MUIS to refresh Befrienders Programme to better support Zakat beneficiaries

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will undertake a six-month refresh of its Befrienders Programme, beginning by the end of 2026, to better support Zakat beneficiaries with increasingly diverse needs. The refresh will focus on enhancing the befriending model, strengthening volunteer training and capabilities, and improving coordination with mosques and community partners.
   

2. The announcement was made at Befrienders Learning Day 2026, held today at NTU@one-north, which brought together about 300 Befrienders to recognise their contributions and strengthen their knowledge and skills in supporting beneficiaries. The programme, introduced in 2008 with 79 volunteers, has grown to 485 active Befrienders, including 149 Senior Befrienders, serving across 35 Social Development mosques. In 2025, Befrienders supported close to 1,500 Zakat beneficiaries through more than 2,000 home visits. 

Responding to evolving community needs

3. As Singapore becomes a super-aged society, Zakat beneficiaries may face increasingly complex social and caregiving needs. These include social isolation, declining health and cognitive difficulties among seniors, as well as challenges faced by families requiring sustained support. Befrienders play an important role in providing companionship, recognising emerging needs and connecting beneficiaries to appropriate assistance through mosques and community partners. 
   

4. The six-month refresh will draw on programme data and feedback from Befrienders, beneficiaries, mosques and community partners to identify areas for improvement. These include strengthening volunteer roles and training, improving referral and support arrangements and ensuring that Befrienders are better equipped to respond to changing community needs. MUIS will share further details once the enhancements have been finalised.
   

5. Chief Executive of MUIS, Mr Kadir Maideen, said: "Being a Befriender requires more than goodwill. It requires skill, sensitivity and the ability to recognise when someone may need additional support beyond what a Befriender can provide. Our aim is to ensure that every beneficiary continues to receive meaningful support, and every Befriender has the knowledge, confidence and support to carry out this important role."

Strengthening volunteer capabilities and community care

6. MUIS continues to invest in the development of its Befrienders through structured training and learning opportunities. In 2025, 11 training sessions were conducted for 266 participants, covering areas such as active ageing, mental health awareness, digital inclusion, end-of-life care and caregiver support. About 85% of Befrienders expressed satisfaction with the training, while 85% of Senior Befrienders indicated that they understood their enhanced roles and found the Senior Befriender guidebook useful. 
   

7. The biennial Befrienders Learning Day provides a platform for volunteers to exchange experiences, learn from community partners and strengthen their capabilities. The event also featured contributions from organisations and mosque-led initiatives supporting active ageing, caregiver well-being, mental health awareness and digital inclusion. These include the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Club HEAL, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and mosque programmes such as Santunan Emas, Keluarga Syifa and PEDULI. 

Befrienders: The human face of Zakat 

8. Beyond financial assistance, Zakat reflects the community's collective responsibility to care for those in need. Through regular home visits, Befrienders help build relationships of trust, offer emotional support and connect beneficiaries to the wider community. Their contributions complement MUIS' Zakat assistance by helping beneficiaries feel supported, valued and connected. 

9. Expressing his appreciation to the volunteers, Mr Kadir said: "You are not simply volunteers. You are the human face of Zakat and an indispensable part of our community's network of care."