CDAC gives $400 e-vouchers to needy families for school expenses

About 8,500 low-income families will receive $400 worth of e-vouchers each from the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) to help defray expenses for their school-going children and prepare for the new school year.

- Chin Hui Shan

Announced at the 22nd annual Ready for School event organised by CDAC on Dec 7, these vouchers help to cover the cost of transport, essential school supplies and other educational needs.

More than $3 million in vouchers will be disbursed to CDAC beneficiaries, said the nonprofit, self-help group for the Chinese community. In 2024, CDAC disbursed more than $3 million in vouchers, benefiting 8,300 families.

CDAC said it is also setting aside $47 million to expand its education programmes and support families in 2026, with more details to be announced in the new year.

CDAC is one of four ethnic-based self-help groups in Singapore, along with the Singapore Indian Development Association, the Eurasian Association and Yayasan Mendaki.

Among those receiving the e-vouchers is Madam Suo Sivcheng, 44, who has two children - a daughter aged 11 and a son aged seven.