Singapore, 18 July 2019 (Thursday) – Kim Hin International Pte Ltd (Kim Hin International), the company behind childcare and maternity brands – Mothercare, Early Learning Centre, Snapkis and Mimosa – has made a generous contribution of S$500,000 to set up the Pang Leong Chwee Scholarship at the Singapore Management University (SMU).  The scholarship, named after company founder Mr Pang Kim Hin’s late father, aims to inspire talented undergraduates to pursue a career in retail.  

The gift and new scholarship were officially announced at Mr Pang Kim Hin’s 70th birthday celebration held on 14 July 2019.  Mr Pang established the scholarship to honour his father, the late Mr Pang Leong Chwee.

Starting from Academic Year 2019-2020, the Pang Leong Chwee Scholarship will be awarded annually in perpetuity to two full-time undergraduates pursuing the Retail and Services Management Track (under the Marketing Major) or studying retail-related modules at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

Candidates for this scholarship must also have a good track record of leadership and service, be in good academic standing, and demonstrate financial need.  The bond-free scholarship, which offers financial support towards the recipients’ annual tuition fees and other study-related expenses, is valued at $11,250 per award.  Recipients will also be given the opportunity to participate in an internship programme with Kim Hin International and/or one of its designated firms or subsidiary companies in Asia.  One of Kim Hin International’s subsidiary company is Kim Hin Joo Berhad, which had just recently been listed and made its debut trading on the Malaysian Ace Market.

[Photo: SMU President, Professor Lily Kong (left), receiving the gift from Mr Pang Kim Soon (centre) and Mr Pang Kim Hin (right) at Mr Pang Kim Hin’s 70th birthday celebration held on 14 July 2019.]

SMU President, Professor Lily Kong, said, “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Mr Pang Kim Hin and Kim Hin International for their generosity.  This new gift and scholarship will enable less privileged students to focus on their studies and enjoy a fulfilling university life that is free from financial worry.  Open to students taking the Retail and Services Management Track and retail-related modules, the scholarship also supports the endeavours of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business and the SMU Retail Centre of Excellence to inspire the younger generation to recognise the potential and opportunities of a career in retail of the future.”

Inaugural scholarship recipients (AY2019-2020)

The inaugural recipients of the Pang Leong Chwee Scholarship are two promising third-year undergraduates, Germaine Kho Mei Yoke and Jerlyn Ng Zi Ling, both of whom have expressed keen interest in the retail and services industry.

[Photo: Inaugural recipients of the Pang Leong Chwee Scholarship – third-year SMU undergraduates, Jerlyn Ng Zi Ling (L) Germaine Kho Mei Yoke (R).]

Germaine is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences, with a first major in Psychology and a second major in Marketing, specialising in the Retail and Services Management track.  Coming from a humble family background, Germaine hopes that the scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial burden on her parents, who are supporting two children through university.  She has served as SMU Handball’s Vice President and represents the University in the the sport.  Besides leading a community service project with SMU Handball last year, she is also a volunteer for a community service project organised by Youth Corps and is currenting doing an internship at TOUCH Youth Community Services.  Through her first part-time job in retail, Germaine realised that she enjoys interacting with people and experiences a strong sense of satisfaction upon seeing the smiles on her customers’ faces.  She also believes in creating a positive impact on society.

“Many people have contributed to who I am today.  I feel that it is important to keep in mind that we are not lone islands and whatever we have achieved today is the contribution of many others. With this in mind, I see myself being continually involved in community service and making an effort, no matter how small, to help others to the best of my abilities,” said Germaine.

Jerlyn is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Management.  Her keen interest in retail and supply chain management has led her to take up courses in the field of marketing and operations strategy.  Jerlyn represents SMU in Ultimate Frisbee and dedicates her time outside of school to serving the community.  She is an active volunteer at Hampers with a Heart, a welfare organisation which delivers hampers to underprivileged families in the Ayer Rajah area, and SMU Kidleidoscope, a student-led initiative which aims to inspire disadvantaged children through engagements in arts and craft.

She shared, “I am really thankful for this opportunity to be selected as the inaugural recipient of the Pang Leong Chwee Scholarship as well as the chance to work within the retail sector.  The Scholarship will certainly help to ease the financial burden of the school fees on me and my family.  I will continue to work hard and give my best in everything I do!”

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About Kim Hin International

Kim Hin International (KHI) is a Singapore family-owned business specialising in the mother and child category. The Group runs the specialist retail chain stores Mothercare and Early Learning Centre in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The Entertainer, an UK-based retail toy business, will be joining the Group’s Malaysian operations in 2020.

Mothercare is a specialist retailer from United Kingdom that aims to make life easier for mums & dads for pregnancy, babies, toddlers and early years.
 
Mothercare started trading in Singapore in 1985. Now, we have 12 stores island-wide with our flagship store located at HarbourFront Centre, Level 3. The flagship store showcases our full range of children's furniture, pushchairs, car seats and travel cots, and is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest range of baby equipment in Singapore in 2010.

We have a strong reputation in our specialism, quality, safety and innovation in our products and services for mothers, mothers-to-be, babies and young children. Parents need more than products, they need wisdom. We take pride in the fact that we've got the products and the people to manage that wonderful, frustrating, hilarious, serious, exhausting and rewarding process call parenting.

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