Opening Address by SPS Shawn Huang at Yellow Ribbon Cares Family Day 2026

Mr Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower, Universal Studios Singapore

Mr Joshua Tay, Deputy Chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Cares Board of Directors

Distinguished guests, volunteers, families, parents, and children 

Ladies and gentlemen

A very good morning to everyone! This is truly a wonderful place to be on a Saturday morning!

2. Universal Studios Singapore is one of the most exciting places to spend a Saturday morning, and I am truly happy to be here with all of you to celebrate Yellow Ribbon Cares' inaugural Family Day.

3. This is my first time attending this event, and it is wonderful to see everyone gathered here today. I look around and I see families together, and a whole adventure ahead of you. This is exactly what today is about, the joy, the togetherness, and the simple but powerful reminder that every family deserves a day like this.

About Family Day 2026

4. Family Day is an annual initiative by Yellow Ribbon Cares, and it is one that I think is deeply meaningful. At its heart, it is about bringing families together, to laugh, to play, to create memories that will last a long time after today. In our busy lives, it is easy to let time slip by. Events like this remind us to pause, to be present, and to cherish the people we love most.

5. And what better place to do that than here at Universal Studios Singapore, a place built entirely around the joy of shared experiences. I hope every family here today leaves with a story to tell and a memory to treasure.

About Yellow Ribbon Cares

6. But today is also an opportunity to recognise the important work that Yellow Ribbon Cares does daily. Yellow Ribbon Cares was formed through the coming together of three organisations, Yellow Ribbon Fund, Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS) and NeuGen Fund, and they are united by a shared mission to support families and help them grow stronger together.

7. Through practical support such as milk and diaper assistance, home improvement efforts, family engagement activities and workshops, Yellow Ribbon Cares works to create more stable and nurturing home environments. And through dedicated programmes for children such as bursary awards, sponsored tuition, after-school activities, and counselling services, Yellow Ribbon Cares invests in our next generation, helping children build the academic foundations and mental resilience that they need to thrive.

8. Central to all of this are the case managers and Family Befrienders, who walk alongside families, build trusted relationships, and connect them to the right support at the right time. Let us put our hands together to thank our case managers and our Family Befrienders! 

9. On this note, I would like to share a story that stayed with me. Jenna, not her real name, is an 11-year-old student balancing eight subjects in Madrasah while participating in swimming programmes under Yellow Ribbon Cares' after-school activities. Raised by a single mother working part-time to support the family, Jenna threw herself into her sponsored tuition sessions and made significant progress in Mathematics, gaining confidence along the way. Her story is one of perseverance, discipline, and quiet courage, the courage to keep going even when things are not easy.

10. The story reminds us that when a community comes together to support a child, we can do more than meet immediate needs. We nurture confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.

Supporting Families, Building Futures

11. And the impact of that community support does not stop at childhood. I would like to share the story of Selwyn.

12. Selwyn's journey is one of remarkable determination. A few years ago, he made the courageous decision to pursue a degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, even while navigating one of the most challenging periods of his life. With the support of the STAR Bursary, he was able to pursue his studies and invest in his own future.

13. That commitment never wavered. As he transitioned back into the workforce, Selwyn took on a role as a Customer Service Officer, balancing work, his studies, and the demands of daily life all at once. Through it all, he kept his eyes on the horizon. Just recently, his perseverance paid off. Selwyn has secured a new role as a Supply Chain Coordinator, starting on 15 June, directly aligned with his field of study. He is also on track to complete his degree in the next two years.

14. Selwyn's story is a powerful reminder that with determination, education, and the right community behind you, it is never too late to pursue a brighter future and build a life you are proud of.

15. It is stories like Selwyn's that also remind us why broader support at the national level matters. For parents who are on the journey of rebuilding their careers, there is help available, from career advisory and job matching services through Workforce Singapore, to hiring incentives like the Uplifting Employment Credit, which encourages employers to open their doors and give individuals a fair chance. These are pathways to dignity, stability, and a better future for the whole family.

16. And one of the most powerful enablers of that rebuilding is employment itself. Work provides more than just income. It provides dignity, purpose, and the structure and stability that allow individuals and families to move forward with confidence. This is why employment sits at the core of Yellow Ribbon Singapore's work, galvanising society to uplift individuals through skills and career development.

Appreciation

17. None of today would be possible without the generosity of our partners and volunteers. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow and Julius Baer Singapore for sponsoring today's event and for mobilising your staff to be here with us. I understand we have 30 volunteers with us today, thank you for giving so generously your time, energy, and care. Let us give the volunteers a big round of applause, please. And to Resorts World Sentosa, thank you for your support in making this wonderful venue possible.

Closing

18. To all the families here today, I hope that you enjoy every moment of this special day. Cherish the laughter, the adventures, and the time spent together. And to the children, have the most amazing day at Universal Studios!

19. With that, have a good day! Thank you!