Launched in 1995, Lions Befrienders’ (LB) vision is to see a nation where every senior is active, happy and healthy. To date, LB has benefitted more than 86,000 lonely and socially isolated seniors. They adopted a senior-centric approach in its eldercare services, through Befriending, Senior Activity Centre and Cluster Support.  LB leaves no seniors behind by providing friendship and care for seniors to age in place with community participation, enabling them to enjoy meaningful and enriching lives.

Since 2018, Kinderland has been partnering LB, building the bridge for our children to bring joy and colours to the lives of many lonely elderlies.  Embracing empathy through intended learning is one of the keys to nurturing a Kinderland child to be a global citizen with a heart. This is an integral part to the Kinderland’s Character Development programme. The harmony in our goals birthed this partnership.

Kinderland gave back through our CSR efforts via fund raising activities such as the Kindness Carnival and selling of crafts made by the Kinderland children across various centres. The collective efforts from Kinderland and donations of close to $18, 000 in 2018 and more than $12,000 in 2019 were recognised by Lion Befrienders. As such, we have been awarded the Lion Befrienders Donor Awards (Bronze) for our initiative and involvement in 2019 and 2020.

Donor Award (Bronze)

One of the most significant events was the annual carnival held at Kinderland Academy @ Yio Chu Kang. In 2018 and 2019, Kinderland Academy @ Yio Chu Kang organised a Kindness Carnival to raise funds for the vulnerable seniors at Lions Befrienders. The teachers and little ones prepared and packed games, crafts, food and beverages to be sold during the carnival. Through mending the food and drink stalls, our children also had the experience of being little entrepreneurs.

Students and teacher from Kinderland Academy @Yio Chu Kang packing drinks for sale at the 2019 carnival to raise funds for Lion Befrienders

Our children from Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of Manpower with their little booth of toys and crafts for sale at the Little Entrepreneur Project in 2018 to raise funds for Lions Befrienders.

In 2020, to replace the lack of physical interaction the kids have with the seniors, greeting cards and hand-sewn masks were donated to our elderly friends at LB.

Our children from Kinderland Preschool @ Choa Chu Kang (Beside Lot One) with the items generously contributed by parents for the gift packs donation (2020)

Covid-19 has highlighted and brought forth many challenges for many of us and even more so our senior friends at LB. We look forward to continuing our partnership with LB, supporting them in providing friendship and care to the seniors. We hope to see them age in grace, love and good cheer.