"

    September: 
    CapitaLand Celebrates Giant Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia's Birthdays, Singapore

    To celebrate Kai Kai and Jia Jia’s birthdays and their one-year anniversary in Singapore, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand), the Presenting Sponsor and Conservation Donor of the Giant Panda Collaborative Programme, threw a big panda party for them at the River Safari on 6 September 2013, with a specially-made cake and toy for the birthday duo. Children from CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s 10-year CapitaKids programme also joined in the fun at today’s panda party! Four of the CapitaKids, ushered by their CapitaLand staff mentors, had an unforgettable opportunity to join the distinguished guests on stage for the cake-cutting ceremony and sang a birthday song.

    September: 
    My Schoolbag, Vietnam

    CapitaLand Vietnam organised a volunteer trip on 6 September 2013 to its first CapitaLand Hope School in the country, CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School.  35 CapitaLand and The Ascott Limited volunteers including CapitaLand Vietnam’s board members, senior management and staff visited the school and joined in the New School Year ceremony with teachers and students at the school.  To mark the start of a new school year, CapitaLand Vietnam gave out schoolbags and stationery to all the 170 students at the school.  This event is part of the My Schoolbag programme supported by CapitaLand Hope Foundation.

    September: 
    My Schoolbag, China

    CapitaMalls Asia launched the 2013 My Schoolbag China at Beijing’s CapitaMall Taiyanggong on 2 September 2013.  Under the programme, over 19,000 underprivileged 1st-grade pupils from more than 200 schools in 21 provinces and autonomous regions received their first set of schoolbag and school necessities in their learning journeys, including pupils from 19 CapitaLand Hope Schools.  New launches include Zhengzhou, Suzhou and Hohhot. This year’s programme is organised by CapitaMalls Asia and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), with funding from CapitaLand Hope Foundation (China).  My Schoolbag is CMA’s signature annual corporate social responsibility programme which has been carried out in China for four consecutive years.  Including this year’s beneficiaries, the programme has benefited more than 64,000 first-grade students in China. 

    August: 
    Volunteer Donation Drive for CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School, Inner Mongolia, China

    CapitaLand China and The Ascott Limited in North China region organised “A Gift of Love to Warm the Heart” winter clothes donation drive in Beijing and Tianjin.  More than 500 pieces of winter wear were collected from residents of serviced residences and CapitaLand staff for 330 schoolchildren at CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School in Inner Mongolia.  Volunteers spent time to sort, arrange, clean and pack 350 pieces of warm clothing into big bags, which were delivered to the school by land transport.  Thanks to the generosity of the donors, about 80% of the donated clothes were new. 

    May: 
    Children’s Day volunteer event at CapitaMall TianjinOne, China

    CapitaMalls Asia invited 15 children from CapitaLand Tianpingzhuang Hope School in Jixian County, Tianjin city to experience an interesting and memorable International Children's Day at CapitaMall TianjinOne together with more than 10 staff volunteers from the shopping mall on 31 May 2013. It was the second time volunteers got together with children from CapitaLand Tianpingzhuang Hope School since the school was established in 2012.

    May: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Donghua Hope School, Sichuan, China

    A group of 30 volunteers from media, community and CapitaLand China staff visited CapitaLand Donghua Hope School in Zigong on 24 May 2013 for an activity under the theme of “Building for Tomorrow – Growing Safely and Happily”. Volunteers brought emergency supplies such as tents and first-aid packets, which were sponsored by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (China), to the school and the children. In addition, a teacher gave the children a lesson on earthquake, and taught them how to protect themselves in an earthquake through interaction and scene simulation

    Read More

    April:
    Volunteer Expedition to GK Tanay Rizal Community Village, Manila, Philippines

    CapitaLand organised an international staff volunteer expedition to assist the children community at Tanay, Rizal located in Manila; the project was supported by Philippines-based community development foundation - Gawad Kalinga (GK). 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Japan sweated their guts out to help build houses for the community comprising about 300 children, who were left homeless after Typhoon Ondoy struck in September 2009. Staff volunteers also engaged the local children by planning interactive learning sessions to provide them with an opportunity to acquire new knowledge. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Beating the Heat to Build a Warm Home"

    March: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ Bugis+, Singapore

    40 CHF children beneficiaries from FaithActs, The Salvation Army Gracehaven, and CapitaLand's own 10-year mentorship programme CapitaKids Programme visited the newly refurbished Bugis+ for a P.E.E.K educational tour of the mall. 10 children of CapitaLand staff also joined in the fun. 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers were on hand to host the children at this 13th P.E.E.K. tour since this bi-annual event kickstarted in 2007. The hot topic of the day was a fire safety talk with fire fighting demonstration; and the day ended with a behind-the-scenes tour of Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT) on level 7 of of Bugis+. Having a tenant like SDT is part of CapitaLand’s efforts to integrate community facilities within malls under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Community/Sports Facilities Scheme.

