Singapore Kindness Movement

The Singapore Kindness Movement is a non-profit organization that executes public education programs aimed at cultivating kindness and graciousness in Singaporean society. It was officially launched in 1997. The movement serves as the successor to the Singapore Courtesy Council that oversaw the National Courtesy Campaign (Singapore) from the 1980s through the 1990s.[1]

Singapore Kindness Movement
TypePublic education
Location
  • Stamford Court 61 Stamford Road #04-12 Singapore 178892
Key people
Chairman: Koh Poh Tiong
Websitehttp://kindness.sg

History

The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) was initiated in response to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong’s call to Singaporeans to develop into a more caring and gracious society in the new century.

In his 1996 New Year’s address, stated "We have become a developed economy because we put our minds to it and strive hard to reach our goals. Let us now complement our economic achievements with social, cultural, and spiritual development. Then by the 21st century, Singapore will be a truly successful, mature country, with a developed economy and a gracious society."[2]

PM Goh announced the SKM pilot project in July 1996, when he launched the Singapore Courtesy Campaign. Some 2,000 students from the uniformed groups in 20 secondary schools participated in the pilot project.[3]

The Movement was launched in January 1997, to over 80,000 secondary school students. SKM officially registered as a non-profit society on 31 January 1997. In March 2001, the National Courtesy Campaign was subsumed by the Movement.[4]

Singapore Kindness Movement held the secretariat of the World Kindness Movement[5] from 2003-2012.

Organizational goals

The mission statement of the SKM is to inspire graciousness through spontaneous acts of kindness, making life more pleasant for everyone.[6]

Its main objectives are: To encourage all Singaporeans to be more kind and considerate. To enhance public awareness of acts of kindness. To influence and raise the standards of social behaviour in our society.[6]

Structure

The SKM organisational structure consists of two main parts: The SKM Council (SKMC) and the SKM Secretariat. The SKM Council comprises members from the private and 19 public sectors.[6] In March 2001, the Singapore Courtesy Council integrated with the SKMC.

The Movement is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and funded by a government grant. SKM also secures funds through its membership subscriptions and sponsorships.

The patron of the Movement is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the current Chairman is Koh Poh Tiong.[7]

Logo and mascot
Main article: Singa the Lion

The two strokes and ovals of the Singapore Kindness Movement logo depicts two people—one who does an act of kindness and the other who receives it. The freehand strokes combine to form a heart. Red symbolises love for your fellow man and green represents caring for the environment, tolerance, creativity, and consideration.

Singa the Lion had been the official mascot of the Singapore Kindness Movement until May 2013. On 15 May 2013, Singa the Lion was retired from the campaign through an open "resignation letter" posted on the movement's website.[8][9]

References
  1. Lim, Siew Yeen. "Courtesy Campaign". National Library Board Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  2. "Social behaviour must match prosperity, says PM". The Straits Times. 1 January 1996. pp. Page 1.
  3. Dr Lee Tzu Pheng (2000). Always In Season, A Harvest of Kindness Stories. MITA:Singapore Kindness Movement.
  4. "Soon, courtesy will be part of kindness". The Straits Times. 13 January 2001. pp. Home, p. 2.
  5. "World Kindness Movement- About Us". Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  6. Singapore Kindness Movement, archived from the original on 5 May 2010, retrieved 7 April 2010
  7. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. "Changing of guard at SKM". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  8. "Subject : Open Letter to Singapore - I Quit". Singa resigns. Singapore Kindness Movement. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  9. "Singa the Courtesy Lion: I quit". Asiaone. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
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