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Family Reunification and StrengtheningRe-connecting Brenda with her family 21/05/2010Brenda who is in her 40s is a proud mother of 2 young children who attend our learning programmes. Despite not having very much, she opens her home and her heart to 3 other children who have no accommodation. She constantly reminds her children that no matter what their circumstance, they always have it in them to share. As such, all the children in her household are firm friends. Recently, Brenda was hospitalised and so as respite from her day to day routine, we invited her and all 5 children to spend a weekend with us. We told her that she will get a chance to rest while we occupied the children with activities. When she accepted our invitation, we told her that the weekend will also allow us to show our appreciation for her generosity towards the 3 children. Many of the people we serve actually serve as important resources for our work. We must honour their efforts and thank them in the same way we recognise volunteers who are not service users. For many of them, their circumstances would require them to be associated with social services for a long time as their file needs to remain open for their children to remain on educational assistance schemes. So moving beyond social services would also mean their efforts in serving others; their giving in spite of their receiving. Brenda was visibly weak and tired but she managed a smile when she received her welcome gift of soap and hand cream. The choice of the welcome gift was an important part of our intervention. Brenda because of her past had fiercely prevented us from contacting her family. She believed that her family despised her for the choices she had made and having a social worker visit would only reinforce her family’s perception that she was deeply troubled. However, once she did pass us the phone number of her sister but she had forgotten. We were concerned about Brenda’s health and wanted to see if we could get her family to offer her some support. With the welcome gift we prepared a foot bath and offered to give her a hand massage. She was surprised by our offer but gamely rested her feet in the warm water and allowed our colleague to gently proceed with the massage. The physical touch brought about an openness that our colleague had never experienced of Brenda. Brenda shared how she was brought up by her father, her love for swimming and bicycles when she was growing up and also the difficulties her siblings and her had to overcome. When the footbath had cooled, our colleague took out a piece of paper and together with Brenda drew her family tree or what we call a genogram. From our conversation, we learnt that Brenda felt closest to the sister whom we were in contact with. We were glad as we had earlier arranged for this sister to visit Brenda at our premises. So when this sister stepped into our premises an hour later, Brenda took her first steps back to her family. Enjoy your weekend. Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. – Charles Dickens Beyond ‘talking cures’ 12/02/2010Hurt relationships are difficult to heal. A common advice we tend to render is to "talk it out, get it out of our system and move on." While communication is obviously the key, this piece of adviceis easier said than done as 'talking' in a way that heals isnot an ability inherent in everyone. This will always be a reality despite the numerous communication workshops available J Why then do we place such a premium on 'talking' as a medium of communication? Our professional training has made us aware that we are constantly communicating regardless of whether we openour mouths to speak or not. This is reality.The moment we meet someone, we form an impression.Of course we can't fully understand someone simply from his or her appearance just like we can'tjudge a book by its cover.But, when we look at thecover of a book, it is already speaking to us. A mother was deeply hurt by the vulgar language her 15 year old son letfly when she confronted him about his late nights away from home. She could not fathom howthe respectful and dutiful boy she loved could show such disrespect.She wanted to talk it out with himandinvited us to join her forafamily campoutlast weekend. The boy smelled a rat immediately andwarned us that he would run off the momenthe had to talk or participate in some programme. Reluctantly, hecame along whenmom told him that he could go fishing. “Maybe I can learn to fish too” mom added. The family comprising mom, an elder sister and the boy was a gracious host. Theyworked together tomake sure we had enough to eat but otherwise each member did their own thing. It was also obvious that the boy kept a distance from his mother. Mom kept herself busy in the kitchen and we jokedthat her children's stomachs' arefilled with the love she puts intomeal preparation. She smiled but was anxious that her son would not talk to her. We reminded her that action speaks louder than words and encouraged her tojoin her son for fishing as she had planned. Sheeventually did but the only thing they caught was 4 hours of private family time. We learnt from mom that she did not talk about her son’s vulgar language but spent most of the time learning about hooks, weights and baits. 