Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Seite 138

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among the segments of society that are experiencing different rates of
progress.
“Many Helping Hands is the Singapore Way of helping that small segment of
our community who cannot keep pace with the rest of the population. They
are found in every society, however affluent and progressive. Such families
lag behind the rest of the population. They are in danger of becoming
destitute, despite the comprehensive social security net in the form of the
Central Provident Fund Scheme which provides protection in old age, major
illness, incapacity and premature death of a breadwinner.” (The Next Lap,
1991).
The Advisory Councils, which were composed of leaders from the public,
people and private sectors, recommended that the government provide
1-for-1 financial assistance to volunteer welfare organizations (VWOs) to
deliver social services that required the impetus to expand their services. The
aim of the 1-for-1 support was to build a foundation for shared responsibility
where the public, people and private sectors work together to jointly
provide social service. It was intended to foster community involvement and
active volunteerism that would lead to the development of a compassionate
society, which is one that looks after its disadvantaged members and help
them to be useful members of society or live lives of dignity.
Requiring agencies to raise the other half of the funds from the public
produced two consequences. First, agencies would need to communicate
their cause to the public and therefore in the process should raise awareness
about social issues and support for their work. Second, the tension created
by the formula would help to distil clarity of the need for the service and
provides the traction for consumption of services.
This partnership in social service provision allowed the government to
increase and build on social welfare through social agencies using its own
brand of strong state-supported welfare without making Singapore into a
traditional welfare state. This arrangement in a way placed a premium on
ensuring that there is a close working relationship between the government
and the VWOs. The system of helping the needy through VWOs had to
deliver because the social contract between the government and citizens is
at stake. The interdependence between the state and the social agencies has
made the partnership arrangement reasonably successful and many VWOs
and religious organisations were able to provide effective service to those
in need. In addition, many VWOs were able to communicate their cause
and convince sponsors to be involved in doing social good and build bonds
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