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Kids Go Behind-the Scenes of Hip, Chill-out Joint"

    February: 
    CapitaLand Therapy for Children Project, Beijing, China

    In the afternoon of 1 February 2013, 9 CapitaLand staff volunteers spent one day making their rounds amongst the children at the Beijing Rehabilitation Centre, and visited 3 children beneficiaries of CapitaLand Therapy for Children Project. Before meeting them, the volunteers met with the medical staff and were thoroughly briefed on how to interact with children with disabilities and how to assist them if the need arose. One of the cheerful children, who is recovering from polio, performed for the volunteers in good spirit. Her mother shared that her daughter is able to walk around a wall and tie shoelaces on her own after rehabilitation. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Child-like Hope"

  • 2012

    December:
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School, Guangdong, China

    40 volunteers, comprising teachers, media professionals and CapitaLand staff, showed love for the children and the environment at CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School, warming hearts in the winter cold. The volunteer visit is themed “Love for Hope, Green for Future”—CapitaLand Hope School Environmental Education Programme. Be it Children’s Day or Teachers’ Day, or simply at a seemingly regular day, the CapitaLand China team would organise activities and visits to the school, providing educational support and donations to the children. This year, the volunteers introduced eco-protection concepts to the children through creativity and interactive learning. CapitaLand Hope Foundation donated 350 sets of school uniforms to the school during the visit. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Turning Up Warmth with Love"

    December:
    CapitaMalls Asia “Love in Tiantouyou”, China

    CapitaMalls Asia (China) South region team organised a visit to their adopted school, CapitaLand Tiantouyong Hope School, located in Guangdong province, during the Christmas season to bring warmth to the underprivileged schoolchildren. Together with 38 corporate volunteers, they brought materials which the school was in great need of, including stationery, 220 sets of brand new school desks and chairs, seven lecture podiums, two table tennis tables, and other sports equipment. To make our interaction with the kids more exciting and engaging, our volunteers assembled the school children and conducted a fun mini-sports competition based on age and grade 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Love Never Ends"

    November: 
    My Schoolbag, Singapore

    1,000 children from low-income families were each given a new schoolbag and CapitaVouchers, worth a total of S$150, to shop for their daily and school necessities at Tampines Mall, Bugis+, JCube, Bukit Panjang Plaza and Funan DigitaLife Mall. During their shopping trip, the children were accompanied by some 600 volunteers made up of staff from CapitaLand, CapitaMalls Asia, as well as students from Innova Junior College, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central, ITE College East and Millennia Institute. Lunch and entertainment activities were provided for the children to make their outing to the shopping malls more memorable. My Schoolbag will also took place in Malaysia, Japan and India in December 2012 and January 2013, benefitting an estimated 1,000 children in these countries.

    November: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ Giant Panda Forest, Singapore

    50 children beneficiaries from Infant Jesus Homes and Children's Centres (IJHCC) and Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD @ Tampines) had been invited to the event that included some 200 guests and the guest-of-honour, President Tony Tan Keng Yam. All the guests were treated to an exclusive preview of the giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia in their new 1,500-square-metre home as part of Because iCare – Kai Kai and Jia Jia Charity Drive in support of President’s Challenge . The children were given a guided, educational tour as part of CapitaLand's P.E.E.K programme and learnt about wildlife conservation, bio-diversity and the importance of environmental protection through interactive quiz sessions. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Bear-ing Gifts for the Season"

    November: 
    Volunteer Expedition to SOS Children’s Village, Jakarta, Indonesia

    SOS Children’s Village is a foster home with a difference. Located in Cibubur on the outskirts of Jakarta, it takes in abandoned children and orphans. These children are placed in group homes so they can experience family life. There are 15 houses each with five to 12 children of different races, religions and backgrounds. In all, the village cares for 137 children and also runs a kindergarten for the children and those in the neighbourhood. Since 2010, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) has been partnering Ascott International Management Indonesia (AIMI) to support the educational needs of the children at the village. Together, they pay for their school fees and educational materials like textbooks and stationery. They have also sponsored an outdoor multi-purpose court. Apart from financial help, CHF also extends care to the community through group-wide volunteer expeditions as part of their ‘Building People’ credo. This year, 28 CapitaLand employees spent five days at SOS Children’s Village, immersing themselves in the activities and lives of the community there. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "A Vacation Well Spent"

    October: 
    Kids’ Food Fund Junior Chef Cooking Competition, Singapore

    30 children beneficiaries from Food from the Heart were selected to take part in the competition as a way of celebrating Children’s Day. The children were divided into 10 teams with each led by a CapitaLand staff volunteer. The teams had befitting yummy names such as Team Marshmallows’ and ‘Team Hotcakes’. The children beamed with pride as they presented their winning creations to the panel of judges, including ToTT volunteer chef Vivian Pei. “With CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s continued support, the children can continue to receive their nutritious food supplies. I believe the nutritious food supplies will not only lighten their family’s financial burden, but also provide the children with adequate nutrition to help them in schools and grow to their potential,” said Mr Anson Quek, Executive Director of Food from the Heart. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Super Junior Chefs"

    September: 
    My Schoolbag, China

    In China, CapitaMalls Asia donated new schoolbags and stationery to nearly 19,000 underprivileged children from over 200 schools in 19 provinces and autonomous regions, including students from 14 CapitaLand Hope Schools. The company also gave schools 13,000 books suitable for children from grades one to three. Making an additional difference in this year’s programme, CapitaMalls Asia galvanised more than 100 volunteers from the retailers at its malls to participate in the programme, alongside 650 CapitaLand and CapitaMalls Asia staff volunteers. Further highlighting the role of CapitaMalls as anchors in the communities they serve, shoppers signed greeting cards at counters set up at the malls to send words of encouragement and well wishes to the underprivileged children.

    June: 
    Volunteer Visit to CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School, Inner Mongolia, China

    On 28 June 2012, staff volunteers from CapitaLand visited schoolchildren of CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School in Horqin grassland again, since the first volunteer expedition was conducted in October 2011. Organised by CapitaLand China and sponsored by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (China), volunteers taught enrichment class on drinking water safety, and donated 2 hot water dispensers and 340 thermal water bottles to the school. Some students complained they had stomach upsets after drinking cold water from the well in the cold season. Residents from 12 of The Ascott Limited properties in north China donated over 1,000 children's books and 300 electronic dictionaries. 