2 days after the campout, mom called us at the office. "You know, we did not catch any fish duringthe camp so I allowed my son to go fishing yesterday evening. He came back with 2 large squids and 2 big fishes for me. I am so happy as it is the first time he has done this." Mom told us that her 15 year old loves squid and wanted her to cook them but he did not quite fancy fish. Hmmm… so what could he have wanted to communicate with the fish? I don’t know about him but fish served whole is a Chinese symbol of prosperity because the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for riches or abundance, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true. So, as we welcome the Tiger this weekend, I wish you ‘Nian Nian You Yu”. May your year be filled with abundant blessings. If you break a rule that values are best communicated through actions; not through words, employees will punish you. – T.J Larkin & Sandra Larkin in the Harvard Business Review on Effective Communication Seeing family resiliency 29/01/2010I had the privilege of attending a baby shower. Family and friends came together to celebrate the baby’s first month and to show their support for the mother. As more than 80 guests were expected, the shower was held at a community facility. Guests tucked into a sumptuous buffet spread that included the traditional red hard boiled eggs as well as ang ku kueh, a red sticky pastry with a sweet bean filling. These delicacies are customary food used to mark an auspicious birth. The baby’s mother was all smiles as family and friends came by to adore the baby she was holding in her arms. Love was all around as baby and mom were continually heaped with compliments and well wishes. After a while, mother’s mother offered to hold the baby so that mother could have something to eat. I later learnt that grandmother played a significant role in caring for the baby especially during the school week where mother’s priority is to finish her secondary school education. The family had worked out a duty roster that enabled mother to have adequate study and rest time during the school week but on weekends, she had to take up the lion’s share of caring for her baby. The mother’s father explained to me that as grand-parents they were always willing to help out but ultimately baby and mother must bond. He had discussed this in much depth with his wife and they concluded that for their grandchild to grow into a well adjusted person, the mother-child relationship must take precedence over other relationships. When I mentioned that a teenager will find parenting quite overwhelming, he reassured me that family support was strong and after all, he will always have his daughter’s best interest at heart. He assured me that he was mindful of his daughter’s needs as a teenager and a student but he did not feel that it would be in her best interest if he simply allowed her to abdicate her responsibilities as a mother. I told this father that I was immensely impressed by the way his family has responded to an unexpected addition to the family which they had only become aware of 8 weeks ago. I then thanked him for inviting me and some other colleagues who had attended to them. Being at the baby shower reinforced our belief that the people we serve are indeed experts of their own lifeworld. Enjoy your weekend. There is no better investment for any community than putting milk into babies. – Winston Churchill Alan Boy, his father and a whole new year 01/01/2010Today, Alan Boy will be one 7 year old who is fervently wishing that this is going to be a Happy New Year. 2 days ago, together with a colleague he cleaned up his little flat to welcome his father home. Yesterday morning, together with his younger sister and a grassroots leader who has been caring for him, he stood at the gates of Changi Prison waiting for his father to step out. The grassroots leader then brought the entire family for a roti prata lunch which is the favourite food of the father. Over the last 4 months, we facilitated Alan Boy’s monthly visits to his father. We recall that during the first visit, Alan Boy was very quiet and hardly spoke a word. Only on the journey home did he confide in us that he was extremely angry with his father for getting himself incarcerated. Nonetheless, we continued with the visits and had conversations with him about his father whenever appropriate. The grassroots leader who was caring for him also constantly reminded him that despite his flaws, his father genuinely loved him. This week, Alan Boy has been telling us that he is really looking forward to being with his father once again. Despite the disappointments he has experienced in the father-son relationship, there is no doubt that Alan Boy values and honours his father. This loyalty to his father is a strength and quality within Alan Boy which we must be very careful not to dampen in our attempts to attend to his well being. Perhaps for Alan Boy, "happiness is not something you experience, it's something you remember." As long as he remembers things, events and people that have brought him happiness, he's happy. On this note, I wish you a Happy New Year. May you always have a happy thought each and every day of the year! Enjoy your weekend. "Happiness is not something you experience, it's something you remember." - Oscar Levant Healing relationships by reframing issues 13/11/2009Early this year, when we met Raymond in the Reformative Training Centre, he begged us to persuade his family to visit him. So, when we met his mother and sister, we learnt that they were still hurting from the disappointment his offending had caused them. Hence, they decided that to stop the pain, it would be best to keep Raymond out of sight and out of mind. This way of coping provided some relief and they even asked us if it would be possible for Raymond to remain in the Reformative Training Centre instead being supervised in the community during the last few months of his order. This is a common scenario and such families are often judged to be lacking in moral commitment. Obviously, family relationships have broken down but framing it as a moral issue does not do much in taking the situation forward. We work on the premise that these relationships can be healed and breakdowns only reveal what’s missing or needed. Usually