The Straits Times / The Business Times News on Best World

Reaching out

May 28, 2007
The Business Times

Are businesses here doing enough to support the community and its underprivileged members in particular? What should be done to create a culture of corporate philanthropy in Singapore?

WHO should help the poor or needy - the government, charities, corporates or those who are gifted with reasonably good wealth and education? The government can create an even more favourable environment for the involvement of the people and corporate sectors in charity, philanthropy and voluntarism. If you give a person things long enough, they will feel entitled to getting it as a gift, and will get indignant when you stop. If they work for something and earn it, they will feel a sense of accomplishment that nobody can ever give them. Entrepreneurs and companies can create job opportunities to help poor persons work their way out of their poverty. Everyone has its role to contribute to society at large, whether as a parent, leader, government or entrepreneur. Parents and the society play a great role in a child's upbringing. A good set of value system gives a child foundation and also teaches a child to develop his dignity, confidence and his virtue of serving others.

Dora Hoan
Group CEO
Best World International Ltd