SS Ch 4

What is one role the government plays in addressing the needs of the society? Support your answer with examples

Answer explanation

Answer: Sets up structures, policies and national programmes in a targeted manner; SCSS volunteer management toolkit 2.0 provides social service agencies with a framework and guidelines on volunteer management

Identify which group of people these efforts belong to

NCSS: National Council of Social Service (NCSS)

SSA: Social Service Agency

In addressing the needs of the elderly, how do the efforts of the government complement the efforts of community groups?

• Government agencies provides SSAs with a framework on how to manage volunteers effectively

• The government references ideas and initiatives from SSAs and implements them

• The NCSS will train volunteers in SSAs

• All of the above

How can the government and the citizens strengthen other citizens’ sense of belonging? Use an example to support your answer.

Answer explanation

1. - Government can provide every citizen wth a stake in the country’s affair

            - Build structures and fund citizens to strengthen their sense of belonging.

2. - Citizens can share common spaces, experiences and values

- Build a sense of identity and attachment to the history, people and places in a country.

E.g. Dakota Crescent

• Residents relocated to Cassia Crescent; would not feel a sense of belonging in the new place

• Community groups document rich heritage and community of Dakota Crescent, and showed the govt on the impact of the relocation on the residents

• Government: launched ‘Our Singapore Fund’, which funded the ‘Between Two Homes’ project that helped the residents resettle in Cassia Crescent.

• All of these could help preserve the memories that are formed in Dakota Crescent, and the residents of Dakota Crescent would feel like they are cared for and the memories of Dakota Crescent are present in their new home, hence developing a sense of belonging to the new place of Cassia Crescent.

In what ways did the Citizens’ Jury exhibit the citizens and governments partnership in influencing decision-making? 

Answer explanation

• Citizens: 

  • actively work together with government to craft public policy based on information analysis, debate and consensus

• Government: 

  • plays integral part in providing citizens with equal and fair opportunities to participate 

How does this show the residents' sense of belonging?

Answer explanation

• Multimedia website + educational workshops 

  • - Showed that they cared and were concerned about shaping the country’s future (educational workshops) and they took action to help one another (multimedia website) 

  • - Showed that they have unity and are attached to their fellow residents and the area around them 

Our Singapore Fund set up by the government in 2016 is aimed at…

• Supporting ground-up projects by citizens that addresses the needs of vulnerable groups of people

• 1. Supporting volunteerism groups which provides opportunities for citizens to contribute to the community

• 1. Supporting ground-up projects by citizens that builds national identity or meet social and community needs

• 2. Providing fair and equal opportunities for citizens to influence policy decision-making by allowing their voices to be heard

What positive impacts do these engagement platforms have?

Answer explanation

• - Singaporeans involved in shaping public policies → allows citizens to feel empowered and that they have a stake.

• - Get on-the-ground opinions that allow governments to gauge which approaches would solve issues most effectively

• - Gain diverse perspectives, and a better understanding of what problems are faced

It is said that Mdm Malligesvari is an elderly person herself, and she helps the elderlies through volunteering.

In what ways can the individuals work with the community groups and/or the government to help the elderlies fulfill their needs? 

Answer explanation

• - Through SSAs like RSVP Singapore: →areas of need in Singapore are identified, but they lack the manpower to help all elderlies. 

• - Individuals: can volunteer for tasks using their knowledge, skills and experience (e.g. encouragement) so that the manpower will be sufficient and more elderlies can be helped.

• - Without SSAs →individuals do not know how to help the elderly in their needs (don’t know what help the elderlies need) so individuals cannot help

 What role does the citizens play in influencing the policy making process? Support your answer with an example.

Answer explanation

Leverage on government platforms to share their views and opinions with the government; Citizens jury for the war against diabetes in 2016, the jurors provided a total of 28 recommendations and MOH supported 14 of them and explored the remaining 13.