Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN)
APSN comprises five schools: Chaoyang School, Katong School, Tanglin
School, Delta Senior School and the APSN Centre for Adults.
As APSN's benefactor, Keppel believes not only in providing financial support,
but in playing an active role in the development of the students. In line with this
philosophy, Keppel Volunteers visit the schools regularly and help out in their
weekly activities. These activities range from social competence excursions to
familiarise the students with the public transport system, to cooking classes, and
art & craft lessons. Apart from weekly activities, the Volunteers also organise
special events that aim to help the students of APSN assimilate into society.
Hydroponics farm
In 2007, Former Executive Chairman Lim Chee Onn hosted a luncheon for the APSN
Executive Committee joined by representatives of the Keppel Scholars Alumni
Association and Keppel Volunteers to explore ideas for further collaboration. A
key area was the development of the Centre for Adults (CFA) to help boost the
employability of APSN’s clients. The session gave rise to a joint pilot project for a
hydroponics farm by Keppel Volunteers and APSN.
The farm, which serves as a sheltered workshop as well as a means to create a
revenue stream for the CFA, was launched on 18 January 2008. Participants are
able to acquire skills in hydroponics farming such as seeding, transplanting,
harvesting, cropping, packaging and selling the produce.
Recycling project
Keppel Volunteers also collaborated with APSN to revive a recycling project in
2007. This project allows CFA’s clients to collect unwanted materials, recycle
them and eventually sell the items through the centre’s thrift shop. Through this
project, participants enhance their interaction skills with the public as well as their
teamwork ethics. Keppel Volunteers also encourages Keppelites to be proactive
in the collection of used items as well as to assist in raising awareness of the
thrift shop and boosting its sales.
Creative Arts Programme
In 2007, Keppel Volunteers embarked on a long-term collaboration with the
Practice Performing Arts School in Singapore, founded by the late Kuo Pao Kun
and Goh Lay Kuan, to introduce arts and culture related activities to the APSN
children via a pilot Creative Arts Programme (CAP).
Two CAP workshops were held which featured performances by the students of
Chaoyang School. CAP helps the APSN students to develop their psycho-motor
abilities as well as to provide them with an avenue for creative expression.
Model programme
The Keppel Volunteer programme has been recognised as a well-structured
programme and has been cited at public forums as a model example for
corporate volunteerism. Some of these public forums include the 'Public Service
in Action for the Community', Singapore 21: Heartbeats in Action' and the
'National Volunteer Conference 2002'.
Keppel will continue its efforts to spread the spirit of volunteerism throughout the
Group and make it a living reality for all Keppelites.
To find out more about APSN, visit
www.apsn.org.sg or email
keppel.volunteers@kepcorp.com for enquiries.
