The People’s Association (PA) was established in Singapore

Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

 as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. PA commemorated its 50th Anniversary in 2010.

The current Chief Executive Director of the PA is Yam Ah Mee

Yam Ah Mee

Yam Ah Mee is a Singaporean civil servant and Chief Executive Director of the People's Association. He shot to fame after Singaporeans took to his monotone voice and expressionless demeanour, as the Returning Officer for the General Elections in 2011....

, who assumed his position in 2010.

Logo

The People's Association's (PA) logo is made up of one continuous element. This supposedly represents the PA's mission of connecting Singaporeans from all ethnic backgrounds to promote active citizenry and multiracial harmony. Different communities, represented by the circles, keep their distinct identities and cultural values while moving and interacting with one another in the common space. Our vision is one of all communities bonding closely together, increasing the common space and strengthening the nation. Red symbolises the passion and spirit of the different communities. It also supposedly signifies the growth and maturity of the people and the PA.

History

To counter racial and political tensions in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s, and foster closer ties among different ethnic groups, the Government established the PA through an Act of Parliament, the People's Association Act. The statutory board came into being on 1 July 1960. According to the Act, the objects of the PA are, among other things:

(a) the organisation and the promotion of group participation in social, cultural, educational and athletic activities for the people of Singapore in order that they may realise that they belong to a multiracial community, the interests of which transcend sectional loyalties;

(b) the establishment of such institutions as may be necessary for the purpose of leadership training in order to instil in leaders a sense of national identity and a spirit of dedicated service to a multiracial community;

(c) the fostering of community bonding and strengthening of social cohesion amongst the people of Singapore;

(d) the performance of such other functions as may be conferred
upon the Association by any written law; and

(e) the carrying out of such activities as appear to the Board to be
advantageous towards, or necessary or convenient for, the
furtherance of the objects of the Association as set out in
paragraphs (a) to (d).

According to the Central Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...

 of the US government, the People's Association had its origins as a national building programme 'designed to wean pro-Communist voters away from the opposition'. Besides serving as a communication channel between the government and ruling party at the top and the people below - making way for a more responsive government - it was also intended for the PA to blur the boundaries between the government and the party, such that 'the people tended to praise the party for activities undertaken by the government'.

Management

According to the People's Association Act, the Association consists of:

1. the Prime Minister
   Prime Minister of Singapore
   The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
   
   , who is Chairman of the Association;
2. a Minister (typically a senior member of Cabinet
   Cabinet of Singapore
   The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government...
   
   ) who is to be appointed by the Chairman as Deputy Chairman;
3. eight other members to be appointed by the Chairman; and
4. one member to be appointed by the Chairman in consultation with each of the organisations mentioned in the First Schedule to the Act. More than 80 civic organisations are listed in the First Schedule, ranging from the Football Association of Singapore
   Football Association of Singapore
   The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...
   
   , to the National University of Singapore Society, to the Singapore Stamp Club.

The powers of the PA and the management and control of the Association and its property and affairs is vested in a Board of Management. The Board consists of the persons mentioned in the first three categories listed above, and four members who are elected from among themselves by the persons mentioned in the fourth category at a general meeting of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Association shall be the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board.

Grassroots Organisations

The PA endeavours to achieve its objects by creating common space; bringing people of different ethnic origins and from all walks of life together to interact, make friends, help one another and to participate in social, cultural, educational, recreational, sporting and charitable activities, and in doing so strengthen community spirit and resilience. Starting with 28 community centres, today the PA has over 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs) with more than 25,000 volunteer grassroots leaders. Grassroots volunteers visit residents to encourage community involvement, raise awareness about community issues, explain government policies and gather feedback, as well as help those in need. On the other hand, staff at PA are fully paid and do not take part in any decision making processes. They are only to provide support to the GROs. The GROs include Citizens' Consultative Committees, Community Club Management Committees, Residents' Committees in public housing estates and Neighbourhood Committees in private housing estates.

