MICA ( P) 036/ 02/ 2 012 I s s u e No . 1. 2 015
MINDSPEAK
THE HEART VOICE OF SPECIAL PEOPLE
IN THIS ISSUE:
• MINDs Taiko Drummers
Make History
• Celebrating World Down
Syndrome Day
• MINDS Embracing Key
Word Sign
and more!
Source: thewackyduo.com
Content
Page
03
04
Message from CEO
08
New Initiatives / Services
14
Volunteering & Outreach
Special Features
04 Bidding Farewell to Singapore’s Founding Father
– Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – 2015)
06 MINDS Taiko Drummers Make History at National Day Parade 2014
08 Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with Coloured Socks
09 Kembangan - Chai Chee Community Hub Opens
10 MINDS Families with Children with Intellectual Disability First Travel Experience
12 MINDS Caregivers Conference 2014: Unveiling Insights on Caring for Clients
13 MINDS Community Group Home: Updates
2
14 MINDS MYG First Health Screening
15 MINDS Clients Refurbish MacPherson Homes of Elderly
16 MINDS SMEDC and ATDC RunIn with LinkedIn
17 Community-Minded Undergraduates Support MINDS
19
Community & Corporate Support
27
Activities Updates
19 Students from FGS Get to Shop at Uniqlo
20 MINDS Success Story: Model Client in Open Employment
21 Empowering and Engaging Clients: Maybank Global Corporate
Responsibility Day 2014
22 HP Celebrates 25th Anniversary with MINDS
23 Minister Tan Chuan-Jin Publishes Travel Photography Book for Charity
and Supports MINDS
24 50 for 50: Young Changemakers Support MINDS
26 MINDS Christmas Stocking Challenge 2014
27 IEDC Annual Party 2014: Around the World in a Day
28 SMEDC Annual Party 2014: Rock & Roll with SMEDC
29 Aloha! WEDC Ohana Annual Party 2014
30 Changi Airport Outing with KAPPS Consulting Pte Ltd
31 MINDS Embracing Key Word Sign
Message
from the CEO
Welcome to a new issue of MINDSpeak. In this issue, we
are delighted to share with you a retrospective review of
MINDS’ milestones in 2014 and bringing you up to date
on 2015 thus far.
This year, Singapore celebrates our 50th anniversary of
nation building. Together with Singapore, MINDS has
come a long way since our inception in 1962, from a
class of 26 students to offering a holistic, comprehensive
array of services today that meets the life-cycle needs of
persons with intellectual disability.
MINDS currently operates four special needs schools,
three employment development centres, five training
& development centres, a community group home,
two residential homes and a hostel.
Our clients have always been our focus and source
of inspiration. In 2014, our MINDS Taiko Drummers
did us proud and made the whole nation sit up when
they performed at the National Day Parade 2014.
Their confidence, perseverance and courage were a
resounding endorsement of what we are doing at MINDS
for our clients – to develop and enable them to achieve
their potential, to be the best that they can be.
Just like Singapore 50 years ago, nobody thought
Singapore would make it and likewise with our clients.
Yet, they continually and consistently surprise us with
their talents and capabilities. Recently, while hosting a
global gathering of VIP diplomatic guests, our MINDS
students’ sincere and pure chorus of singing voices
brought tears to our guests’ eyes as they were awed by
how beautifully our students can sing, and not because
they were intellectually disabled.
This spurs us on at MINDS to work even harder to
develop our clients’ potential. Our social enterprises
continue to shine, as our MINDS Bakers receive
overwhelming support from corporations and the
wider public. They are now branching out to provide
wedding favours, dessert tables and wellness products.
Some of our clients are successfully placed out in
open employment, with strong positive feedback from
employers on their diligence and work ethic.
In 2014, MINDS set up a home-based care service so that
we can reach out to help and support more PWIDs and
their families, who are not currently receiving MINDS
services. Our Community Group Home moved into their
new premises at Bukit Merah earlier this year and we
continue to encourage and enable those among our
clients, who can be placed in open employment, to live
as independently as they can and learn to take care
of themselves.