    Read More

    June: 
    CapitaLand Family Day, Singapore

    53 CapitaLand employees volunteered to host children beneficiaries from CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) at the CapitaLand Family Day. Held at Jurong Bird Park on 23 June (Saturday), the annual event was aptly named, Wings of Adventure. As part of the CapitaLand’s Because iCare efforts, its definition of “family” goes beyond just its employees and their families at Family Day. It also includes the community at large. That community was made up of the 35 children and teens from TOUCH Young Arrows’ Geylang Bahru and Queenstown centres, and another 10 children from the new 10-year mentoring scheme, CapitaKids Programme. After the volunteer activity, Goh Geok Pei from The Ascott Limited said, "I enjoyed the time with my child guest who is a cheerful and adorable girl. I am looking forward to volunteer for other events in future. " 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    "Family Day Takes Flight on Wings of Adventure"

    June:
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ JCube, Singapore

    Over 100 beneficiaries of the Green for Hope @ CapitaLand programme went on a P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) excursion to CapitaLand’s latest family shopping, dining and entertainment destination, JCube. While on the P.E.E.K tour, the children will learn more about JCube, a Green Mark Platinum mall’s green features and how they, too, can go green in their daily lives. JCube has numerous eco-friendly features and was awarded Green Mark Platinum, the highest green accolade, by the Building and Construction Authority. To promote family cohesion, the P.E.E.K event was also open to staff and their children. Over 50 staff volunteers across 7 Singapore business units signed up to volunteer; the call for volunteers was met with an overwhelming response. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story, “Fostering Family Fun”

    May:
    Volunteer Expedition to CapitaLand Longdong Hope School, Sichuan, China

    During this four-day expedition, staff volunteers worked hard to set up a reading room, paint the wall murals, categorise 10,000 books in the library and scan the titles into the barcode system. They also decorated the school canteen with interesting notice boards and wall stickers. CHF sponsored new reading tables and chairs for the reading room as well as new dining sets for the canteen and new bookshelves for the library. Among the 36 staff volunteers who went to the CapitaLand Longdong Hope School were six media volunteers. Music and arts graduate Crystal Deng, Housekeeping Supervisor, Somerset Orchard Singapore, composed the tune and wrote the lyrics for a song entitled, “Song of Hope”, for the children of CapitaLand Longdong Hope School in Sichuan. The song was sung by the volunteers as part of the Children’s Day performance during the volunteer expedition. 

    Read about the volunteers’ stories, “Keeping Dreams Alive” and 
    A Corporate Family with Talents”

     

    April:
    CapitaKids Mentorship Programme, Singapore

    Staff volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time as a CapitaKids Programme (CKP) Mentor get to work alongside social workers to provide support, care and counsel to the 10 CapitaKids. As pivotal links between the company and the CapitaKids, these mentors were duly trained to be prepared for long term commitment as it takes time to develop the trust in the mentorship. As the CapitaKids come from different family backgrounds, staff applicants were invited to attend focus group sessions where H.E.L.P Family Service Centre conducted a screening before confirming the mentorship. Upon confirmation, CKP Mentors attended a half-day social worker training programme. CKP mentors will host the CapitaKids at the Group’s various activities such as P.E.E.K event and hold regularly meet-up sessions to bond with each other. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story, “Fostering Family Fun”

    January: 
    CapitaMalls Asia “Love in Lianjiao”, China

    CapitaMalls Asia (CMA) organised a charity campaign titled “Love in Lianjiao” to raise funds to buy much needed equipment for students of CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School. This initiative is the result of continued effort by CMA South China office to constantly engage CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School since 2009. The campaign received positive response and fellow colleagues donated S$10,000 (RMB 49,221.90) cash, 2 notebook computers, 3 sets of clothes, 2 books and an album. 33 staff volunteers travelled from Guangzhou city to Qing Yuan county of Guangzhou province to deliver the presents and interact with the children for a day. The interactive activities include games and singing.

  • 2011

    December: 
    Kids’ Food Fund volunteer expedition to Oras West Central Elementary School, East Samar, Philippines

    10 staff volunteers from The Ascott Limited in Philippines went on a volunteer expedition to teach schoolchildren beneficiaries of Kids’ Food Fund programme. In order to enable the children to be independent, volunteers taught them cooking skills, personal hygiene (through handwashing and toothbrushing demonstration) and gardening. In addition, volunteers gave the children a medical and dental check-up. The cheque presentation held at the end of the last day brought the three-day expedition to a close. 

    December: 
    Kids' Food Fund volunteer activity at Chun Hua County in Shaanxi province, China

    12 CapitaLand staff volunteers from The Ascott Limited in Xi'an visited and spent time to interact with schoolchildren in Xi'an which received support from the CapitaLand Kids' Food Fund programme. The school was one of the 14 schools in Shan'xi province that the programme reached out to. The school representatives received donations pledged by CHF during a cheque presentation ceremony held on 28 December 2011. A total of 6,725 school children and a further 13,250 community members benefited from micronutrient fortified food donated through this philanthropy programme.