Citizens' Consultative Committees

The Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) is the umbrella grassroots organisation in a constituency in Singapore. CCCs plan and lead grassroots activities in a constituency, they oversee community and welfare programmes and they also act as a feedback channel between the government and the people. The first CCC was created in January 1965 in order to carry out the following functions:

i. To transmit information and make recommendations on the needs of the people to the government, and to keep people informed of government action and policy in these matters.

ii. To promote good citizenship amongst the people of Singapore.

From their inception, the government of Singapore saw the CCCs as playing a key role in managing communal relations. Following the 1964 race riots in Singapore, village and clan leaders in the CCCs were mobilised to help maintain racial harmony.

Currently the CCCs main role is in the organisation of programmes to support the PA. CCCs support the government in nationwide campaigns such as dengue prevention, Clean & Green Week, Racial Harmony Month and Good Neighbour Day. They also organise community forums and administer welfare assistance.

Members in the CCC are volunteers appointed by the Chairman once every two years and this appointment has to be approved by the Adviser (MPs). Members usually have a background in politics or are significant contributors in the Singapore scene.

Community Club Management Committees

Community Club Management Committees (CCMCs) help build, manage and maintain all our Community Clubs (CCs). CCs are the common meeting ground for residents from all walks of life by providing numerous recreational activities and learning opportunities. CCs also connect residents and the Government by providing relevant information and gathering feedback on national concerns and policies. Each CC serves about 15,000 households or an average of 50,000 people.

CCMCs promote racial harmony and social cohesion through the various cultural, educational, recreational, sporting, social and other community-based activities organised specially for residents. CCMCs manage all the CCs, ensure that all CCs keep up with the expectations and needs of residents, and organise creative and innovative courses and activities for residents in the community.

CCMCs are made up of volunteers who work with full time staff to manage the CCs. Volunteers meet regularly to plan and organise programmes that meet the needs and interests of residents. By doing so, the CCMCs help bring people together at the CCs to meet, interact, share a common interest, and make friends.

Residents' Committees

Residents' Committees (RCs) were established in 1978 for every neighbourhood zone within the public housing estates in Singapore with the aim of promoting neighbourly interaction, good communal relations and overall cohesion. RCs also serve as channels of communication between residents and the Government. RCs, like CCCs, initially came under the Prime Minister's Office

Prime Minister of Singapore

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...

, and later, the Ministry of Community Development

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports is a ministry of the Government of Singapore tasked with, from the government's point of view, building a "cohesive and resilient" society in Singapore.The MCYS often pursues vigorous social engineering campaigns of varying effectiveness and...

. In 1993, RCs and CCCs came under the purview of the PA. Currently, there are over 550 RCs. Each RC has an RC Centre to conduct meetings and programmes and activities for residents. RCs organise residents' parties, conduct house visits and other neighbourhood activities to reach out to residents. They also work closely with the government agencies to improve the living environment, safety and security of their estates.

Run by volunteers, the functions of the Residents' Committee are :

(a) to promote neighbourliness, harmony and cohesiveness among the
residents of the Designated Zone;

(b) to liaise with and make recommendations to governmental
authorities on the needs and aspirations of residents of the
Designated Zone;

(c) to disseminate information and channel feedback on government
policies and actions from residents of the Designated Zone; and
2

(d) to promote good citizenship among residents of the Designated
Zone.

Neighbourhood Committees

Neighbourhood Committees (NCs) were formed in June 1998 to encourage active citizenry and foster stronger community bonds within private housing estates. NCs also work with various government agencies to improve the social and physical environment in their private housing estates.

NCs’ functions are to:

(a) Promote neighbourliness, harmony and cohesiveness amongst residents;

(b) Connect with and make recommendations to government authorities on the needs and aspirations of residents;

(c) Disseminate information and obtain feedback on government policies and actions from the residents; and

(d) Foster good citizenship amongst residents.

Youth Executive Committees

The PA Youth Executive Committee (YEC) is the managing body for the Youth Group in a Community Club. Reaching out to youths, our YEC organises a wide range of activities and projects ranging from sports and recreation to culture, arts and community service.

The role of YECs include:

(a) Developing programmes for youths and setting up subcommittees to implement its activities

(b) Working closely with the Community Club Management Committee and other grassroots organisations in putting together community development projects; and

(c) Connecting with other Youth Clubs and the Council to support the People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM)

The T-Net Club (Teens Network Club), part of the People’s Association network, is a non-profit teens organisation that aims to enrich the lives of teenagers in Singapore, and inspire them to contribute to the community.

