FAQ
We often receive questions on the following topics, and thought that you might find it useful to have the answers here:
What is Mendaki Club (MClub) and what do we do?
Mendaki Club is a community of Malay/Muslim young professionals and students who are actively involved in local and international affairs. It strives to engage them in a range of activities, and on issues of current interest, that can contribute to making them world-ready and globally competitive.
How does MClub contribute to society?
Service is a key component of many of our programmes. Our Young Minds Club, for instance, is an enrichment programme with a core Service Learning component. Such activities allow us to contribute to society while at the same time inspiring our young through the learning potential of such work. In addition, we seek to provide young Malay/Muslims with role models and exposure to critical issues of the day, to ensure that our young are constantly developed and prepared to be competitive internationally. We also build bridges to strengthen our understanding with other communities locally and internationally.
Who are our target audience?
Our target audiences are primarily Malay/Muslim working professionals and students in tertiary institutions. We conduct enrichment activities for younger aspiring Malay/Muslim students, in secondary schools (the Young Minds’ Club YMC) and pre-university institutions (the Talent Development Programme TDP). These enrichment activities are an important means of enabling our older members to contribute in the local and international arena.
Who are our beneficiaries?
Our beneficiaries include aspiring Malay Muslim students in secondary schools and pre-university institutions.
What is MClub’s relationship with Yayasan Mendaki?
MClub is an independent registered society. Our Founder Member is the Malay/Muslim self-help group Yayasan Mendaki (YM). MClub’s overall direction and programmes are determined by an independent Executive Committee of volunteers, and complement those of YM. Through our activities, we reach out to Malay/Muslim professionals and harness their aspirations, energy and enthusiasm.
What is MClub’s relationship with the other Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMO’s) in Singapore?
Our relationship is complementary and we have partnered other MMO’s on various projects. We aim to be an inclusive organisation that reaches out all Malay/Muslims through our enrichment and developmental activities.
What are the membership criteria and what is the membership profile?
Constitutionally, Members must be 18 years of age. We welcome all Malay/Muslim Professionals and students from tertiary institutions to join us [Younger Malay/Muslims are also welcome to participate in YMC and TDP]. We define the term “professional” broadly and have been pleased to welcome members from a range of backgrounds, including the public service, private sector consultants and SME owners, academia, the media, as well as the arts and creative industries. Our members have all contributed to MClub in diverse ways.
Can non-Malay/Muslims join the club?
Yes, non-Malay/Muslim professionals and tertiary students are welcome to join the club as Associate Members. We are constantly looking to build bridges with other communities and to engage in sharing multiple perspectives.
Can non-Singaporeans join?
Yes, non-Singaporeans are welcome to join us as Associate Members. As MClub aims to build bridges inter and intra community-wise, we hope to bring more partners on board with our initiatives.
Is there a membership fee?
No, there is no membership fee. We receive a yearly grant from Yayasan Mendaki, which MClub has full autonomy to utilise.
Does MClub provide sponsorships/donations for projects?
MClub in collaboration with the Yayasan Mendaki Volunteer Relations Department (VRD) secretariat provides sponsorships for projects on a case by case basis. Our Executive Committee evaluates the merits of each project vis-a-vis the objectives of the Club before deciding on the form and/or quantum of sponsorship.
Is Mendaki Club an elitist organisation?
While members of the Mendaki Club pride itself on high standards of professionalism and efficiency in delivering its overall goals and objectives to its beneficiaries, it is not elitist. We maintain an open and inclusive membership policy. Many of our members are committed to excellence and high achievement in their chosen fields, which we believe contributes to the overall esteem and standing of the Malay Muslim community in Singapore.
Is MClub a think tank?
While the club does hold dialogues with prominent thinkers of society, its primary aim is not that of a think tank. Our objective is to engage and enrich Malay Muslims to think critically on issues of the day, so that they become excellent Singapore and global citizens.
Is it a political recruiting ground?
While some of our members have in the past gone on to political office, the Club is not a recruitment ground for any political party. Club members contribute to the society in ways that they find most appropriate to their experiences and personalities. MClub is a way that they contribute their efforts meaningfully.
Is it competing with other MMOs like Young AMP?
Mendaki Club, like other Malay Muslim Organisations, aims to complement the current initiatives in the society. As such, the club believes that its initiatives complement that of Young AMP and other Malay Muslim organisations here. We regularly advertise other MMOs’ events on our email lists, and are grateful that this is reciprocated for our events.