if we just look a family unit, it is about how members are working together, talking to each and feeling about each other. It is not that we can work miracles but we can do little things that strengthen cooperation, communication and an experience of affection. This week a colleague was attending to a young mother who had just given birth. The father of the baby was incarcerated and could not be at the delivery but little things that will strengthen the family included helping the mother write a letter to the father about the delivery, taking photographs of mother, child and other family members and creating a photo album of the baby’s first days. As I write this, our colleague is still providing various concrete practical help aimed at helping the family organise themselves to care for the new-born. Back to Raymond, through various activities aimed at healing the relationship he has with his family, he is now living in the family home and doing his part by taking care of his elderly grandfather. He takes his grandfather out for walks daily and contributes part of his salary towards household expenses. His mother tells us that she now has meaningful conversations with Raymond and she is grateful that we believed in the strength of their family even when they did not feel like one. Enjoy your weekend. In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, a bridge to our future. – Alex Haley Stepping back as professionals, empowering caregivers 25/09/2009 While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". Thava 16 years old, had not returned home for 7 days and his mother was so angry that she kept insisting that it was best to send him to an institution. The situation at home was tense and the sad thing is that Thava was recently released from an institution in which he had been residing for 6 years. For those of us who knew Thava and his family before he was institutionalised,we could not help feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. Back then, Thava and his mother had big fights and after they happened, Thava stayed away from home. It was happening all over again 6 years later. Thava has not learned to live with his family. Seeing beyond sad histories… 25/09/2009Jane(AWB 0839, 0849, 0908 & 0913)arrived in Court with her uncle, properly attired in her school uniform, hair well tied up and in her white school shoes. The Magistrate looked briefly at the papers before him and then looked at Jane who was seated below. "So Jane, do you understand the recommendation that was put forward to you?” Jane squinted a little, leaned forward and blurted “Huh?” The Magistrate was patient. In a very composed tone, he asked again. “ Do you understand what was recommended for you?" and again, Jane went "Huh???" Her brows drew closer together, and she startedknocking her knees together nervously.Our colleague put her hand on Jane's left knee and she calmed down and stopped doing so.The following conversation then took place. Magistrate: Do you understand that your uncle will be taking care of you from now on? So we have succeeded indischarging Jane from Kids United Home one week short of a year's stay. More importantly, we have reunited Jane with family members who are committed to giving her the best of their love and care. The above conversation shows that despite a Court room designed to bring about a sense of decorum, Jane could not help being the 12 year old she is. Jane came to us an 11 year old orphan who had been in residential care for about 6 years. She was suspended from school and had a track record of being violent to peers and those who cared for her. Her family was assessed to be uncooperative and adoption or stranger care was viewed asthe only way to go. This was who she was and even if we had spelt out our expectations of her like how the Court room had expected her to behave, she would have been Jane who had yet come to terms with the cards that life has dealt her.
The Kids United Home was not set up for long-term residential care so obviously we went about our job as described in b & c. Since 2005 we have served 45 children and 32 of them are back with their families and doingwell. 5 were fine upon discharge but were later readmitted into another residential facility as they had gotten into situations that compromised their safety and not because their families were unsafe or uncaring. That leaves 8 who are still residing with us. So far the average length of stay among all residents has been 11.8 months and our success rate for a sustainable family reunification stands at 86%. Jane is now back at school. Yesterday, her form teacher told us that she is pleased that Jane is trying her best. She takes twice as long as the other students but she finishes her work as promised. Besides being proud of Jane and wishing her well, the next time I see her, I will thank her for being a wonderful teacher of what a good residential programme should be. Her initial emotional outbursts and disruptive behaviours taught us to journey towards the epi-centre of conflicts; we learnt that when a child is uncooperative, it is usually because there is something wrong with our system rather than the child. Her fierce loyalty to her friends at the expense of her own well being taught us that children have a strong sense of generosity. While she may not be the brightest spark in the classroom she was a star in-line skater. This taught us that even as we aim to get children to be good at their studies, we must not forget that it is equally important if not more that they can be good at something else. Once, I asked her to pick out plants from a nursery that she thought would create a warm welcome at the entrance of our Home. Watching her take pains to get it right showed me how important it was for us to trust children with