The T-Net Club organises a wide range of activities to engage teenagers and develop their potential. These include educational, social/recreational, cultural and performing arts, sporting and community service activities.

Over the years, the T-Net Club has developed several flagship events such as the T-Net Club Sports Fiesta, T-Net Club Premier League, T-Net Club Basketball Tournament, and the T-Net Club “Bowl with a Heart” Community Service Project. Together with the Educational Series in Mathematics, History, Chinese and Malay, and the Sudoku and Sports Quizzes, these events help extend the Club’s outreach to the teenage community.

Community Sports Club

The People’s Association works through Community Sports Clubs (CSCs) to foster community bonding through a wide array of sports activities for residents to participate and interact with one another.

The CSCs’ flagship programmes include the Community Sports Festival, the People’s Association Children’s Football League, and the Inter-Constituency Games. Other activities organised by the CSCs include mass walks, mass swims, sports carnivals, bowling, badminton, football and sepak takraw. Altogether, there are 84 CSCs which are made up of volunteers who work with the PA to promote social cohesion, racial harmony and community bonding amongst residents.

The Constituency Sports Club Council (CSC Council) was inaugurated in June 2006. The CSC Council’s key role is to foster community bonding through sports in collaboration with the Constituency Sports Clubs (CSCs), other grassroots organisations and other sporting bodies. The CSC Council also works toward enlarging the common space for residents through various programmes such as the Community Sports Festival, People’s Association Children’s Football League, 2-km Walking Test and Inter-Constituency Games (ICGs).

Community Emergency and Engagement Committees

The Community Emergency and Engagement (C2E) Committees is the community Emergency Preparedness (EP) Unit formed in each constituency. The C2E Committees is the amalgamation of the former Emergency Preparedness Group and Civil Defence Executive Committees. C2E Committees help strengthen community resilience by involving residents, grassroots leaders, educational institutions, business, religious, voluntary welfare organisations and other community partners in Community Emergency Preparedness programmes. Each of the 84 constituencies has formed a C2E Committees to enhance our capability to effectively respond to, and quickly recover from any emergency.

During peace time, C2E Committees develop and maintain the Community Emergency Preparedness plans, structures and systems. The C2E Committees also organise exercises and EP activities to be prepared for emergencies and to ensure operational readiness. C2E Committees partner various government emergency authorities to educate the community about Community Emergency Preparedness.
During times of emergency, C2E Committees will respond by coordinating community resources and grassroots’ emergency response efforts. Together with other grassroots organisations, the C2E Committees will also help emergency authorities to disseminate critical information and collect feedback and will help defuse community tension and restore public confidence and normalcy.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an organised group of volunteers equipped with special training to respond to an emergency and assist the community in the recovery process. The main role of the CERT is to strengthen the emergency response capabilities of the local community.

First formed in 2004 at the Residents' Committee and Neighbourhood Committee zonal level to support the EPG and CDEC, CERT members are made up of grassroots leaders and residents who are staying in the vicinity. Being closer to the ground, they can respond to an emergency before the arrival of the emergency authorities. CERT members assist in rendering basic first aid, evacuation and crowd control before and after the emergency authorities arrive.
Role of a CERT member:

(a) Help the community respond to and recover from emergencies

(b) Disseminate critical information to residents

(c) Work together with constituency emergency units to organise EP days and other EP programmes for residents

(d) Help identify residents requiring special assistance during emergencies

Members will receive the following trainings: Community Emergency Preparedness Programme (CEPP, Standard First Aid Training (with 3 years certification), Basic Cardiac Life Support Course (with 2 years certification), and Crisis Intervention Workshop.

Women's Executive Committees

The Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council was established in March 1995 with representatives from the Women’s Executive Committees (WECs). The Council sets directions for WECs to inspire more women towards community leadership and contribution. WECs play an important role in galvanising women from all walks of life to promote community bonding, nurture leadership qualities among our women and help the less fortunate. Events and activities organised by WECs offer common space for like-minded people to connect, build new friendships and contribute to community harmony.
The objectives of the WEC are :

(a) Widen outreach to women of all races to build strong bonds among them;

(b) Engage women and their families in activities and programmes that meet their needs and interests;

(c) Create opportunities for women to participate in community and national affairs.

