Every Family Matters: NTUC Care (Education Awards) 2025 supports members and their children

As the year draws to a close, many families are already looking ahead to a new school year. For some, this season can be a challenging one — balancing expenses while ensuring their children have what they need for school.

That’s where the NTUC Care (Education Awards) 2025 comes in.

Held on 12 and 19 October, the annual event brought together NTUC members and their families to celebrate their children’s achievements and support their learning journeys.

This year, 534 beneficiaries received a total of $170,400 in awards, along with a 12-month Singtel prepaid mobile service to help them stay connected to online learning resources.

Each award represented more than just financial help — it was a gesture of encouragement and a reminder that no family walks this journey alone.

Behind every award lies a story of perseverance, gratitude and dreams for the next generation.

A mother’s gratitude and a family’s dream

For Noorizah Mohamed Noor, 46, NTUC has been a steady companion through life’s ups and downs.

She first joined the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) while working as a banquet coordinator at Four Seasons Hotel. Over the years, even as she switched jobs and later became a freelance speech and drama teacher, she remained an NTUC member.

"Whenever I needed help at work, or some assistance to tide through rough times, NTUC was always there to lend a helping hand,” she said.

Two of her children, Puteri Alya Nur Farzanah and Muhammad Putra Fiqkhry, received the award this year — a proud moment for the family.

"Beyond these yearly funds, my family has benefitted from various programmes, like the Back-To-School vouchers. We were also able to enjoy family time at places like Wild Wild Wet with NTUC's support," she said.

Her husband works as a delivery driver while she does her part to level up and stretch the family’s income.

“While we live humble lives now, we have big dreams for our children. I brought them along with me to experience the gratitude for the extra help. And I hope, one day, my five children will pay this forward when they land in good careers later in life too,” she said.

Finding strength on the road

Chua Sim Yee, 48, knows what it means to work hard for his loved ones. A private hire driver and sole breadwinner for his family of five, he appreciates NTUC’s efforts to advocate for self-employed and platform workers.

"I have been in the self-employed industry for many years. I started off being an insurance agent and now moved to driving for a living. Therefore, it makes a difference that our livelihoods are taken care of," he said

His two children, Shermaine and Brayden, were among this year’s award recipients. The support, he shared, has helped ease the family’s financial load

"The extra support from NTUC gives my family a lift-up, especially for our kids. And for me, it matters that my voice is heard,” he shared.

While he enjoys the flexibility and more time to spend with his three children as a private hire driver, he hopes that the welfare of the workers in the industry will be enhanced.

And for now, he is keen to take up new courses and utilise his yearly credits through the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP).

Lighting the way ahead

For Gayathri Kulathungan, 41, this year’s awards brought extra cheer to her family’s Deepavali celebrations.

"It is all about positive vibes as both my children are recognised for their hardwork. I plan to give them a treat and set aside some funds to cover their tuition fees," she said.

Mdm Gayathri, an administrative executive, first became an NTUC member about a decade ago when she opened an OCBC account and discovered the benefits of membership.

"I am happy that NTUC is supportive of working parents' dreams of giving our children a headstart in life," she added.

Her children, Sai Yadhav Rajasundaram and Sai Yashoda Rajasundaram, are both passionate learners.

"Education is the way forward for our kids to secure a bright future. And I thank NTUC for walking with us on this journey,” said Madam Gayathri, who hopes to tap on other initiatives led by the Labour Movement in supporting educational needs of members’ children.

And as a keen learner herself, she hopes to put her UTAP credits to good use, especially in learning new skills of her trade. The next opportunity she can ride on is the NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP App).

Small savings, big difference

When Lin Shiqi, 37, enrolled her child in My First Skool, she discovered the broader NTUC community behind it.

"That’s when I first heard about NTUC membership — and realised there’s so much more than just preschool benefits," she said.

Today, as a mother of three, she enjoys monthly Linkpoints, grocery savings at NTUC FairPrice, and dining perks at Kopitiam outlets.

“As a family of five, with three kids, we shop regularly at NTUC FairPrice stores for our groceries and other household needs. We also dine at Kopitiam outlets where we tap on our Linkpoints through the NTUC FairPrice Group app,” she said.

Ms Lin, who works in the accounting field, and her husband, who is a private hire driver, value how these benefits help them manage household expenses.

“On top of these benefits, it is encouraging that our children have also now received some support for their learning needs. I hope this will help to cheer on our daughter, Kristabel, to do better at school,” said Ms Lin.

In the near future, she is keen to ride on other deals that are offered for NTUC members and their families.

Standing together, growing together

For NTUC, the Care (Education Awards) are more than just an annual event — they reflect the Labour Movement’s enduring commitment to support working families, nurture the next generation, and help every member progress together.

Because at the heart of it all, NTUC’s belief remains the same: Every family matters.

Are you an NTUC member? Discover how NTUC can support you and your family through every stage of life. Join us here.