In early 2015, we launched our Caregivers Support
Services Centre, to focus our efforts on strengthening
and developing caregiver capabilities, so that they
are better equipped and supported in caring for their
charges. This new Centre, as well as the Home-Based
Care Services Office, is housed with our latest Eunos
Training and Development Centre at Jalan Ubi, which
will be officially opened later this year.
We have also launched the Me Too! Club in April 2015,
which aims to reach out to socially isolated PWIDs. Me
Too! Club will focus on befriending and recreational
activities, so as to address their social needs and
integration with society.
As the nation celebrates SG50, we too celebrate the
successes of our clients and honour the selfless giving
and love of their caregivers, alongside the strong
support given to MINDS by corporations, donors and
volunteers over the years.
To this end, we will be organising our bi-annual MINDS
Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Day later this year to
honour them, for their philanthropy, generosity
and compassion.
There will always be new challenges and hurdles
ahead. At MINDS, our clients’ smiles and successes
have always given us the strength, motivation and
stamina to overcome these challenges and scale new
heights, together with our clients. And we will continue
to do so, hand in hand with our caregivers, corporate
supporters, donors, volunteers, and with you, for more
good years ahead!
Here’s wishing our nation a Happy SG50 Birthday in
August this year:
Happy Birthday, Singapore!
Mr Keh Eng Song
Chief Executive Officer
MINDS
3
S pe ci a l F e atu res
Bidding
Farewell to
’
Singapore s
Founding Father
– Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – 2015)
4
• Paying tribute at Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Paying tribute at Singapore Botanic Gardens
S
ingapore went into national
mourning on 23 March
2015 as one of Singapore’s
founding fathers, Mr Lee Kuan
Yew, passed away. His passing
filled us all with sadness and
gratitude for taking Singapore
from third-world to first-world
status.
• Paying tribute at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Our clients at MINDS were also
bereaved and some of them
appealed to the staff to arrange for
a visitation to his lying-in-state
at Parliament.
On 26 March 2015, a contingent
of MINDS management staff led
by MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song,
and Executive Committee member,
Ms Jamie Lau, together with
clients and students from MINDS
SIA-Employment Development
Centre and Lee Kong Chian
Gardens School, joined the snaking
queue of bereaved Singaporeans
at the Padang to pay their last
respects to Mr Lee Kuan Yew at his
state funeral, at Parliament House.
• A card for our founding father – Mr Lee Kuan Yew
Our MINDS clients created
beautiful, white paper flowers as
an expression of their gratitude to
his life and work. It was not just
a paper flower. It was an undying
bloom filled with their creativity,
strengths, hopes and sorrows. As
Mr Lee laid peacefully in eternal
sleep, our clients bowed deeply in
acknowledgement of his gift to us
– a successful Singapore.
On the way out, our MINDS
uniform caught the attention of
Foreign Affairs and Law Minister,
Mr Shanmugam, who graciously
came by to say hello to us, shook
our clients’ hands and took
a group photograph with the
MINDS contingent. He kindly
• Cards and flowers from MINDS Crafts to pay tributes to our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew
thanked us for braving the queue
and hot sun to pay our last
respects to Mr Lee.
That same afternoon, two groups
of students from Fernvale Gardens
School and Lee Kong Chian
Gardens School made their way
to Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s community
memorial site at the Singapore
Botanic Gardens, organised by the
National Parks Board.
Upon arriving, they paid their
last respects to Mr Lee in the
memorial hall and proceeded
to an activity area where they
patiently sat down to draw, colour
and design their last gift and
memento to Mr Lee. The finale
came when our students bravely
trooped to the tribute area, knelt
respectfully and offered their last
parting gift to Mr Lee.
Although it was a sad occasion,
our MINDS clients and
students did us proud as they
demonstrated their compassion,
maturity and sense of nationhood
that they too are a part of the
Singapore society and they
mourned together with our nation
and people.
• Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law, Mr Shanmugam with MINDS CEO, Mr Keh and MINDS staff and clients at the Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral at The Parliament House
5
S P EC I AL F E AT U R E s
MINDS Taiko
Drummers
Make History
at National Day
Parade 2014
National Day is a day when Singaporeans from all walks of life come together
to celebrate our nation’s independence. For us at MINDS, National Day Parade
(NDP) 2014 meant a tad more. MINDS made history as the first special needs
group to perform at the NDP. A total of 13 clients from MINDS were given the
rare opportunity to showcase their talents on the national stage in front of
thousands of people.
6
• MINDS NDP 2014 team
F
or months leading up to the actual event, the
Taiko Drummers practised conscientiously
their drumbeats and moves, awaiting their
chance to wow the public together with the bands
from Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore
Police Force (SPF), Silent Precision Drill Squad
(SPDS), National Cadet Corp (NCC), and National
Police Cadet Corp (NPCC).
Besides perfecting the performance, our MINDS
Taiko Drummers also underwent rigorous training
under the hot sun to acclimatise to the harsh
conditions they will be facing during the NDP
rehearsals as well as on the actual day. The team not
only took long walks during the hottest times of the
day, they also practised standing on the spot to get
accustomed to the proceedings of the parade.
• MINDS Taiko Drummers performing at the National Day Parade
• Source: Defence Media Centre
Due to the prolonged period of standing under the
scorching sun, one of the performers was hospitalised.
In spite of that, he insisted on carrying on with the
rehearsal as he did not want to affect the progress of
the team. It was truly a reflection of their dedication
towards delivering a spectacular performance.
With fire in their bellies, the day finally came when
the MINDS Perform team took the stage and showed
their mettle to the nation. Their efforts paid off as
the audience, especially the Prime Minister and
the President applauded loudly in admiration. The
training officers and volunteers who trained with
them were moved to tears. Watching them keeping
in step and drumming in beat with gusto, it was well
worth the effort and hardship they underwent over
the past months.
This National Day Performance marked a new
beginning for the MINDS Perform team. With such
a spectacular performance presented to fellow
Singaporeans, this certainly opened doors to more of
such opportunities
and hopefully in time
to come, the golden
opportunity to
perform on the
global stage.
• MIND
S repre
sentati
contin
v
• Sourc gent with One es marching in
p
e: thew
ackydu eople.sg a
o.com
7
Ne w I niti ati v es / Ser v ices
Celebrating
World Down
Syndrome Day
with Coloured Socks
21
8
March 2014 marked the
10th anniversary of World
Down Syndrome Day
(WDSD) and MINDS celebrated
this cause by wearing multicoloured socks as a symbolic
front and visual campaign to
raise awareness. Schools such as
United World College, Singapore
American School (SAS), Chongfu
Primary School and Fernvale
Primary School pledged to do
the same in the week leading up
to WDSD.
Students from SAS went a step
further by working together with
MINDS clients to tie-dye socks in
a bid to raise funds for MINDS.
These multi-coloured socks at
the schools and centres certainly
caught the attention of the public
and media such as the Straits
Times, Lianhe Zaobao and
Channel NewsAsia.
“People with Down Syndrome
are just like any other people,
this group may not respond to
you the way you expect them to
but there is a reason for it. And if
you understand that, it becomes
easier for you to accept them,”
said MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng
Song on Channel NewsAsia.
Nikita, a 17-year-old student of
SAS, headed this initiative. She
shared with Lianhe Zaobao that
she hoped to raise awareness
among teenagers and young
adults about Down Syndrome and
dispel any misconceptions they
have about people with Down
Syndrome.
On top of this, MINDS staff and
members of the public also
supported WDSD enthusiastically
by taking pictures of themselves,
donning their coloured socks
alongside clients and sharing
it on Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter.
In celebrating WDSD, MINDS
hopes to remind the public to be
more understanding of people
with Down Syndrome.