Senior Citizens' Executive Committees

The Senior Citizens’ Executive Committee plans and organises a wide array of activities and courses to enrich the life experiences of seniors. These include arts and culture, lifestyle pursuits, lifelong learning, and sports and wellness programmes. The SCEC aims to engage and empower seniors to lead active, healthy and meaningful lives in the community. The PA Active Ageing Council (AA Council) champions the cause of active ageing and creates a supportive environment for active ageing elements to flourish in grassroots programmes. The functions of the PA AA Council includes promoting community bonding through active ageing programmes in collaboration with the Senior Citizens’ Executive Committees (SCECs) and other grassroots organisations and community partners. The PA AA Council will also conceptualise and organise flagship programmes in support of active ageing.

Indian Activity Executive Committees

The Indian Activity Executive Committees (IAECs) organise cultural, educational, social, recreational and sporting activities to promote mutual respect and harmonious relations between Indians and other communities. The IAECs work closely with other grassroots organisations (GROs) to open up opportunities for Indians and other Singaporeans to interact and build mutual understanding.
The Indian Activity Executive Committees Council or Narpani Pearavai is the coordinating body for the IAECs. It acts as a catalyst enabling Indian Singaporeans to contribute positively as active citizens. Narpani Pearavai organises many events annually at the Constituency, District and National levels.

Malay Activity Executive Committees

MESRA is the coordinating body for Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAECs) that are set up at Community Clubs.

The functions of MESRA are to:

(a) Guide MAECs in engaging the community through a wide range of outreach programmes;

(b) Assist MAECs and other GROs to identify and recruit suitable Malay grassroots leaders; and

(c) Facilitate collaborations between MAECs and other GROs in the larger community.

Annually, MESRA organises Gentarasa, the biggest Malay cultural show in Singapore that aims to build an appreciation for and understanding of the Malay culture amongst the other communities. MESRA also holds regular dialogue sessions to discuss issues concerning the Malay community.

Community Development Councils

First established in 1997, Community Development Councils (CDCs) were formed to help build a more cohesive, compassionate and self-reliant society. Initially, the CDCs offered local programmes to meet the needs of the residents in their districts. From 2001, the delivery of social services, including the development of childcare, student care and family care centres was devolved from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to the CDCs. As CDCs are closer to the ground, they are better able than government ministries to promptly address the needs of residents. The CDCs also play an important role in mobilising the community to help needy residents, including giving them interim financial assistance and helping them find jobs.

The CDCs offer services identified under the common strategic goals of ‘ABC’:
Assisting the Needy,
Bonding the People,
and Connecting the Community.

Each of the current five CDCs – Central Singapore, North East, North West, South East and South West – is headed by a mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 who is assisted by a council comprising up to 80 council members. Unlike other countries, mayors in Singapore are not directly elected because the CDCs are not a system of local government. The CDCs are local administrators of community and social services.

Community Clubs

When self-government was attained in 1959, many Singaporeans were faced with poor employment prospects and had little opportunity for skills training. Recreational, social and sports facilities were few and far in between.

The PA converted former food distribution centres set up by the British administration into community centres. These centres were venues for residents of all walks of life to get together to learn a skill, engage in social and leisure activities, and forge a sense of community.

Over the years, with economic progress, community centres have evolved into Community Clubs (CCs) offering a wide range of courses, activities, programmes and facilities to match the changing needs of residents. Even as the exterior façade changes, the CCs remain a common space for residents of all backgrounds to come together, interact and strengthen social cohesion and racial harmony.

The Community Clubs are run by a group of volunteers called CC Management Committee. The functions of the Committee are:
(a) to manage the Community Centre/Club for and on behalf of the
People's Association;
2
(b) to promote social, cultural, educational, sports and recreational
activities for the residents in the neighbourhood of the Community
Centre/Club;
(c) to disseminate information on Government policies, and to
transmit to the Government information on the needs and
aspirations of the residents in the neighbourhood of the Community
Centre/Club; and
(d) to promote good citizenship among residents in the neighbourhood
of the Community Centre/Club.