    November:
    My Schoolbag, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Japan

    About 500 CapitaLand staff volunteers from CapitaMalls Asia and CapitaLand accompanied close to 2,000 underprivileged children in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Japan to shop for new schoolbags and school necessities using CapitaVouchers in November 2011. As the children warmed up to the volunteers, they shared stories of school life and nuggets of family life with the volunteers. Amidst chatter, jokes and impromptu games, the children could barely hide their excitement on what items to pick at the shopping malls. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story, 
    “My Schoolbag Brings New Start in Life to Many More”

    November:
    Christmas Light-up Party at ION Orchard, Singapore

    Where everyone waited out in the streets of Orchard for the Christmas lights to come up, the team at ION Orchard hosted a Christmas Light-up Party for 30 children beneficiaries from KK Hospital Health Endowment Fund ("KKHHEF") and their families in conjunction with Orchard Road's official Christmas Light-Up. They were the first group to experience ION Orchard's majestic 20-metre walk-in Christmas tree which came with an observatory deck that was built 10 metres above the ground. KKHHEF is also the beneficiary of CapitaLand S.E.N.D. for Hope e-card campaign 2011.

    Read about the volunteers’ story, 
    “Innovative Festive Cheers at ION Orchard Light Up Lives”

    October:
    Volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Xingfuzhilu Hope School, Inner Mongolia, China

    The expedition titled "Building for Tomorrow•Sharing the Love" involved a team of 28 CapitaLand staff from Singapore, Vietnam and China who spent 2 weeks from 9 to 21 October 2011 to teach 226 primary school students of Chinese and Mongolian descendent English, Vietnamese dance, movie appreciation and photography. The students also had a go at orchid painting, tile painting, kite painting and kite flying, and participated in a camp fire and Sports Day organised by the volunteers. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Strength in Adversity”

    October:
    Kids' Food Fund Children's Day excursion at Singapore Zoo, Singapore

    About 100 underprivileged children, aged seven to 12 years old from from Xishan Primary School, Boon Lay Garden Primary School and Jamiyah Children's Home, were led by 35 CapitaLand staff volunteers as they happily trotted down Singapore Zoo on Children's Day which fell on 7 October 2011. They were in for a fun-filled half-day educational food trail and watched an entertaining live performance at the Splash Safari by Philip the Seal. They also learnt about animal's food nutrition during Dr Ooz's Wild Kitchen presentation. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “A Heartfelt Zoo-per Good Time”

    September: 
    Volunteer expedition to Nang Yen Primary Hope School, Pho Thu, Vietnam

    The expedition from 25 to 30 September 2011 aimed to build CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School in Pho Thu province, Vietnam involved 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers from CapitaLand's offices in Vietnam, Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and the Philippines. In unity, they completed the final phase of the new school's refurbishments, which included manually paving walkway to loosening the soil for landscaping. The volunteers also spent half-a-day playing sports with 165 students and taught them enrichment lessons. Before the end of expedition, they also visited some of the students' homes. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Coming Together in Hope”

    September: 
    My Schoolbag, China

    The programme kicked off in China in September 2011 where schoolbags and stationery were contributed to more than 17,000 underprivileged Primary One children from over 200 schools in 17 provinces and autonomous regions. A record of 462 staff volunteers from CapitaMalls Asia (China) participated in the programme this year; they visited the schools and spent the day interacting with the schoolchildren beneficiaries. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Carriers of Love and Hope”

    July:
    Green for Hope @ Primary Schools roadshows, Singapore

    To kick start the fourth run of the Green for Hope @ Primary Schools 2011, a group of about 30 CapitaLand staff volunteers conducted roadshows at six primary schools (Bukit View Primary, Edgefield Primary, Eunos Primary, Nan Chiau Primary, Nanhua Primary and Seng Kang Primary) from 25 to 27 July 2011 to raise awareness of the Green for Hope project and reinforce the adage of 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This year, about 30 CapitaLand staff volunteers produced a video to drive home the message instead of putting up the usual live skit at the roadshows. On top of the cast of seven volunteers, there were three video and costumes crew recruited to bring the production to fruition. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “CapitaLand Staff Try Their Hand at Movie-making For the Environment and Charity”

    April:
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ ION Orchard, Singapore

    Under the guidance of 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers, over 90 children from five primary schools were given a behind-the-scene P.E.E.K tour of ION Orchard on 20 April 2011, introducing them to facilities such as the electronic parking guidance system, the green wall, carbon monoxide sensors and tap sensors. The inquisitive children awed at these green features and it is this satisfaction of education a new generation that keeps CapitaLand staff Melvin Song volunteering every year. He said, "I have two boys of my own, I find it so meaningful to be involved in this way." 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “CapitaLand Hope Foundation Reaches Out to Underprivileged Children Islandwide”

  • 2010

    November:
    My Schoolbag, Singapore

    Some 300 CapitaMalls Asia and CapitaLand staff volunteered to accompany 1,000 underprivileged children to purchase school and daily necessities with vouchers sponsored by CapitaMalls Asia and CHF. Receiving a new schoolbag, school shoes and stationery proves to be a financial relief for low-income families. A staff volunteer Eileen Lee, who volunteered in My Schoolbag 2009 and 2010, shared her sentiments, “It was a very meaningful event and it really touched my heart to see the children beneficiaries smile with joy when they received all these things to get ready for school.” 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Spreading the Seasons Joy With My Schoolbag”

    September:
    Kid’s Food Fund nature excursion at Pulau Ubin, Singapore

    On 16 September 2010, the pandan valley along the sensory trail in Pulau Ubin was filled with the laughter and footsteps of 30 underprivileged children led by volunteer nature guides and 20 CapitaLand staff volunteers. These children beneficiaries from Xishan Primary School and Boon Lay Garden Primary School received food goodie bags sponsored by CHF every month; they got a chance to see where the ingredients that are commonly used in food came from on the trail. Staff volunteer Serene Lee even went around giving out hearts she specially made from plastic straws, she said, “This heart represents love, I wanted to show that somebody cares for them in this world, and hope that it will make them strong.” 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Experience Nature’s Gifts”

    September: 
    My Schoolbag, China

    For the first time, “My Schoolbag” programme was held in China from 1 to 13 September 2010, which signified the start of the country’s new school year. Across 129 schools in 18 cities, more than 10,000 underprivileged first-year primary school pupils received new schoolbags containing stationery. Children beneficiaries in China could hardly contain their excitement when they received the bags full of love and warmth from CapitaLand staff volunteers. This was made possible with CMA’s donation of S$190,000, in partnership with the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund. The programmes in Singapore and China were made possible with funding of S$300,000 in total from CHF. 

