PM Lee Hsien Loong at PCF Family Day 2013

Mr David Ong
Chairman, PCF Family Day 2013 Organising Committee

Mr Lawrence Wong
PCF Executive Committee Chairman

Friends, boys and girls

I am very happy to join all of you this morning for the PCF Family Day 2013! Welcome to all of you. Our theme this year is “We Are Family”. I think it is a good theme because this morning we are relaxing with our families and loved ones, and also celebrating PCF’s service to many Singapore families over many years.

PCF exists to provide community support and make pre-school education accessible to all Singaporeans. We believe that no one should miss out on life’s opportunities just because of his or her family background. We see education as the way to give every Singaporean child a good start in life. The PAP upholds these principles in our policies and deeds. We have worked hard to fulfil our mission as a quality pre-school operator. We have run kindergartens as non-profit centres, to keep costs down and education affordable to all. At the same time, we have done our best to raise the quality and standards of our PCF centres, to meet rising expectations of parents, with curriculum development, teacher training and many enrichment activities.

We have served many, many thousands of Singaporean families in the PCF, like Ng Qiqi. Qiqi attended PCF Macpherson, where her mom Adelene Won is principal. When she was in secondary school, she volunteered in PCF Macpherson. Last year, she received the PCF Nurture Award, and this year, a PCF scholarship to study Early Children Education at Temasek Polytechnic. I think eventually, she wants to teach at PCF. She will be the second generation, a “double generation” PCF family. I am happy that Qiqi and Adelene are with us this morning, and I hope there will be many more like them.

PCF will always serve all Singaporeans, and especially take care of the less fortunate Singaporeans. We are very happy that the Government is investing in the kindergarten sector, including upgrading the capabilities of anchor operators like PCF. We will work closely with Government in PCF, to raise the quality of kindergarten education and keep it affordable.

Beyond kindergarten, PCF is also helping polytechnic students earn their diplomas. This year, later, we will be giving out 49 study awards to polytechnic students, costing together about $100,000, to help them with their studies. At the same time, PCF is raising funds for other worthy causes. This year, Mr Lim Biow Chuan led a group of PAP MPs to raise more than $600,000 and it is for 30 charities, VWOs and self-help organisations. I would like to thank Biow Chuan and fellow MPs for their hard work, and all our donors for their support. Thank you very much for your generosity and your good heartedness.

So I hope you will all take advantage of our PCF programmes, whether you are a student studying, whether you are a beneficiary, receiving aid. I hope that when you do well, you will give back to society. That is the way we build a strong and gracious Singapore family. Thank everyone for joining us this morning. I wish everyone a fun Family Day!

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大家早上好！

今天能够跟大家在一起，出席人民行动党社区基金会，非常开心。

今天的主题是“我们是一家人”。非常恰当，因为基金会的宗旨就是要为新加坡社会谋福利。提供让大家都能负担得起的优质的教育及全面的社区服务， 是我们社区基金的宗旨，希望塑造一个多元种族，公平，公正，还有包容性的社会。

多年来，基金会就陪了无数个家庭一路走过，帮助他们争取更好的日子。尤其让他们的孩子受到良好的教育，能在同一个人生起跑点出发，而不因为资源不足而落人后。

这是行动党，也是基金会坚信的，也会继续坚持的原则和理念。因此，我们不断翻新基金会的幼稚园，提升教员素质，维持好的教育水平。

将近30年的为民服务，我们也看到了有些家庭的两代人都一起服务，受惠， 参与我们基金会的努力。有些以前从基金会幼稚园毕业的，现在在幼稚园就业，他们的孩子也在幼稚园学习。基金会的活动影响了他们的人生。基金会也扩大了福利范围，除了维持幼儿教育的工作，也即将通过助学金帮助理工学院学生。

新加坡是我们的家。要继续让社会蓬勃，照顾好新加坡这个大家庭，我们都必须一起合作，出份力量，回馈社会。

希望大家会再接再厉，在百忙之中也不忘陪家人的时间。

祝大家有个美好的一天！

谢谢！