Stories of
Hope
Beneficiary
Testimonies
“I want to be the kind of person… that the staff in Dayspring were to me; people who were my safe space and listened to me.”
Growing up, Chelsea’s* most basic needs were often neglected. As a result, she suffered from depression and malnourishment up until her early teens. At 7, Chelsea contemplated suicide, thinking it was the only way she could get attention. “Because I thought at least someone would pity me and pay attention to me,” she said.
After her mother committed suicide and her father was found to be preying on young girls, Chelsea was taken out of her father’s custody. In September 2019, she was eventually placed in HCSA DRTC. During her time at HCSA DRTC, Chelsea resumed attending secondary school and was also put through a structured holistic programme that included Emotional Regulation (ER) drills and behavioural education.
Chelsea has since graduated from the programme and is now waiting to enrol into a polytechnic. In the future, she hopes to be able to work with children and teenagers who have suffered from the same experience she’s had. “I want to give back to the people who have raised me and shaped me so well,” she shares. “I also want to be the kind of person that the kids need, the kind of person that the staff in HCSA DRTC were to me; people who were my safe space and will listen to me.”
*Name has been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
“Since being in HCSA DRTC, my confidence has grown, and I know what I want to do in life.”
After years of living in foster care, Rachel* had spiralled into depression and self-harm. Throughout her life, Rachel struggled with feelings of worthlessness and kept a lot of negative emotions hidden away. At 14, she was brought to HCSA DRTC.
Initially, she was reluctant to share about her problems with her care team. However, with their patience and care, Rachel eventually opened up. “At first, in HCSA DRTC, I felt a lot of pressure. But they slowly tried to understand me,” she revealed. The two years she spent at HCSA DRTC gave her hope and helped her foster a more positive outlook in life.
“Since being in HCSA DRTC, my confidence has grown, and I know what I want to do in life,” said Rachel. She is currently pursuing a course in social work at the Institute of Technical Education and will be graduating soon. In the future, she hopes to give back to society and help others too, especially those with special needs.
*Name has been changed to protect beneficiary’s identity.
