Educating with a HeartLatest News
MDIS held its 22nd Scholarship & Bursary Awards Ceremony on 27 May, awarding $294,200 in scholarships and bursaries to 424 beneficiaries.
This year, in a demonstration of its strong commitment in helping deserving and needful students develop to their fullest potential, the institute awarded special bursaries worth $5,000 each to two recipients to extend extra help to them and their families.
“For the past 22 years, MDIS has been a constant support to deserving and needful students and their families. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background and circumstances, should have the equal chance for an education and receive the same opportunities their peers enjoy,” said Dr R Theyvendran, Secretary-General of MDIS.
Extending Extra Help to Beneficiaries
Beneficiary of the special bursary, Jerlyn Loh, aged 14 shared, “My parents and I are very thankful for MDIS’ big-hearted gesture. The bursaries mean a lot to me and my family, and it motivates me to strive harder despite an extremely stressful and difficult time in our lives. My parents will receive some relief for the substantial amount of medical expenses for the family. The award has inspired me to believe that I can make it through difficult times if I think positively and move forward”.
Jerlyn shares the burden of care for a brother stricken with end stage renal failure, rushing back from school every day to assist her brother with his dialysis set up. Jerlyn herself was recently diagnosed with a hypoplastic kidney and would require long term medical attention.
The second beneficiary of the MDIS special bursary, 13 year-old Toh De En shared, “I am very grateful for the generous help MDIS has extended to me and my family. The bursary will go a long way in helping us tide through difficult times. It will also provide me the chance to pursue my interests and expand my horizons.”
The special bursaries are in addition to the $400 bursaries both Jerlyn and De En will receive, awarded to recipients at the secondary and post-secondary school levels.
Supporting Special Education Needs
Another key focus for MDIS is helping students from Special Education Schools realise their potential and providing them with opportunities to pursue their interests. In total, 36 children and youth with mild intellectual disability, autism, multiple disabilities and/or hearing impairment from 13 Special Education Schools will benefit from the awards.
Elhann Bin Sudirman is an earnest Primary 4 student at the Singapore School for the Deaf. Elhann’s dream is to travel the world, which would allow him to experience destinations and cultures visually to enrich his learning and knowledge.
His mother, Mdm Suhanah Bte Supari has single-handedly raised Elhann and his two brothers since her husband’s passing. She said, “We are very thankful for MDIS’ generosity. This bursary will open up doors to experiences for Elhann which he would not have access to otherwise.”
MDIS awarded other bond-free bursaries to 371 local students from secondary, post-secondary and tertiary levels; and 17 local and international recipients for their pre-degree and degree studies.
The MDIS Scholarship & Bursary Awards are a part of the institute’s continued pledge to give back to the community; a pledge it has kept for more than 30 years now. MDIS’ first charitable event was held for 800 children from 18 charity homes back in 1983. To date, the institute has disbursed nearly $6 million worth of scholarships and bursaries to some 7,500 beneficiaries. The bursaries and scholarships are awarded through the MDIS Education Trust Fund.