decision-making. Finally, as much as we try to give children a sense of belonging, they belong to their family and Jane’s family has reminded us that if we cannot see beyond the sad histories that bring children to our door, we will institutionalise pessimism. If we cannot see a positive future for the children and their families, it is not likely that we will succeed in bringing about one. Enjoy your weekend. When it is necessary for a family member to have a period away from home in a program that reflects a cooperative, competency-based approach, residential treatment can help children or adolescents and their parents develop a new view of themselves. On the other hand, when residential treatment is concerned with control and cure, when it seeks to solve problems or repair deficits, it can be a powerful factor in further disempowering families and contributing to problems persisting or recurring. Cooperation as the essence of family life 18/09/2009 Young people are often caricatured as having untidy rooms and having little motivation to keep house. It was not so with the 9 kids in our Kids United Home who with the support of more than 25 volunteers from Barclays, worked hard at sprucing up their rooms over 2 days. While a spruced up room was the 'objective', the process provided important lessons in budgeting, time-management and teamwork. The volunteers guided our kids as they managed their $70 budget; the shopping trip began and ended as scheduled and the painting of the rooms was completed right on time with a debrief to wrap up the whole exercise. Despite the positive family support we had described in AWB 0934, Mdm Jamilah was looking very down when we visited. So we started asking her about her Hari Raya preparations and realized that her lack of means to prepare for the celebrations was a source of stress. We offered our support and it was really quite amazing for us to see how 2 cans of paint brought out the essence of family life - co-operation. When we arrived the following morning, Mdm Jamilah and her 3 children were already moving their furniture and preparing the living room for a paint job. The entire family excitedly accompanied us to the paint shop and Mdm Jamilah took her children's choice of colors even though she was a little hesitant as they were not what she had in mind. This was supposedly a family in conflict but the shared goal of a joyous Hari Raya Celebration got them working together harmoniously. When the task was completed, one of the children remarked that the living room had been white since he was born and he was really happy and proud that it now had color. The children in Kids United Home and Mdm Jamilahs' family both received a little practical support that brought out the best in them but rest assured that we are not advocating for a home decorating programme. The decoration projects were only a means of helping everyone to help themselves. Success in our job is not so much about what we have done but what those we serve have done for themselves. Selamat Hari Ray Adil Fitri to all our Muslim friends. "The true worth of a man is not to be found in the man himself, but in the colors and texture that come alive in others. " ~ Albert Schweitzer Doing healing work 21/08/2009“It is not the professional qualification you have that makes you a good therapist; it is what’s within you that enables you to form a therapeutic alliance with your client.” I was reminded of this statement by Anthony Yeo during his memorial service yesterday evening. Anthony, who passed away on 20th June, was often referred to as Singapore's "father of counselling" for his pioneering role in the profession's development. This week 21 of our team-mates began their 2nd series of intensive lectures for a Diploma in Social Service Practice at the Social Service Training Institute. This programme is offered by the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, Berlin. Let’s continue to encourage them as they juggle their assignments and duties at work. Hopefully, through the programme they do not only acquire practice skills but enlarge ‘what’s within them’ to give and to serve. Here is reflection from our team-mate Stella that describes the work done by Virginie, Samuel and herself for a mother who had just gotten out of prison that demonstrates a capacity to give and to serve. Since coming home, this mother and her children have been at odds with each other and our team-mates persuaded the family to organise a surprise birthday party for mother. I have only known Mdm Jamilah for 5 days but listening to her, I realized that the death of her husband in 2007, her release from prison, her children returning into her care, unemployment and the expectations of others (e.g. school) have been overwhelming. We pondered about what we could do to bring healing to this hurting mum but after last night’s session, I realized that the true healing began when she was placed in the heart of her family. We had planned to start dinner by 7pm but then, Virginie and I had to first track down her 3 kids aged 14, 13 and 12 yrs so that they would turn up on time. The kids were making lots of excuses but with mum’s help, we finally got them home by 8pm. It was meant to be a small family affair but the kids brought their friends home and mum welcomed them. When we asked whether they started their meal with a prayer, the kids giggled. Then the youngest child started to pray but mum decided to take the lead and led the family and friends in prayer – giving thanks to God. Very proud of her! What surprised us was when mum’s 3 sisters turned up in full force. We were only expecting her oldest sister but she contacted the younger two sisters to turn up for the celebration. As the sisters arrived, mum smiled at them nervously and continued to occupy herself in the kitchen. The