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Singaporeans open their hearts and wallets to donate to the needy during coronavirus outbreak

  • Singapore’s philanthropy scene has had an unexpected boost, with online fundraising platform Giving.sg hitting a record high of US$9.5 million in April
  • This was partly driven by a government support payout scheme and viral #GiveYour600 campaign urging those not needing the cash to donate it

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Volunteers at Free Food For All in Singapore prepare meals for low-income households. Photo: Facebook / Free Food For All
The early months of the Covid-19 pandemic sent Nirmala Murugaian into a blind panic. As Singapore slipped into an economic downturn, funds plummeted at Child at Street 11, the non-profit childcare centre that she runs.
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Parents could no longer afford to pay childcare fees as they were hit by job losses or pay cuts. Funds from corporate donors quickly dried up as cost-cutting measures kicked in.

The centre, which currently has 55 children from low-income families and largely relies on donations, only managed to raise S$20,000 (US$14,000) in February, but its monthly expenses average around S$80,000 (US$56,000). There was a real threat it would cease to exist, and Singapore’s partial lockdown made the situation even worse.
Non-profit childcare centre Child at Street 11 has struggled amid Singapore’s partial lockdown. Photo: Facebook/ Child at Street 11
Non-profit childcare centre Child at Street 11 has struggled amid Singapore’s partial lockdown. Photo: Facebook/ Child at Street 11

“That was really scary,” said Murugaian. “We had to close the school, and all our contacts with our usual donors had to stop. It was like seeing your blood pressure readings on a health machine. Is it going to stop? Is it going to end?”

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But donations started streaming in when word got out about the 21-year-old centre’s plight, and it raised about S$200,000 (US$140,000) in three months. Not quite enough yet, but the generosity gave it hope, she said.

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