North East CDC Signs 11 New Partnerships to Boost Community Support and Volunteerism

The North East Community Development Council (NE CDC) has signed 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with seven new and four returning partners to strengthen support for residents, expand community programmes and encourage greater volunteerism across Singapore’s North East District.

The agreements were signed at NE CDC’s annual District Meeting, held in conjunction with the Neo Kah Kiat Arts Awards. The partnerships bring together funding, professional expertise and employee volunteers to sustain assistance for lower-income residents and families, create more opportunities for skills and youth development, and encourage greater corporate and community participation.

The collaborations will also support NE CDC’s wider efforts to connect residents with employment opportunities and strengthen family and intergenerational bonds.

The event marked the appointment of NE CDC’s 10th Term Council and the unveiling of its direction for the new term. Guided by the principles of Care, Connect, Collaborate and Inclusivity, the council aims to build on existing support for residents while creating more opportunities for individuals and organisations to contribute to the North East community.

The District Meeting was attended by Guest-of-Honour Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, alongside Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mayor of North East District.

Among the seven organisations formalising their collaborations with NE CDC for the first time are Applied Materials South East Asia Pte Ltd, BYD Singapore, Changi General Hospital, Global Schools Group, Hao Ren Hao Shi, Suncare SG Ltd and Temasek Polytechnic.

Four existing partners, Koh Kock Leong Enterprise Pte Ltd, Thakral Corporation Ltd, TOP International Holding and Zhi Zhen Tan Dao Xue Hui (Singapore), will continue their support under the renewed agreements.

Beyond the MOUs, NE CDC outlined several initiatives aimed at addressing residents’ needs through a broader range of community support. These include strengthening assistance for lower-income households through school and medical transport, financial aid, groceries and healthcare essentials.

The council will also expand training, mentorship and applied learning opportunities for youths and the wider community. Sector-focused career fairs will be organised to help residents connect with potential employers and explore job opportunities.

Family and youth development will remain another priority, with more family-oriented programmes planned to strengthen family relationships and intergenerational connections. NE CDC also hopes to create more opportunities for youth leadership, volunteerism and community involvement.

In support of artists with disabilities, NE CDC will launch Shaping Hearts Connect, an initiative that invites corporations and individuals to contribute their professional expertise and networks to create more opportunities for these artists. The council will also continue growing its volunteer network and corporate involvement, encouraging more people to contribute their time and skills to community initiatives.

Meanwhile, Shaping Hearts 2026 raised $769,385 through contributions, artwork sales and auction proceeds following an art auction at the District Meeting. The funds will support its artist network and provide more opportunities for artists with disabilities to showcase, share and sell their creations.

This year’s Shaping Hearts initiative involved 253 artists and 41 social service agencies, an increase from 192 artists and 27 agencies previously.

Support from Mr Neo Kah Kiat, Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of Neo Group Limited, has also helped open up further opportunities for participating artists. More than 10 artworks have been commissioned for the Singapore Lam Ann Association’s 100th anniversary celebrations, while more than five artists have been featured in Neo Group’s 2026 tabletop calendar.

The evening also saw the presentation of 16 Neo Kah Kiat Arts Awards across six categories, recognising artistic achievements and contributions.