    August: 
    CapitaLand Vietnam visits Library for the Blind

    CapitaLand staff volunteers based in Vietnam took the initiative to organise a visit to the Library for the Blind and spent a day to do sing-along sessions with the underprivileged children, showing them care and love and encouraging them to work hard in their studies. CapitaLand Vietnam donated 15,000 cassette tapes for the Audio Book department of the library with the hope that the visually-impaired children will have an opportunity to receive their education despite their special needs. 

    June: 
    CapitaLand “Hand in Hand 20.10—Kids Expo Galore” education trip at Wilkie Edge, Singapore

    90 CapitaLand staff volunteers in Singapore celebrated International Children’s Day on 1 June 2010 by bringing the Shanghai World Expo 2010 visitor experience to Singapore for 200 underprivileged children. Kids’ Expo Galore is an interactive learning trail which aims to inspire the children’s imagination and creativity. The event is part of CapitaLand “Hand in Hand 20.10” CSR campaign, and the learning trail features the Shanghai World Expo, the Singapore Pavilion, CapitaLand Hope Schools and a Giant Panda Zone. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Art of Linking”

    May – August: 
    CapitaLand “Hand in Hand 20.10” expedition to Shanghai World Expo, China

    Together with CHF, CapitaLand launched the “Hand in Hand 20.10” campaign, where staff volunteers brought 2,010 underprivileged children from all over China to visit World Expo in Shanghai to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the company’s inception and 20 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. The aim of the campaign is to inspire these underprivileged children to hope for a better life in future. The children, most of whom have never travelled out of their own provinces, will get a chance to “see the world” and learn about different cultures when they visit the various country pavilions. The underprivileged children come from various CapitaLand Hope Schools and children nominated by the CCYL Shanghai Committee. The expedition was held in 4 tours from May to August, each tour itinerary is about 3 days. In view of the large number of volunteers needed, CapitaLand recruited public volunteers at booths set up at over 100 CapitaLand properties across 40 Chinese cities. All the public and staff volunteers were given training to provide round-the-clock care for the children as they stayed, toured and dined together. CapitaLand is an official supporting partner of the Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Awed by the World”

    March: 
    Muhammadiyah Welfare Home Facility Upgrade, Singapore

    26 CapitaLand staff volunteers made their way to Muhammadiyah Welfare Home (MWH) to conduct a day’s refurbishment of the library and study-cum-counseling rooms. Due to the extremely run-down conditions of its old premises, MWH had to relocate to another school building. To cover their relocation costs, CHF donated S$50,000 through the S.E.N.D. for Hope e-card campaign. MWH is a home for underprivileged children and has been gazetted as a crisis centre for children to provide food, shelter and basic needs to orphans during a national emergency in Singapore. 

    March: 
    Greening Canossaville Children’s Home, Singapore

    From 10 to 12 March 2010, CapitaLand staff volunteers implemented “greening works” at Canossaville Children’s Home (“CCH”) to make it more eco-friendly, and shared tips on caring for Mother Earth with the children. In support of Earth Hour on 27 March, more than 190 CapitaLand properties worldwide turned off their façade lights for 10 hours. To encourage and engage the public in this movement, for every pledge received to turn off lights for an hour, CHF committed S$1 donation to CCH. Close to 7000 pledges were received and as a show of goodwill, CHF topped up the donation to S$20,000 to purchase basic necessities for the children. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story, 
    “Planting The Seeds For An Earth Conscious Generation”

  • 2009

    December: 
    Green for Hope tour at Technopark @ Chai Chee, Singapore

    To celebrate the festive season, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) invited 50 underprivileged children from Moral Family Service Centre (Bedok North) to tour Technopark @ Chai Chee (TPCC), a high-tech industrial building managed by CapitaLand Commercial Management. After the tour, a party was hosted by 30 CapitaLand staff and 10 tenant volunteers, where the children played charades. Earlier in the day, staff volunteers sorted and packed goodie bag items into eco-bags and decorated the room, turning it into a party zone. These children are the beneficiaries of the “Green for Hope” project at TPCC. For every kilogramme of waste recycled by TPCC tenants from September to December 2009, CHF donated S$2 to Moral FSC (Bedok North). This was the first recycling project rolled out to a commercial property. 

