The inaugural launch of the CD Lionhearter Club was held yesterday 27 October 2009, 3.30 pm at the Singapore Polytechnic. The Guest-of-Honour, Comr Peter Lim, Commissioner SCDF and Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal, Singapore Polytecnic pinned the CD Lionhearter Insignia on the pioneer batch of 85 SP-CD Lionhearters.

The SCDF recently set up the Civil Defence (CD) Lionhearter Club comprising tertiary students, trained in emergency preparedness and life saving skills. Six of the SP-CD Lionhearters became the first to undertake the maiden overseas humanitarian mission and were recently deployed to Pariaman, Padang City to assist Mercy Relief. The students were also accompanied by a SP instructor and an SCDF officer. During their mission, the students helped with relief work such as the distribution of food, water and medical supplies to the earthquake victims. Such overseas mission provide the Lionhearters with an extended platform for volunteering their services beyond the local community. SCDF will continue to collaborate with Non Govermental Organisations (NGOs) to offer opportunities for the Lionhearters" to participate in overseas humanitarian missions.

In addition to providing humanitarian assistance during overseas missions, the CD Lionhearters will also provide first level response to incidents in campus such as during minor fires. They can volunteer as instructors during Emergency Preparedness Days and impart life saving skills to the community.

Following the success of the CD Lionhearters Club in Singapore Polytechnic, the SCDF is working towards extending the programme to other tertiary institutions. We hope that the pioneer batch of SP Lionhearters will stimulate greater interest and serve as a catalyst for more Lionhearters to be trained and ready to respond to emergencies locally or overseas. These CD Lionhearters can then act as the transfer agents to their peers, immediate family, and the community at large to bring the level of community emergency preparedness to even greater heights.