SINGAPORE – The Children’s Aid Society aims to hit its $22 million target by 2024 to build Melrose Village, a residential care service and a counselling centre for children and youth suffering from trauma.
On Friday, it took another step towards that goal when it managed to raise about $410,000 at its Dine for Good gala dinner at the Shangri-La Singapore. The money will help it rebuild its new home, to be located in Clementi Road.
It has now raised nearly $7 million since announcing its plans in 2019 to build the village.
The charity, one of Singapore’s oldest, also marked its Beyond 120 anniversary celebration on Friday.
The children’s home, which is Singapore’s oldest, moved from the Clementi Road building it had occupied for about 50 years to a temporary site in Boon Lay Avenue in 2019.
Its premises in Clementi Road were deemed unsafe for habitation due to asbestos contamination. Asbestos, which was once used in building materials, can cause serious health issues such as cancer. Its use has been banned in Singapore since the late 1980s.