    November: 
    Volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School, Guangdong, China

    16 CapitaLand staff volunteers from various strategic business units and countries participated in volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Lianjiao Hope School in Guangdong, China from 17 to 21 November 2009. Staff volunteers were tasked with refurbishing and transforming an old classroom into a library-cum-reading room for 542 students. The school, located at a mountainous region and though only about a 2 hour-drive from Guangzhou, is miles away from the comforts and convenience of city life. After a quick school tour and consultation with the school teachers upon arrival, the volunteers got down to work. The volunteers also served lunch and played with the children. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Building a Literary World”

    September: 
    P.E.E.K. (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ Clarke Quay, Singapore

    25 underprivileged children from YWCA and 35 CapitaLand staff’s children spent a fun day at Clarke Quay to learn about how Clarke Quay was transformed from a historical riverside quay into an exciting entertainment and lifestyle hub. 41 CapitaLand staff volunteers introduced the children energy-saving features such as the water fountain and “lily pad” umbrella-shaped canopy which brought temperature down, and the “blue bell” shaded alfresco dining area. The CapitaFrog boat ride piloted by CapitaLand staff volunteer highlighted the importance of keeping our waterways clean. This electric boat was commissioned for Singapore Public Utilities Board’s use in river clean-up and water awareness programmes. YMCA staff expressed their appreciation to the volunteers, “The children truly enjoyed themselves. They were sharing their experiences with us on the way back and most rated the experience full-score. “ 

    June: 
    My Schoolbag, Singapore

    200 underprivileged children from Care Corner Singapore got to shop for free at Sembawang Shopping Centre on 24 June 2009. Armed with CapitaVouchers, they bought school and living necessities in preparation for the new school term. More than 140 CapitaLand staff volunteers signed up as logistics coordinators to oversee the event while many others became personal shopping guides who took the children around retail shops to buy necessities such as school shoes, bags and water bottles etc. The children were bubbling with excitement as they carried their eco-bags which contained their new purchases. Care Corner Singapore’s senior social worker commended volunteers’ efforts, “They’ve come with a big heart of love, care and concern and I’ve personally been touched by their action towards these little ones.” 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Choice Picks for Schools”

    June: 
    Volunteer activity at Gentle Fund Organisation, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Through non-profit organisation Gentle Fund Organisation (“GFO”), CHF donated S$100,000 to help 100 underprivileged children in their living and educational expenses for 2008 and 2009. On 12 June 2009, a group of CapitaLand staff volunteers in Hanoi organised a half-day visit to five children beneficiaries’ homes. They gave each family a gift pack consisting of a schoolbag, stationery and milk. Through showing concern and interaction, the staff volunteers learnt about the children’s lives and progress in school. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, volunteer from CapitaLand Vietnam, shared, "It was not just us who were doing the giving. We learnt from the children as well, they display resilience in face of tough circumstances. ” 

    April: 
    CapitaLand Waterways Clean-Up, Singapore

    To commemorate Earth Day on 22 April 2009, 30 CapitaLand staff volunteers participated in the first Waterways Clean-up along Singapore River, CapitaLand’s adopted waterway. This green volunteer activity was held in partnership with Singapore Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Waterways Watch Society. After learning about the impact of pollution on water and global warming, the volunteers were divided into 3 groups to clean a specific area. One of the boats used for the clean-up was the CapitaFrog electric boat which CapitaLand had commissioned for PUB’s in river clean-up and water awareness programmes. The volunteers learnt at the end of the activity that all resources should be used properly and minimise wastage; it also raised their awareness to protect the environment. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Think Today, Drink Tomorrow” and
    “A Welcome Affirmation of CapitaLand’s Green Efforts”

    March: 
    P.E.E.K. (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) @ Plaza Singapura, Singapore

    Past P.E.E.K. events invited children of CapitaLand’s staff and CHF beneficiaries, for the P.E.E.K. @ Plaza Singapura event on 10 March 2009, the invitation was extended to primary schoolchildren who did well in Green for Hope @ Primary Schools programme. 120 students of Zhenghua Primary School attended the half-day event and went on an exciting tour of the mall with 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers and 5 volunteers from National University of Singapore’s Building and Estate Management Society. Plaza Singapura was the first multi-storey shopping mall to be built in Singapore in 1974, and was also the first retail mall in Singapore to be conferred ASEAN Energy Award (1st runner up) in 2007. CapitaLand Hope Foundation specially produced a P.E.E.K. learning journey booklet for the children to learn green knowledge. 

    February: 
    Green for Hope @ Primary Schools roadshows, Singapore

    CapitaLand Green for Hope @ Primary Schools programme had been sending the message of 3Rs— reduce, reuse, recycle, across to more than 11,000 primary school children in Singapore to build a greener future. About 40 CapitaLand staff volunteers performed a skit during assembly time at selected primary schools to raise awareness of green issues among children and encourage them in their recycling efforts. Staff acted out characters such as “Sick Earth”, “Healthy Earth”, “Global Warming” and “Recycling Bin” during the skit and committed their time to rehearsals after office hours before the roadshows. They also hand-made the stage props from recycled materials. 

    Read about the volunteers’ story,
    “Go Green: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”

  • 2008

    December: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ Guicheng Mall in Nanhai, Foshan, China

    Nanhai, located an hour’s drive from Guangzhou, is the third city in China where overseas P.E.E.K event was held. On 13 Dec 2008, with the help of 41 staff volunteers, P.E.E.K @ Guicheng Mall proved to be an eye-opener for 65 underprivileged children supported by Guicheng and Cancheng Women’s Federation who are invited to participate in it. Some of CapitaLand staff’s children also attended the event. The children were divided into different groups and went on an educational trail to learn about the daily operations of the mall and green features such as sensor taps in the washrooms to minimise water wastage. Simple ideas we hope to cultivate in them that will go a long way to help them become socially responsible citizens. 

