HDB expands internship opportunities for poly students in community engagement

SINGAPORE — Students from Temasek Polytechnic's (TP) gerontology programme and Singapore Polytechnic's (SP) integrated events and project management programme will be able to score an internship at the Housing and Development Board (HDB), as part of the Board's efforts to nurture the next generation of community change-makers.

As part of the internship programme, students will be given the chance to apply what they have learnt in school through project planning and management opportunities, and to execute practicum-based community engagements with residents.

The comes as HDB announced on Sunday (May 29) that it has signed three-year Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) from May 2022 to May 2025 with both polytechnics at the Friends of Our Heartlands (FOH) Volunteer Engagement Day, which was held at HDB Hub. 

The Board will also conduct talks to deepen students' knowledge of facilitating community interaction, in addition to offering book prizes to reward students for their community engagement efforts, it said in a press release. 

TP, which has an ongoing partnership with HDB over the last three years, has seen more than 500 students initiating engagement sessions with over 6,300 seniors, including those from 18 senior activity centres in the eastern and north-eastern part of the country. 

"Aimed at helping seniors stay healthy, active and involved in their community, these sessions involved the students facilitating and joining the seniors in mass workout sessions, as well as activities such as music, and art and craft workshops," the HDB stated in its press release. 

HDB's new MOU with SP will involve an estimated 100 students annually organising events and activities aimed at reaching out to new HDB homeowners to promote strong bonds within the community. 

During the event, over 700 individuals and 15 organisations were also recognised for their contributions under the FOH Volunteer Network, of which 27 of them were presented with awards and certificates by Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah. 

These volunteers were awarded with a gold, silver or bronze award or a certificate of appreciation based on the number of hours and years spent volunteering under the network.

One of the volunteers, Ms Rachel Sonsun, who joined the FOH Volunteer Network when she was 14 years old, started off her journey with the network as an eco-guide in 2020. 

Fast forward two years later, she has since organised four eco-tours with 70 residents, which are aimed at raising awareness about green and sustainable living and eco-friendly features of Punggol Town. She was awarded a bronze award for her three years in the network, 20 volunteer hours and four outreach efforts. 

She has also worked with HDB to digitalise the existing eco trails to promote its reach. 

She said: "Green technology is gaining momentum and I am thrilled to have been a part of the efforts to promote some of our green solutions for a more environmentally conscious and eco-friendly Singapore through the eco trails at Punggol Town."