Online portal to help prospective citizens integrate
Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, March 14
SINGAPORE: Prospective citizens can now log on to the Singapore
Citizenship Journey portal to learn more about Singapore’s history and
culture, to help them integrate.
They must register on the Singapore Citizenship Journey before they
can become full—fledged citizens. In addition, they also have to visit
places of historical significance here and attend grassroots events.
But some new citizens are finding other ways to integrate better —
such as through volunteer work.
Former Japanese citizen Tanaka Miyuki was clueless about Singapore
culture when she first came over after marrying a Singaporean 38 years
ago.
Through her friend’s recommendation, she started volunteering 13
years ago, by helping to cut hair at a hospital. She said that she has
benefited from meeting so many patients.
Associations also encourage new citizens to volunteer.
Kazuo Sugino, secretary—general, The Japanese Association of
Singapore said: "These kind of volunteers — they become friends.
Sometimes they go out together and go to hawker centres and eat. This is
a good interaction."
— CNA/sc