    December: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ Ascott Raffles Place Singapore

    12 underprivileged children from the Infant Jesus Home & Children’s Centre, a beneficiary of CHF, went on a fun-filled discovery trail at newly retrofitted Ascott Raffles Place Singapore on 5 December 2008. Through sharing by 20 staff volunteers, the children learnt how the tallest tower in Southeast Asia in the 1950s, formerly known as the Asia Insurance Building, was conserved and transformed as a heritage building into a premium serviced residence. Ascott staff gamely simulated a fire drill during the trail to share with them the operational perspective of running a serviced residence as well as to teach them useful fire safety skills. 21 CapitaLand staff’s children also joined in the tour. 

    November: 
    Volunteer expedition to Nayan in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia

    The final CapitaLand group wide volunteer expedition for 2008 was to Yogyakarta in Indonesia, where CapitaLand Hope Foundation had earlier donated to Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to build three homes for residents whose lives were affected by the earthquake of May 2006. The CapitaLand volunteer team comprised of 11 staff from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Not only did the volunteers embrace the simple local living condition, they truly experienced what it was like building a home from scratch. Their manual labour tasks involved digging foundation trenches, removing debris from the site and setting stones in cement to form footings. Through working hand in hand, the camaraderie forged among the volunteers was as strong as the foundation they strove to build. They also met and interacted with the needy children and their families who will occupy the homes. The houses built gave the children a roof over their heads so that they could concentrate on their studies. 

    October: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ CapitaMall Xizhimen, Beijing, China

    CapitaLand P.E.E.K event was launched in Beijing for the first time on 18 October 2008. The event was held in CapitaMall Xizhimen, located at a public transportation hub in downtown Beijing, and invited over 30 hearing-impaired children beneficiaries from the Beijing Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Service & Guidance Centre (BDPRSGC) supported by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) to participate in it. CapitaLand staff’s children also joined in and made up a total of 60 attendees. The children were taught practical emergency life skills and put them into good use by navigating their way through a simulated fire escape exercise. They were also introduced to some green features such as a façade made of double-glazed glass panels which helps to keep the building cool while admitting natural lighting. The Principal of BDPRSGC expressed her gratitude to CHF for inviting underprivileged children to participate. It is CHF’s hope that every participating child will all grow to his/her fullest potential to become useful citizens. 

    October: 
    Volunteer event in conjunction with The Business Times Children for Children @ the Singapore Flyer, Singapore

    Accompanied by 24 CapitaLand staff volunteers, 60 underprivileged children from The Haven and Care Corner Singapore felt they were in cloud nine after a complimentary ride in Singapore’s latest attraction— the Singapore Flyer. This volunteer event was held on 1 October 2008, Children’s Day in Singapore, in conjunction with The Business Times Children for Children @ the Singapore Flyer which aims to raise funds for disadvantaged children in celebration of the newspaper’s 32nd anniversary. In support of this initiative, CHF donated S$30,000 which would be channelled to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. Staff volunteers pointed out interesting sights seen from the capsule, and brought the children to a mini carnival organised by CHIJ Kellogg Primary School. CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) then-Chairman Lim Chin Beng said, “Most of CHF's beneficiaries have not tried the Singapore Flyer. So we are pleased to have this opportunity to give kids from Care Corner and The Haven a very special treat on Children’s Day. ”

    September: 
    Volunteer expedition to Hanoi, Vietnam

    A team of 14 CapitaLand staff volunteers from Singapore, China, Thailand and Vietnam arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam to help improve the facilities of a school-cum-orphanage called “19 MAY”. The school facilities for the 85 street children and orphans had deteriorated badly and the children only had a straw-mat and a thin blanket for winter. During this 4-day expedition, volunteers were divided into 2 teams; one team worked on upgrading the facilities and the other team taught the children simple songs and art. The volunteers also involved the children in the painting of their school’s wall murals to brighten up the facilities. The volunteers also celebrated traditional Mid-Autumn Festival with the underprivileged children who would otherwise not have a chance to sample mooncakes and play with lanterns. As Nuengruthai Thumwonk from The Ascott Limited in Thailand shared, “We came with the intention to give. But what we’ve gained is much more than what we’ve given.” 

    September: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ One George Street, Singapore

    On 6 September 2008 during the one-week school holiday, underprivileged children from one of CapitaLand Hope Foundation beneficiaries, Beyond Social Services, and some CapitaLand staff’s children were given an exclusive tour of One George Street office building and its various green initiatives. With the help of 25 staff volunteers, the children learnt and experienced hands-on science activities which could be applied in the real estate industry. One example was the sky garden where lush landscaping and the infinity pool helped to cool down the temperature naturally. The children also planted their own cactus which they could bring home as a souvenir. We hope that this will encourage these children to care for the environment as they were taught to care for their plant. 

    July: 
    Volunteer excursion at Changi Airport Terminal 3, Singapore

    The latest infrastructural icon of Singapore, Changi Airport Terminal 3, opened its transit area to welcome about 60 underprivileged children from the Canossaville Children’s Home under the invitation of CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF). Over 30 CapitaLand staff volunteers helped out at this event on 7 July 2008. It was a first for these children to gain special access into the transit area meant for passengers and airport staff. The children learnt about how the airport incorporated both green features with the state-of-the-art engineering and interesting art pieces, for example, the roof architecture act as skylights to maximise the flow of sunlight into the airport and there is a 300 metres long green wall which reaches up to five stories high. Through this exclusive educational tour, CHF hopes to inspire these children to reach for their dreams just as the airport has done so with the completion of T3. 