arrival of the aunts was also the cue that kicked the kids into action. They lit up the cake which was cleverly hidden in the room by Virginie. I switched off the lights and mum was so surprised as we sang Happy Birthday. Then the sisters sang a song in Malay asking God to bless her on her birthday. We didn’t have to do much as the energy in the room was so high. We felt the warmth of the family filling the room. I distributed yellow roses to all present as Mum busied herself in the kitchen. We called out to her and when she came, each of her kids hugged her and said “I love you!” Her sisters then did the same and added other words of wisdom, praise and love. The entire family did not hold back their emotions as they shed tears of joy. As we made our exit, Samuel, Virginie and myself affirmed her and thanked the family for coming to together to show mum that she is loved and supported by so many people.We all went away feeling energized. This is just the beginning and we will continue the healing work with the family. Enjoy your weekend. I strongly believe in the capacity of people to transcend situations and problems…I am not so much struck by the problems that people have as much as the capacity of people to cope and deal with them. – Anthony Yeo Kathy and her children 08/05/2009Every time an under-supported and over stressed family comes our way, let us remember what a privilege it is that they have allowed us to share a part of their lives for a while. Even though they may be accustomed to having social services in their lives, I assure you that people want to be self-sufficient. It is embarrassing to be asking for a hand-out and often welfare recipients deal with their embarrassment by rationalising that the hand-out is an entitlement. Of course, when they do that they disappoint the givers. In response, givers may start to question if these people really want to help themselves in the first place or are they abusing the goodwill and generosity extended to them? Sarah’s story 24/04/2009“This mother’s idea of care and stability may be different from ours” a colleague reminded all of us as we tried to find a way of ensuring that Sarah’s pre-schooling children were not neglected (AWB – 0910). Over the past 2 months, Sarah had been placing her children with different acquaintances by promising them that she will provide a sum of money for their care. These arrangements always broke down because Sarah could never fully fulfil her side of the agreement. Hence, the children were moved from one household to another. We arranged temporary accommodation for her but she moved in one night and left the following morning, preferring to rough it out in public areas. Our facility is just like a prison she says. Calling families ‘dysfunctional’ 09/01/2009This week we were heartened to hear about our government's efforts to help 'dysfunctional' families and to find ways to curb their situations from deteriorating. In the months ahead, we will see different initiatives at preventive, remedial and developmental levels. It is encouraging to know that resources are being set aside for families with multiple problems and that there are intentions to 'grow' the social service sector. Having the voices of children heard 02/01/20092 siblings aged 5 & 3 years old were discharged from hospital and into the care of their grandfather this afternoon. They have been kept at a hospital the last 10 days because it was deemed that their mother was unable to adequately care for them. "Why are my children not allowed to go home? I have done everything you asked me to. They are in child care and my mother and sister help me care for them when I am at work." Their mother pleaded to no avail. Cooperation as essence of family life 05/12/2008Jane (AWB - 0839) was on her best behaviour these past 2 weeks as she waited excitedly to meet her elder sisters who visited her on Wednesday. Both sisters are in other residential facilities and it was a rare opportunity for them to come together for some family time at our Kids United Home. As in our helping principle 'The essence of family life is co-operation and not togetherness', we planned a day filled with opportunities for the sisters to work together and to look out for each other. Scoring in home games 19/10/2008The father and daughter we spoke about last week have been spending time together getting to know each other. The girl always smiled whenever others enquired about her father. She seem quite proud and pleased that her father was nearby even when she was in residential care. Last week, when she voiced her doubts about her father's intentions for spending time with her, we realised that we needed to create opportunities where her father could confidently demonstrate his concern. Thus, we arranged for this girl visit her father at his workplace. Creating opportunities for people to help themselves 12/10/2008A key dimension of our Residential Programme is Family Strengthening and Reunification. This means that even while the children are physically under our care, we have to find ways where their parents or care-givers influence the way we guide and care for their child. The Kids United Home is a respite from the factors preventing them from remaining at home but it definitely should not be a respite from family ties. Natural support networks as solution 12/08/2008 We received 2 requests this week to admit orphans in our Kids United Home. The parents of these children have passed away from illness and from what was presented to us, their situation looked rather bleak. We feel for these children and would certainly like to see how we can be of assistance. However, by simply rushing in to 'take over', we run the risk of further marginalising them from whatever support or resources within their extended family or natural support networks. Circus arts and family cooperation 20/06/2008 Last night, we conducted a circus workshop for a family of 4 comprising 2 teenage girls, their father and a care-giver. These girls are in the last phase of our residential programme and the activity was a means of strengthening family relationships. We wanted to give family members a positive experience of communication, cooperation and cohesion. Families who want to get things right 15/02/2009 A youth under our Restorative Care Programme was discharged from the reformative training centre on the eve of Chinese New Year and we conducted the family conference the next day because his mother who resides in KL was on her monthly visit. 