Last year, Madam Kong would check her water and electric meter several times a day. She was constantly worried that the supply would be cut off because she defaulted on one too many payments. Several times, she had to rush to top up her Pay-As-You-Use account to avoid a shutdown.
This year however, she is able to set aside a portion of her $700 monthly salary as a cleaner, to save and plan for her and her son’s future.
Madam Kong was one of the 619 families that had debt wiped off the slates through the Getting Out Of Debt (or GOOD) Programme run by MWS.
This is thanks to you, if you took part in any of the 5 ways below.
1.You donated towards the GOOD Programme
- You gave a fresh start to families weighed under chronic debts of everyday living. They can start anew, knowing that there is every chance that life can be better for them, and especially for their children.
2.You advocated for the GOOD families
- 70 GOOD Advocates from the Methodist churches spoke up and shared about the GOOD Programme and the dire need for us to respond to the needs of the families crippled by chronic debt.
- They reached out to their family and church friends to give and volunteer.
3.You volunteered at a financial education workshop
- Another way the GOOD Programme helped to empower the families was through 14 financial education workshops organised in partnership with the Institute of Financial Literacy. They learnt how to manage their finances better by monitoring their expenses and budgeting conscientiously.
- But they needed someone to work through the real-life exercises at the workshops to understand the principles taught. 105 volunteers sat beside the beneficiary families to explain what they did not understand, and prompted them through the exercises, and made the workshop more meaningful and useful.
4.You took part in Wheels for GOOD
- More than 3,000 participants attended the Wheels for GOOD fundraising family carnival, including 500 cyclists who took on two rides – a 50km and a 13km routes – in the early hours of the day.
- Guest-of-Honour, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, set a new record in the Singapore Book of Record for the longest bicycle rim rolling relay with 200 other carnival goers.
5.You worked at one of the 44 partner social service agencies
On the surface, clearing chronic debts may seem straightforward. But behind the scenes, an army of social service practitioners from 44 partner social service agencies worked tirelessly.They assessed the beneficiary families’ suitability for the programme, verified the nature of the accrued debts, and even helped them to collate their overdue bills.
Thank you for being here for GOOD. Better things lie ahead!