Temasek InfoTech School received a request from the Peoples’ Association (PA) Tampines East Constituency Office, to assist in a community project to help members of the public apply for their Progress Package online on Sunday, 2nd April 2006. Together with three other MPs, the Minister for National Development, Mr. Mah Bow Tan officiated at the launch of this event at the Tampines North Community Club.

InfoTech School’s Students’ Club was mobilized and within 2 days 36 students rallied to help at this event. The students first attended a training session to familiarize themselves with the application process. Then, on 2 April, the students reported at the Community Club at 8am and helped to usher and guide more than 500 Tampines residents and grassroot leaders into the venue. After the dialogue session, the students quickly converted the hall into 10 stations for the residents to sign up for their Progress Package.

Apart from the student helpers, two lecturers, Ms Josephine Tan and Mr. Jonathan Pillai from Diploma in Internet and Multimedia Development, helped to design a multimedia launch package for this event.

Mr. Ivan Lee, Senior Constituency Manager, Tampines East Constituency Office had this to say: ‘Your students were helpful and always prepared to do more for us. Our residents were very appreciative of your students' dedicated service and positive attitude. Many senior citizens and low-income families would have faced problems signing up for their Progress Package if not for them.’

It was a good experience for the InfoTech students and marks the start of more opportunities to contribute to the community.