The SIM-NTUC Sponsorship programme aims to help deserving people better themselves.

Two years ago, well into her second year of engineering studies at the National University of Singapore, Lim Yan Yong was forced to leave school to start working. Her parents' recent divorce coupled with her mother's unemployment meant that the family was cash strapped.

But, Yan Yong never gave it up. So last year, she applied for the SIM-NTUC sponsorship, a program for union members that subsidizes half the total course fees for a long distance degree program with The Open University UK. This year, five members were selected for the sponsorship.

Yan Yong, 25, will pursue a Psychology degree with a minor in business, starting this year. It's quite different from her initial course of study, but in truth engineering bored her Currently working as a logistics specialist at a shipping firm, Yan Yong hopes her degree will help her make a career switch.

She hopes to find a more people-related job, preferably in counseling, having volunteered at childcare services and done peer-to-peer counseling before.

"I realized after I started working that qualifications do matter whether you like it or not. I felt I could definitely contribute and do so much more, but without a degree, the opportunities were just not there. I used to think that as long as you work hard and are capable enough, people would see that. But I realized that your salary is also very much tied to your qualifications."

Like Yan Yong, 30 year-old Bisharat Banu, another of this year's winners, also opted for a course in psychology. As a senior officer with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Bisharat aims to put what she learns to good use at her current job, or she might switch to counseling.

"As a customs officer, we see a lot of people everyday and have to look out for signs of guilt. Taking psychology will allow me to better understand and study people's behaviour. And it's also always been my dream to get a degree."

Bisharat's path to her dream was harder than for most. Graduating from the ITE, she took her 'A' levels as a private student, relying on 10-year exam series and textbooks to study Management, History, Tamil and GP all on her own. She passed the exams last year and then signed up for the sponsorship as the logical step towards fulfilling her goal.

"It would have been much more difficult financially to do this course if not for the sponsorship and I'm very grateful to all the organizations involved."

Adrian Yew is prepared to juggle time while working toward his Computer Science degree. Having studied IT at Ngee Ann Polytechnic some seven years ago, Adrian, 26, felt that it was time to upgrade his knowledge and also hopefully earn more.

As a systems administrator with Banyan Tree Resorts, he works till at least 7 pm every evening. To factor studies into his timetable, Adrian sees himself sacrificing leisure activities like sports. On the positive side, studying will help him be a more organized person, better able to prioritize and focus.

"The sponsorship is definitely a bonus for me. I would still have continued my studies if I hadn't won, but with it, my burden is not so much to bear."

Take Five

Five awardees are selected each year for the SIM-NTUC Sponsorship. Initiated in 2003 by NTUC, the sponsorship is meant to develop the potential of worthy union members. Selection is based on applicants' academic and extra curricular track records in volunteerism and social work. Winners can choose from a range of courses including Psychology, Business Finance, Computer Science, Multimedia Design, Engineering and Mathematics.