2 aunts, his sister and his mother were present and they ensured that our colleagues Myrle and Lyn John were well fed with bee hoon and curry puffs before the conference began. Families and diversionary work 11/01/2009 I met the biological mother of a 14 year old resident who has just met her child for the first time after 10 years. With the help of MCYS, we received the last known address of this lady, just before 2007 ended. Before we visited, we were wondering what she would say when we show up at her doorstep unannounced? Would our presence be a present or would she get a rude shock at the beginning of the New Year. We were heartened at her joy of finding her child but when she told us that she had been waiting 10 years for this moment, we felt rather sad. She was a significant and supportive person in this child's life who everyone lost sight off. Family group conferencing as community empowerment 14/09/2007 This week we had the wonderful privilege of having Allan MacRae, National Operations Manager, Ministry of Social Development, Children, Youth and Family Division, New Zealand to further enhance our Family Group Conferencing skills. Allan is also the co-author of the Little Book of Family Group Conferencing - New Zealand Style and is a much sought after consultant for restorative directions in justice, community & family. Back in 2004, it was he who got us started with adopting Family Group Conferencing (FGC) as one of our key tools for the management of youth offending as well as for formulating care & protection plans for children. Family work in restorative care 03/08/2007Yesterday, we began the third phase of our Restorative Care Programme in the Reformative Training Centre. This phase is called Community Bridging and we arranged for 3 participants to meet with their families. It was not the usual meeting behind a glass panel but one where these 3 youths took part in a series of adventure learning activities together with their family members.7 family members, comprising parents, uncles and a sibling were present and we are really grateful that the Prison Authorities allowed them in. Some of these family members have broken the law before and normally that would have barred them from entering a rehabilitation facility. By allowing them in, the Prison Authorities demonstrated that they valued family reintegration as an important part of the rehabilitation process. Well done Myrle and Fawzi for making this happen. After experiencing the harsh realities of incarceration, neither the participants or their family members could believe that they were actually going to be spending an entire afternoon together. One participant whose parents were both incarcerated met up with an uncle whom he has not seen for about 10 years; as for the other 2 they had both their father and mother with them even though their parents are no longer married or living in the same household. We got the participants to explain the exercises to their families and everyone went through the paces sportingly. Family members commented that they really had to work on their communication and 1 pair of parents realised that they needed to refine decision making processes within their family. There was indeed learning but just as importantly, everyone had lots of fun. On the way out of the facility, family members kept talking about the experience and thanked us for a meaningful afternoon. One way of looking at rehabilitation is to instil fear of the consequence of breaking the law and hard discipline. Another is to prepare the inmate for life after incarceration. With our belief that after-care begins on Day 1 of in-care, we are slowly but surely finding a balance through our Restorative Care Programme. This weekend the kids from our Healthy Start Child Development Centre will be camping. On Sunday morning they will be taking part in a sports day at Bishan. This event is organised by the PCF Kindergartens and it is also a National Day Celebration. It is always good to see our kids being a part of a mainstream event. On Wednesday, 8 August 2007 our children and youths are putting up a small show entitled ONE Red & White to mark National Day. It will be held at the courtyard between Blocks 26 and 28 Jalan Klinik. The purpose of this small event is for us to emphasise to these young people that we are ONE people that belong to a community that looks out for one another. While Singapore has festivities and celebrations all year round, we felt that National Day is the most appropriate for delivering this message as regardless of race, language or religion we are ONE. The 30 minute show starts at 7pm and this is also a way to connect with the residents of the blocks around our office and of course the Residents' Committee. Do join us if you can. Enjoy your weekend. Gerard If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. - A Chinese proverb
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  Address: 26 Jalan Klinik #01-42/52 Singapore 160026 | Tel: (65) 6375 2940 | Fax: (65) 6274 0633 | Email: spk@beyond.org.sg |
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