Volunteer Leaders and VWO Staff Celebrate VSMP Completion

It was a celebratory occasion as 50 graduates from the YMCA-NUS Business School Volunteer Service Management Programme 2015 received their certificates during the commencement ceremony at YMCA of Singapore on 11 March 2016. Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman Of National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and Advisory Council Member of YMCA of Singapore graced the occasion as the Guest-of-Honour.

In her address, Mrs Tan shared that the YMCA-NUS Business School Volunteer Service Management Programme (VSMP) is a good training programme to help lay the foundation for volunteers and staff in the social service sector to enhance their professional skills and experiences so that they are better equipped to serve.

She said, “As an integral part of all community initiatives, volunteers help to meet social and community needs. They are a complementary resource that works alongside social service staff to build the community. With the VSMP training, volunteers and staff can create sustainable improvements and grow in their respective roles.”

Introduced in 2007, the VSMP is the first comprehensive management certification course in Singapore that equips volunteers and staff in the social service sector with the skills and knowledge to execute their projects successfully. Participants of Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes (YFC) are given the option of signing up for the VSMP to learn skills for their fundraising projects.

Mr Leslie Wong, Vice President, YMCA of Singapore, shared that to date, the programme has trained over 250 volunteers and staff from more than 100 non-profit organisations and over 370 youths from Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes. “I’m heartened to share that the VSMP has been well received by participants, who expressed appreciation for a platform that enable them to learn from the experienced trainers, and also share experiences and exchange ideas with others in the social service sector. For instance, participants from YFC managed to use the fundraising and financial management skills they learnt to successfully execute their projects and raise awareness and funds for the voluntary welfare organisations of their choice. Such feedback and results have encouraged the YMCA to continue offering the VSMP to train and develop the capability of participants to more effectively serve the social service sector.”

The next run of VSMP will be held in September 2016 for volunteers and staff from Voluntary Welfare Organisations. Should you wish to find out more about the programme, please contact Li Chye at lichye@ymca.org.sg.

Click here to view more photos of the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156808241450657.1073741889.238414825656&type=1