MBS gearing up for annual charity festival by partnering APSN
Vivien Ang
ABOUT 30 beneficiaries from Delta Senior School and APSN Centre for Adults gathered at a room at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, learning floral arrangements and towel folding.
The event on Tuesday (Jul 18) is a lead-up to Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) annual Sands for Singapore Charity Festival, which takes place on Aug 4.
Team members from MBS’ housekeeping department were involved in the half-day workshop.
Philip Li, principal centre lead of vocational training at APSN Centre for Adults, said: “One major misconception is that beneficiaries of APSN are unable to contribute to society and are solely reliant on charity and assistance. However, this is far from the truth. With proper training and support, our beneficiaries have the potential to excel and make valuable contributions to society.”
Therefore, the collaboration with MBS is unique, he added, because it creates opportunities for trainees to engage in different areas of work, such as hospitality or horticulture.
“(The initiative) follows a three-pronged approach: Firstly, for those who are more independent, they can eventually be employed in roles they are interested in and competent at. Secondly, for trainees who require more support, they can perform tasks that can be outsourced to APSN, where they can engage in repetitive production under guidance and supervision within our centre. Lastly, the collaboration offers exposure, interest, and recreational opportunities for our trainees, expanding their horizons and experiences.”
Nicholas Ionides, vice-president of communications at MBS, said: “The giving-back landscape in Singapore has evolved from straightforward monetary donations and sponsorships to the development of tailored programmes that meet specific community needs. When we started building our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, it was clear that we needed to harness the strengths of our unique property offerings and large employee base to drive positive change.”
Multinational corporations have the power to drive positive societal and environmental changes, acting as agents of change. A strong CSR programme helps enhance corporate reputation, boost employee morale, and attract new talent. “At MBS, our Sands Cares programme is championed by team members from various departments as we believe in the importance of employee involvement,” he added.
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