NUS students raise S$366,900 to benefit 22 charity programmes

Students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have raised S$366,900 through the NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) Receiving and Giving (Rag) and Flag 2019. The donations will benefit 22 charity programmes supported by Community Chest through 19 Social Service Agencies (SSAs).

NUSSU President Mr Benjamin Loo Qi En (third from left) presenting the cheque of more than $366,900 raised to Ms Charmaine Leung, Managing Director, Community Chest (third from right), witnessed by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (fourth from right), and NUS Senior Deputy President and Provost, Professor Ho Teck Hua (fifth from right). 

The annual Rag & Flag, organised by NUSSU, is a unique tradition established since the 1950s to encourage the NUS community to contribute towards improving the welfare of the less privileged. 

This year, about 7,800 NUS students visited various parts of Singapore on Flag Day, which took place on 28 July and 5 August 2019, to collect donations from members of the public in support of the charity programmes. The charity effort culminated in NUSSU Rag & Flag Day which was held earlier today. President Halimah Yacob, NUS Chancellor, launched the event as the Guest-of-Honour, while Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, also attended the event. 

To thank the community for their generous support, more than 2,100 NUS students enthralled spectators with captivating performances and displays. Themed “Reach Out!”, the event showcased 13 energetic performances by NUS students decked out in dazzling hand-made costumes, as well as intricately-decorated thematic props and mobile displays which were constructed by the students using recycled materials. The students also put up a fund-raising carnival which included 14 game booths created by NUS students and four booths set up by SSAs. Proceeds raised from the carnival will be donated to Community Chest and the respective SSAs. 

Students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine enthralled spectators with their dazzling performance at NUS Students’ Union (NUSSU) Rag & Flag Day 2019.

Mr Benjamin Loo Qi En, President of NUSSU, said, “The spirit of NUSSU Rag & Flag has always been to give back and to express gratitude to the donors. It is also a platform for incoming freshmen to bond and volunteer together for a good cause. This year, NUSSU Rag & Flag Day was held at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, outside of NUS. The aim was to reach out and thank the general public in giving back to the community. Through this event, we also hope to showcase the talents of our students. We hope that we will be able to set the direction for future Rag & Flag Days to be held outside of NUS, holding it once every four years in NUS, to strengthen the NUS spirit!”

The proceeds from this year’s NUSSU Rag and Flag will be channelled through Community Chest to benefit 19 SSAs, supporting 22 programmes. These SSAs are:

1.    Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)
2.    Alzheimer’s Disease Association
3.    Care Corner Singapore Ltd
4.    PAVE
5.    HCA Hospice Care
6.    Fei Yue Community Services
7.    Fei Yue Family Service Centre
8.    Lakeside Family Centre
9.    Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore)
10.    Metta Welfare Association
11.    Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS)
12.    New Hope Community Services
13.    SHINE Children and Youth Services
14.    Singapore Association for Mental Health
15.    Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped
16.    SPD
17.    TOUCH Community Services Limited
18.    Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Limited
19.    Tsao Foundation

Over the past 5 years, nearly S$2 million was raised for beneficiaries through NUSSU Rag & Flag. In recognition of their dedication and outstanding efforts, NUSSU has been receiving the Community Chest Special Events Gold or Platinum Awards on an annual basis since 2003. Last year, NUSSU received the Community Chest Awards 2018 Charity Platinum Award.