Other PA Organisations

In addition to its network of grassroots organisations, the PA also operates Outward Bound Singapore

Outward Bound Singapore

Outward Bound Singapore is part of the network of Outward Bound centres worldwide. While Outward Bound is well-established in many other countries, the Outward Bound centre in Singapore has the distinction of having an 'Excellent' rating for expertise, facilities and safety...

, the National Community Leadership Institute, the National Youth Council of Singapore

National Youth Council of Singapore

The National Youth Council of Singapore otherwise known as the National Youth Council is the nationally-sanctioned youth council in Singapore and a division of the People's Association. It was set up by the Singapore Government on 1 November 1989 as the national co-ordinating body for youth...

 and a water sport club called Water-Venture.

Outward Bound Singapore

People's Association manages Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) which has helped individuals and groups to develop confidence, teamwork and other character-building traits through outdoor education and adventure learning programmes.

Through expeditions and outdoor activities, participants get to broaden their perspectives on life and learn more about others and themselves. This method of learning through experience enables participants to develop the tenacity that is needed to overcome life's challenges. By the end of each programme, participants would feel a great sense of achievement, and are charged with renewed enthusiasm to face work or school.

A member of the global Outward Bound network, OBS consistently ranks among the top for having the best facilities, training expertise and safety. PA operates three adventure learning centres in Singapore, with two centres at Pulau Ubin and one at East Coast Park. Each year more than 23,000 children, youths and adults experience adventure learning with Outward Bound Singapore.

Since OBS started locally in 1967, over a quarter of a million people have benefited.

National Community Leadership Institute

NACLI or National Community Leadership Institute is the training facility of PA. At People's Association, leadership development is believed to be crucial to the continued excellence and growth of community organisations. The National Community Leadership Institute (NACLI) has been developing community leaders since its establishment in 1964. NACLI offers a wide range of community and leadership development programmes to equip our grassroots leaders and PA professional staff with practical and applied skills and competencies to carry out their work in the community effectively.

NACLI conducts workshops, facilitates workplan retreats, and organises dialogues and other learning events. The Institute anchors its training and development of grassroots leaders on the Community LEAD framework; a comprehensive and holistic approach to developing core leadership competencies in grassroots leaders so that they can fulfil their leadership roles within the community effectively. NACLI also collaborates with Institutes of Higher Learning to offer Joint Certification Programmes as part of its curriculum. The Institute's training and accommodation facilities are available for rental, and based on availability of resources, NACLI also conducts student leadership and corporate teambuilding programmes.

National Youth Council

The National Youth Council (NYC), a division of the People's Association, was set up by the Singapore Government on 1 November 1989 as the national co-ordinating body for youth affairs in Singapore. The Council comprises members from various government ministries, youth organisations, academic institutions, voluntary welfare organisations, the media and private sector organisations. National Youth Council is the Advocate, Connector and Enabler for Youth.

The National Youth Council:

(a) Advocates active youth citizenry - engagement, leadership and voice for causes and issues - through research, programming, resources, funding and recognition.

(b) Connects the youth sector for increased youth outreach, through creating opportunities and access, both local and overseas.

(c) Enables the development of youth and the youth sector, through training and capacity building.

NYC is also the administering body for the Singapore Youth Award, Outstanding Youth in Education Award, and is the liaison body with ASEAN and other international organisations on youth development.

Water Venture

Through the PA Water-Venture (WV) outlets, PA offers unlimited outdoor fun and fitness as a way to bring together people from various backgrounds and walks of life.

The PA WV outlets offer a range of land and water sports activities like sports climbing, abseiling, kayaking, sailing, dragon boating, windsurfing and power boating to the community. Interesting children's programmes are also offered. Such land and water sports courses and activities provide platforms to foster community bonding, promote a healthy lifestyle and enrich the lifestyles and recreational activities of Singaporeans.

Currently, there are eight WV outlets which are run by professional staff and assisted by a dedicated pool of trainers and volunteers. PAWV trainers are highly experienced and competent in the sports that they coach, with nationally recognised certifications.

