FairPrice Share-A-Textbook marks 43 years of collective care, supporting over 280,000 students in Singapore

FairPrice Group celebrated 43 years of Share-A-Textbook on 28 November 2025 at an appreciation ceremony that honoured the partners, volunteers and schools that powered one of Singapore’s longest-running community initiatives.

The event was held at the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. It was graced by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Care Division Director Melvin Yong.

The ceremony recognised the collective efforts that have supported over 280,000 students and families since 1983.

“Share-A-Textbook is one of the longest-running and most impactful community initiatives in Singapore. Beyond the numbers, Share-A-Textbook is about people and the stories that reflect the spirit of giving,” said Mr Seah.

The programme has mobilised over 15,000 volunteers and redistributed more than 7 million textbooks, while saving an estimated 81,000 trees through reuse—a testament to both social and environmental impact.

Building a culture of giving across generations

What began in 1983 as a grassroots initiative to ease the financial burden on families by redistributing gently used textbooks, evolved into a major national effort involving schools, organisations and communities across Singapore.

Lucus Chun distributing textbooks to families at a Share-A-Textbook event, a role he has fulfilled for the past 10 years. (Photo courtesy of FairPrice Group)

Lucus Chun, 29, embodies this sustained commitment. Now in his 10^th year volunteering for Share-A-Textbook, he first joined in 2016 after spotting a newspaper advertisement when FairPrice opened the programme to members of the public.

“I’ve seen the dedication and commitment of the community—from corporate volunteers to members of the public—all coming back again and again, many are familiar faces. This makes me want to carry on in this as a long-term project,” said Mr Chun, who now guides new volunteers through the sorting and distribution process.

Over a decade, he has witnessed countless families benefit from the programme. He recalled moments when volunteers worked together to locate hard-to-find textbooks on lengthy book lists.

“Some acknowledged with a thank you, but some were just quiet. But we know that we did something for them [the beneficiaries]. With textbook costs increasing, this helps families lessen their financial burden,” he said.

NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong presents Lucus Chun with a plaque of appreciation for his decade-long commitment to Share-A-Textbook at the 43rd anniversary ceremony on 28 November 2025. (Photo courtesy of FairPrice Group)

In his remarks at the appreciation event, Mr Seah highlighted one particularly touching story—a young volunteer who joined Share-A-Textbook when she was in Primary 1, and has returned every year since then with her mum, demonstrating how “giving is truly nurtured from parent to child and from one generation to the next.”

NTUC’s commitment to education support

The appreciation ceremony also showcased how Share-A-Textbook aligns with NTUC’s broader mission of ensuring no worker is left behind.

NTUC’s Mr Yong outlined how the NTUC-U Care Fund goes beyond textbooks. By the end of 2025, NTUC and its affiliated unions will extend more than $2 million in education support for lower-income members.

"Beyond the usual bursaries and scholarships, the NTUC-U Care Fund also provides Back-to-School vouchers, which [disbursement] is ongoing right now, so members’ children can start the school year with necessary textbooks, uniforms, stationery and many other school-related materials,” he said.

Mr Yong also described the Empowering Dreams programme, a collaboration with NTUC Club that brings children of union members to exclusive experiences at events such as Formula One, Arsenal football matches, and Gardens by the Bay.

“We use our network to open up organisations to bring these children to see what’s going on behind the scenes. Many of these kids get inspired, and hopefully one day will join some of these professions,” he added.

“Each voucher, each experience represents more than just financial support. It is a message that no family has to go through this journey alone,” said Mr Yong.

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong, and guests at the “Evolving with Purpose: Everyday Made A Little Better” exhibition, showcasing FairPrice Foundation’s community programmes. (Photo courtesy of FairPrice Group)

Looking ahead together

As part of the ceremony, FairPrice Group launched “Evolving with Purpose: Everyday Made A Little Better,” a special community exhibition showcasing the effort behind Share-A-Textbook and how FairPrice Group and FairPrice Foundation uplift communities through various programmes.

The exhibition is open to the public until 6 December 2025 at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre.

Mr Seah called on Singaporeans to strengthen community bonds through simple, everyday acts of care: “In a world where divisions are deepening, Singapore never takes our racial and religious progress for granted.

“We must continue to protect and nurture the multicultural society that we built through respect, showing empathy and by supporting each other.”

Mr Yong echoed this sentiment, looking forward to celebrating Share-A-Textbook’s Golden Jubilee in just a few years.

“We can't do this alone. We need everyone here and more outside of this room to continue this journey with us, so together, let us continue to build a community where no child is left behind, and education is a shared responsibility, a shared joy and, more importantly, a shared investment in our future,” he said.

For regular volunteer Mr Chun, the commitment is clear: “We should build a more inclusive and compassionate society,” he said, affirming he will continue volunteering for years to come.

The Share-A-Textbook distribution drive continues until 6 December 2025 at selected FairPrice outlets. Click here for more information on donating or volunteering.