Our Work:
Programmes
&
Activities
Adaptability, resilience, and the desire for improvement - these were some of the key traits our HCSA team exemplified while continuing to deliver the quality services and support our beneficiaries need.
A.I.M. Society Celebrates Second Anniversary
Act In Motion (A.I.M.) Society celebrated its second anniversary on 1 May 2021 in a hybrid event. Attendees were treated to a rousing performance by guest artiste Pastor Jun Undag and a surprise video featuring well wishes from fellow partners like Yellow Ribbon Singapore, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association and more.
A total of 80 A.I.M. Society members and their spouses attended the event, with 32 members receiving certificates celebrating milestones of their desistance journeys.
Coming Together for Christmas
In accordance with then-prevailing SMMs, HCSA Highpoint hosted its annual Christmas celebration on 18 December 2021. A total of 100 guests comprising in-care residents, A.I.M. Society members and their families came together for an evening of festivities and good cheer.
Yellow Ribbon Awards 2021
The inaugural Yellow Ribbon Awards 2021 is a new award ceremony that recognises individuals and organisations in celebration of their journeys of success, collaborations and second chances. 11 A.I.M. Society members were recognised as Advocates of Second Chances (Overcomers) for remaining crime-free for 3 years and turning their lives around in one or more ways such as being gainfully employed or furthering their education.
HCSA also received the Advocate of Second Chances (Community Partners) award.
Launch of HCSA DRTC’s alumni group - Owena
To encourage HCSA DRTC graduates and former staff to continue to support and stay connected with the programme, Owena, its alumni group, was established on 10 October 2021. Owena, which means “young warrior” in Welsh, currently has 23 members as of end 2021. The group has planned a series of events and activities for 2022 to maintain regular engagement with its members.
HCSA DRTC Graduates Furthering Their Education
For many of our HCSA DRTC residents, achieving academic excellence and integrating back into school life can be a trying time. Since graduating from HCSA DRTC, Kat (not her real name) is now currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Another notable graduate, Natasha, has completed her Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. She is presently an early childhood educator.
Keeping HCSA DRTC Residents Engaged During Recovery Journeys
CITIVISA’s virtual cookie decorating workshop brought much-needed Christmas cheer. Armed with pre-made cookies and colourful piping bags, our HCSA DRTC residents flexed their creativity with guidance from CITIVISA’s volunteers. The activity was well-enjoyed as the girls had fun making – and eating! – their sweet creations.
Gold Tree Foundation held a workshop in December to teach our girls financial skills and useful saving tips through interactive and relatable activities.
Beautiful People organised various recreational sessions – one of which a sushi-roll making workshop – that encouraged our HCSA DRTC residents to bond and have fun with each other.
Volunteers from National University of Singapore (NUS) conducted fortnightly recreational and/or educational activities for our HCSA DRTC residents. In particular, the mid-autumn festival session was a hit, with the girls enjoying mooncake-making and night walk with their own colourful lanterns.
Prompts.co ran workshops that focused on self-love, self-care, and self-compassion. Our HCSA DRTC residents thoroughly enjoyed these sessions as they were able to learn various self-care strategies and enhance understanding of their own self.
Empowerment Events for Single-Parent Families to Learn, Bond, and Grow
Together with NUS Bizad Club, Social Innovation Park, and other partners and volunteers, we hosted celebrations for Children’s Day, Parent’s Day, and Christmas.
These events were also platforms for our single-parent families to gain knowledge on parenting, share and interact with other single parents, and to bond with their children.
Volunteers from National University of Singapore (NUS) conducted fortnightly recreational and/or educational activities for our HCSA DRTC residents. In particular, the mid-autumn festival session was a hit, with the girls enjoying mooncake-making and night walk with their own colourful lanterns.
Increasing Single Parents’ Access to Information and Resources
Providing easy access to practical information and resources is a crucial step in empowering our single parent families to be resilient and self-reliant. Over the course of 2021, we organised and ran a total of seven virtual talks and workshops together with SMU Pro Bono Centre and volunteer Eunice Gan (wellness coach and trainer). Topics discussed at these workshops included psychological health and legal processes.
Counselling services were also piloted in 2021, with 16 parents receiving psychological support through counselling.
Delivering Festive Blessings
As part of our annual Chinese New Year ‘Fu Dai’ and Hari Raya celebrations, we delivered goodie bags to a total of 31 families. These goodie bags were perfect for the various celebrations!
Launch of Alumni Skills Enhancement Programme
To encourage continuous learning and provide professional networking opportunies for our alumni, the skills enhancement programme was launched in October 2021. As of December 2021, 24 HCSA Academy alumni have participated in these workshops.
Corporate Workshops
Besides the flagship WSQ Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts). HCSA Academy helps corporates to better understand soft commodities and other food products by conducting product training. Sales staff from the food services division unit at NTUC Origin Healthcare received a curated training on sugars, rice, and oils in order to market their products better.
Continued Partnership with C3A
HCSA Academy’s partnership with Council for Third Age (C3A) continued on strongly in 2021, engaging 34 senior volunteers over eight cooking events.
On-the-job training (OJT) for trainees
As part of the curriculum, HCSA Academy trainees undergo on-the-job training (OJT) to acquaint them formally to a real-life work place environment. A total of 16 OJT events were held, of which three were physical events in accordance to then-prevailing SMMs. The remaining 13 events were pivoted to bento meal preparations and subsequent deliveries to corporate supporters.
Aftercare support
Following graduation, trainees are provided with aftercare support to help ensure they are adapting well to the F&B industry and new roles. As of 2021, seven alumni members benefitted from this aftercare support and secured higher job positions and salaries through referrals from HCSA Academy.