PA Youth Movement

The People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) is Singapore’s largest youth organisation. Started in 1971, the PAYM caters to youths aged 12 to 35 years old, regardless of race, language or religion. PAYM is a two-tiered organisation, comprising 101 Youth Clubs based in the Community Clubs and the Central Youth Council. The PAYM inculcates a spirit of volunteerism and promotes social integration in the community through events that offer common space for youths to interact and network. As a result, PA youths build friendships, develop leadership skills, and realise their aspirations while playing their part for the community and nation.

PAYM is an organisation driven by youths for youths. It represents the multi-faceted interest of youths. Some of the youth-inspired events that PAYM has organised include “City Alive! 2009”, Singapore’s Biggest Dance Party; “YOUTHSpeak on Budget 2009”, a National-level Policy Forum; and “Heart to Heart We Serve the Community”, a series of community service activities. Overseas community service projects include trips to Cambodia, Maldives and China, such as Project “INitiate”; and Hip Hop competition “Pop Culture” amongst other international exchanges.

Programmes at PA

PA enables and encourages residents to form groups and develop friendships around common interests. PA courses, activities and interest groups are channels for residents and citizens to pursue their interests and fulfil their learning and self-improvement needs.

Lifeskills and Lifestyles- The Community Clubs (CCs) offer lifeskills and lifestyle courses to develop every aspect of your life. From cultivating your taste for fine wines and cuisine to offering you personal grooming and beauty tips; from the development of your information technology skills to classes in martial arts, dance, and sporting activities.Their three flagship programmes include: Modern Living, Citarasa Kini and PA Kiddies.

Youth- The PA recognises the importance of getting a good start in life, and they want to provide the tools and channels to help teens express themselves in the community. PA has a wide-range of youth programmes and activities like adventure, sports, and knowledge suitable for all teens. Activities for the youth are offered under the following organizations: PAYM Programmes, T-Net Programmes, NYC Programmes, and OBS Programmes.

Family- The PA runs a wide range of programmes to encourage a healthy and vibrant life. These include activities for singles, couples, young parents, grandparents and men to promote strong family bonds. Catergoies of programmes include: Family Life, Active Ageing, Women’s Programmes

Sports- The PA works through Constituency Sports Clubs (CSCs) to foster community bonding through a wide array of sports activities for residents to participate and interact with one another. The CSCs’ flagship programmes include the Community Sports Festival, the People’s Association Children’s Football League, and the Inter-Constituency Games. Other activities organised by the CSCs include brisk walks, mass swims, sports carnivals, bowling, badminton, football and sepak takraw.

Racial Harmony- The programmes organised by the PA are open to everyone. They are common spaces for people of different races, languages, religions and socio-economic backgrounds to interact and get to know one another better.

Emergency Preparedness- The PA and its Grassroots Organisations' (GROs) Emergency Preparedness Programmes seek to strengthen the understanding and ties between people of different races and religions, and build up our community's skills and knowledge in coping with emergencies. Through these Programmes, residents will learn emergency preparedness skills and get involved in emergency exercises. The objective is to help Singaporeans cope with shock and to stay calm and be resilient. This will ensure that the community stays together, and Singaporeans can return to our daily lives as quickly as possible. A wide range of Emergency Preparedness activities and programmes are organised at the constituencies all year round. Through the Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the PA and its GROs work with other emergency authorities to prepare, train and support the community to deal with emergencies which include the threat of terrorism. The initiatives include:
Community Emergency Preparedness Day, Publication of Grassroots Emergency Response Guide Book, Community Safety and Security Programme, and Community Engagement Programme.

Community Integration- PA has a series of programmes to engage and help new citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) to settle into their new environment, and to create more opportunities for interaction between new citizens/PRs and their local community.

Community Dialogue- The PA and its grassroots organisations regularly organises forums and seminars that give residents the opportunity to find out more about government policies and initiatives, to have their concerns addressed and to offer feedback to help refine policies and initiatives.

