“I Felt Relieved”: How The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund Lifted a Father’s Financial Worries

Mr Ng is the sole breadwinner for the family of seven with five children. Our staff got to know the family when one of the children got into some trouble & was referred to Guidance Programme (GP) at Youth Guidance Outreach Services (YGOS) Geylang Centre in Aug 2022. After understanding more about the financial situation of the family, our staff introduced the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) to the family. Since then, YGOS has helped four of the children to apply for STSPMF while they are studying in primary, secondary school, ITE & polytechnics respectively. Mr Ng is one of the STSPMF applicants whose children have benefited from STSPMF.

For this family of seven, every morning begins with a race against time. Living in a modest home with five children, the family has learnt to adapt to the daily hustle of sharing limited space and resources. “Every morning, we have to queue up for the toilet just to wash up before heading to work and school,” the father shared with a smile. As the sole breadwinner, he starts his day early, making sure the youngest child gets safely to school, while the older siblings travel on their own.

At home, his wife shoulders the responsibility of caring for the household. From preparing meals to man

aging the endless chores, she works tirelessly behind the scenes. Among all the responsibilities, laundry remains one of the biggest challenges. With seven family members, the washing seems never-ending, yet she continues to care for her family with quiet resilience and determination.

Like many families today, rising living costs have placed additional pressure on their finances. Daily necessities, transport, school expenses, and household bills continue to increase, making it difficult to stretch every dollar. The father admitted that there were moments of worry about whether he could continue to provide enough for his children’s needs.

Relief came when the family learnt that their children could benefit from The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The support became a meaningful source of encouragement for the family during a challenging period. “I felt relieved when I found out that my children could benefit from STSPMF,” he shared. “Living standards are getting higher and more expensive.”

The pocket money support has helped ease the burden of daily school expenses and enabled the children to purchase better school materials for their studies. Simple items such as stationery, notebooks, and meals in school can add up quickly, especially for a large family. With the assistance, the children are able to focus better in school without worrying as much about financial limitations.

Despite the challenges they face, the parents remain hopeful for the future. Their greatest wish is for their children to grow up healthy, stay grounded, and pursue their dreams confidently. The father shared that he and his wife will continue to support their children in every way they can, believing that education and perseverance can open doors to a better future.