On May 25, SSA presented two cheques totaling S$195,346 (of which S$147.961 was for Sichuan and S$47,385 for Myanmar) to Mercy Relief (MR) in support of the relief efforts in disaster-hit Myanmar and Sichuan, China. The donations were collected from members over two weeks. This amount also includes S$2,250 collected from the Soka Kindergarten students and teachers who made cards and handicraft to bee sold at a project Open House on May 22.
Chairman of MR, Mr T K Udairam, was at SSA’s Sunday Prayer meeting attended by more than 1,300 members. He extended his gratitude to SSA and its members for their continued support for MR’s humanitarian relief work and shared with them on the extent of assistance that have been extended by MR to the victims in Sichuan and Myanmar. He shared, “No humanitarian outfit can be effective by being on its own. Acute disaster relief or rebuilding efforts must be a collective effort by like-minded organizations. We owe our highest gratitude to the Singapore Soka Association and to all your members for once again supporting Mercy Relief in aid of victims of natural disasters.”
Mr Ong Bon Chai, Chairman of SSA, said: “The SSA members have responded generously within such a short notice, and SSA is glad to be able to play some small part in the effort to help our Asian friends in their hour of need.” With its good track record in dealing with major disaster relief in Aceh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, SSA is confident MR will continue to personally and effectively oversee the delivery of aid to the victims in Myanmar and China.
SSA’s efforts was highlighted in May 26’s The Straits Times, pg 8.