PA Talents

PA Talents is an umbrella group for more than 300 part-time musicians and dancers performing traditional, ethnic art forms. Its objective is to promote racial harmony and social cohesion through cross-cultural appreciation of music and dance. In 2006, Cultural Medallion

Cultural Medallion

The Cultural Medallion is a Singapore cultural award conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film....

 recipient Dick Lee

Dick Lee

Richard "Dick" Lee Peng Boon is a Singaporean pop singer, composer, songwriter, and playwright. He is best known as a Singapore Idol judge, but often too as spokesperson for the New Asian generation....

 was appointed its creative director.

Formerly known as the PA Cultural Talents, it was set up in 1965 as a performing unit with full-time performers to bring arts and cultural performances to the masses by performing in community centres. It was one of the first groups in Singapore to create multi-ethnic performances in the early 1980s. In 1997, following a strategic review, the group ceased having full-time performers due to limited resources and now relies on a pool of part-timers.

PA Talents consists of ten groups: five orchestras (Orkestra Melayu Singapura, the PA Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir, the Singapore Pipe Band and the Singapore Pop Orchestra), and five dance groups (the Chinese, Indian, Malay and Modern Dance Groups, and a hip-hop club). About a hundred performances are staged each year in national and grassroots shows such as the National Day Parade

National Day Parade

The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony in Singapore that, as its name implies, includes a parade on Singapore's National Day on August 9, in commemoration of Singapore's independence that is usually held at the Padang , the National Stadium, various decentalized venues all over...

 and Chingay Parade

Chingay Parade

The Chingay Parade is an annual street parade held in Penang, Malaysia and Singapore as part of Chinese New Year festivities. The term Chingay itself originated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Penang, which is a phonetic equivalent of the Chinese words "妆艺", which means "a decorated miniature...

, in commercial shows for corporations, and in cultural and diplomatic events in Singapore and abroad.

PAssion Card

Introduced in April 2005, the PAssion Card* is a membership card for the People's Association (PA). The PAssion Card serves the unique purpose of connecting members of the public with their community by engaging them via a host of exciting and wholesome activities by Community Clubs (CCs) and other PA outlets.

With the introduction of the PAssion ez-link Card with a 5-year membership, PAssion Card Members now have more reasons to rejoice as with the new ez-link function, the PAssion ez-link Card can be used for public transport (MRT, buses, SMRT taxis) and motoring needs (at selected car parks and ERP payment for cars with new IU); payment and discounts at all 105 Community Clubs (CCs) and PA Water-Venture outlets for courses, activities and facilities rental; and micro payments and privileges at many PAssion Merchants retail outlets across the island. Here’s more:

1) Enjoy a further 2% off Member’s Rate when you use the PAssion ez-link Card to pay for courses, activities and facilities
rental at any CC or PA Water-Venture outlet.
2) Earn and redeem TapForMore loyalty points by shopping at any Cold Storage, Market Place, Shop N Save, Giant and Guardian Health & Beauty stores. Earn one (1) TapForMore point for every $1 spent and use the points accumulated to offset future purchases based on 150 points for $1. What’s so great about this programme is that NO minimum spending is required.
3) NEW! Enjoy free National Library Board (NLB) Premium Membership for 5 years when you renew your membership today.
4) Enjoy movies at $7 anytime, any day at all Cathay Cineplexes and other lifestyle privileges from our list of more than 1,000 PAssion Merchant outlets island-wide.

• Terms and conditions apply.

Volunteering at PA

Volunteering with the Grassroots Organisations:

(a) Promote neighbourliness and community bonding

(b) Connect with people to forge multi-racial harmony and social cohesion, and inculcate a sense of belonging among Singaporeans

(c) Be the bridge between the Government and the people by providing feedback and helping to explain and implement government policies

(d) Help address local issues and render social assistance to needy Singaporeans

(e) Help instil a sense of social responsibility among Singaporeans

Volunteering with the Community Development Councils:

(a) Assisting the Needy

- Reach out to the needy

(b) Bonding the People

- Promote family bonding and values

- Promote multi-racial understanding

(c) Connecting the Community

- Organise activities to promote community interaction

- Improve community safety and security

- Help explain government initiatives

External links

• Official coporate website of the People's Association
• Community portal of the People's Association
• Twitter account of the People's Association
• Facebook page of the People's Association