    May: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ Somerset Bencoolen, Singapore

    P.E.E.K event was extended to a serviced residence under CapitaLand Group for the first time. About 40 children, including underprivileged children from Students Care Service (Clementi) and CapitaLand staff’s children, were given a special behind-the-scenes educational tour of how the Somerset Bencoolen serviced residence was operated. They were guided by 21 CapitaLand staff volunteers. The session proved to be enjoyable and enriching for both volunteers and children alike with learning activities such as making up a guestroom bed and learning how to view the complex security cameras used to ensure the safety of the residents. The children's thinking skills were put to test through a scavenger hunt activity. 

    May: 
    Volunteer Expedition to Bo Kleau in Nan province, Thailand

    The CapitaLand volunteer team, made up of 11 staff from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India and China, spent five days in the mountainous Bo Kleau of Northern Thailand to help complete a school dormitory sponsored by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF). Although the staff volunteers hardly knew one another, they were quick to form teams and pick up tools to start work at the site in Baan Sawa School. All of them were determined to sweat it out for the underprivileged students who were eager to move into the school dormitory. Prior to construction, the schoolchildren had to walk an average of 8km per way to school. 

    Separately, CHF sponsored 135 needy children in Bo Kleau through World Vision. A special session was arranged for the staff volunteers to meet them and serve them lunch. They also made home visits.

    February: 
    Volunteer home visits in conjunction with Viriya Community Services, Singapore

    In February 2008, as part of the Viriya-KK Children’s Hospital Homecare programme in Singapore, CapitaLand staff volunteers visited underprivileged children who were chronically ill and confined at home. This was a tie-in with the donation of S$101,000 to Viriya Community Services from table sales at Raffles International Lecture organised by CapitaLand in November 2007. Staff volunteers were divided into teams and delivered food hampers, donated storybooks, teddy bears and CapitaVouchers to the families. They also got the opportunity to chat with the caregivers. Through this visit, CapitaLand Hope Foundation hopes to bring some cheer and support to these children and their parents. 

  • 2007

    December: 
    CapitaLand volunteer expedition to Rach Gia in Kien Giang province, Vietnam

    12 CapitaLand staff volunteers and their family members went to Rach Gia, capital city of Kien Giang province in Vietnam, to help build school facilities donated by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) for underprivileged children living near a dumpsite. With little or no access to education, these children spent their days picking rubbish for a living and their average family income tallied at US$1.50 per day. During this 4-day expedition, volunteers withstood the heat and insect-infested environment to paint and shovel sand in the building process. On the final day of the expedition, the volunteers distributed donated clothing, slippers and food necessities to the schoolchildren. With a proper school built for them, CHF helped to open doors to a better future for these children. The expedition also provided the volunteers an insight into how their efforts could have a positive impact on the less fortunate. 

    December: 
    P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ IMM, Singapore

    In December 2007, P.E.E.K event was held at CapitaLand landmark building— IMM in Jurong East. With the help of more than 50 CapitaLand staff volunteers, a total of 86 children, inclusive of underprivileged children from Care Corner Singapore supported by CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) and some CapitaLand staff’s children, had enriching tours to gain a better understanding of these buildings. The learning activities at P.E.E.K @ IMM event were more operations-based, the young visitors learnt about the security system and the eco-friendly water playground. They also watched a special performance of Pokemon cartoon and played at the water playground. They were delighted as the edutainment was a refreshing experience for most of them. 

    December: 
    (Providing Educational Exposure for Children) @ Capital Tower, Singapore

    Over at P.E.E.K @ Capital Tower event, the children were treated to a special Christmas-themed programme and they learnt about the features of this grade-A intelligent office building. In the spirit of festive season, the children used ornaments made from recycled products to decorate a Christmas tree and had much fun. The group with the best decorated tree was rewarded with bookstore vouchers. As many of the underprivileged children were having Christmas fun for the first time, they were really engaged by the programme. 

    April: 
    Volunteer expedition to CapitaLand Huangmaoling Hope School, Yunnan, China

    Staff volunteers from CapitaLand China went to CapitaLand Huangmaoling Hope School in collaboration with Chinese media volunteers to conduct a 10-day education programme. The volunteers lived in the village and taught English, Mathematics, Composition Writing and Cultural Studies to the underprivileged children. CapitaLand Hope Foundation has earlier on donated a new classroom block to this old school to enhance the learning environment of the schoolchildren. Even though it was a brief stay in Huangmaoling village, all the volunteers left with rich cultural experiences and a host of memories never to be forgotten. The schoolchildren who have bonded with the volunteers showered them with thank-you letters, hugs, tears and pleas to stay on their last day. 

  • 2006

    July: 
    CapitaLand Charity Bazaar, Singapore

    CapitaLand became one of the first private organizations to tie up with the Singapore Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre under the ComCare Connection Programme, to provide social programmes to help volunteer welfare organizations. CapitaLand was paired up with Canossaville Children’s Home. Two volunteer activities were held under this partnership. The first was a workshop where 16 CapitaLand staff volunteers taught about 35 underprivileged children how to make handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and beaded rings. The second event was a charity bazaar organised by staff volunteers which took place on 30 July 2006 at Plaza Singapura. The funds raised were channelled to Canossaville Children’s Home. Individual stalls were manned by staff volunteers and their family members with the aim of enhancing family bonding through charitable projects. Volunteers contributed by dressing up new teddy bears in specially designed garb and donated branded neckties, CDs autographed by original artistes, clothes, books etc for charity sale. 

    House Building Project, the Philippines

    The Ascott Limited partnered non-profit organisation Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines to raise funds and build homes for underprivileged children and their families. Ascott management team, employees and residents actively raised funds to finance the construction. They also organised a volunteer expedition to be involved in the construction and completed a block of 12 homes.