SAS and
h students from
• Group photo wit socks
ed
with their tie-dy
• Studen
ts fr
multi-col om SAS and MIN
oured so
cks and ti DS displaying th
eir
e-dyed so
cks
ir
g the
d clients displayin
• MINDS staff an
ks
multi-coloured soc
MINDS
Ne w Initi ati v es / Ser v ices
Kembangan- Chai Chee
Community Hub Opens
• Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and representatives of the five voluntary welfare organisations stationed at Kembangan-Chai Chee Community Hub
T
o cater to the increasing
demand for training and
day care needs, MINDS
has a brand new 5th Training
& Development Centre (TDC),
known as Eunos Training &
Development Centre (ETDC)
at the new Kembangan-Chai
Chee Community Hub. Located
just a short walking distance
from Eunos MRT, ETDC, which
is equipped with training and
function rooms to support clients’
training needs, is able to house
at least 100 clients. This 5th TDC
is currently the largest training
centre that MINDS operates.
Guest of Honour, Mr Tan
Chuan-Jin, Minister for
Manpower, and Member of
Parliament representing Marine
Parade GRC, officiated the
opening of the KembanganChai Chee Community Hub
on 30 August 2014, alongside
representatives of five voluntary
welfare organisations, who
will share the space at this
Community Hub.
The new ETDC will feature a
centre stage at the dining room
as a platform for clients to
exhibit their capabilities and
9
• MINDS Staff with artworks made by clients
talents. It will also be housing
the Home-Based Care Services
and Caregivers Support Services
Centre to provide the range of
services in supporting caregivers.
During the Opening Ceremony,
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin toured
the MINDS’ exhibition booth that
showcased the artworks done by
MINDS clients.
The opening of this new ETDC
aligns with MINDS’ vision of
integrating clients into the
community and advancing their
well-being.
• MINDS artworks on display at the Opening
Ceremony
Ne w I niti ati v es / Ser v ices
MINDS
Families with
Children WITH
Intellectual
Disability First
Travel Experience
CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL COLLABORATES WITH MINDS TO TAKE FIVE
BENEFICIARIES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ON THEIR FIRST EVER
OVERSEAS TRIP.
10
F
ive low income families with children with
intellectual disability got to travel overseas
for the first time. Their trip to Phuket from
20 to 22 May 2015 was made possible through
travel management company Carlson Wagonlit
Travel’s (CWT) collaboration with the Movement for
the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).
The aim was simple - to provide an invaluable
opportunity for families with little or no financial
means or support to travel and create beautiful
memories together, as well as to reward caregivers
who have dedicated immeasurable amounts of love,
effort, and time in raising children with intellectual
disability.
For the group of five adult beneficiaries and six
caregivers, having the support of two MINDS
employees and three volunteers from CWT was
instrumental as they collaborated to care for the
children in an unfamiliar overseas setting.
CEO of MINDS Mr Keh Eng Song explained that
planning for a vacation experience for families with
children with special needs requires more than just
money. “Even if finances permit, caregivers can be
reluctant to travel for fear of not being able to handle
their child in a foreign land. Having extra support
from MINDS and CWT to look after and engage their
children allowed caregivers to enjoy some rest and
have fun with their kids without worry,” said Mr Keh.
• MINDS client feeling satisfied with his batik painting done together with his
caregiver and a Carlson Wagonlit volunteer
• MINDS clients playing a ball game with the Carlon Wagonlit Travel volunteers at Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach
As one of the volunteers for this trip, CWT Director
of Human Resources, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong
Ms Alice Loh said, “CWT has long been dedicated
to community involvement at the global and local
level, contributing to development while leveraging
its expertise and skills. In so doing, I am glad that
our team was able to help make the dreams for
these families come true. It has also been a fantastic
experience for me, sharing the happiness with the
beneficiaries from MINDS and their caregivers.”
MINDS selected the families who are financially
challenged (per capita income less than $800) and
have never flown overseas before. Although a few
of these caregivers have previously travelled on
short trips to Malaysia or Batam, it was never with
their children with special needs. Furthermore, the
opportunity to travel has been extremely rare for
them to come by, as their children required their
constant attention at home.
Beyond the voluntary support during the trip, CWT
also sponsored the return flights from Singapore to
Phuket, as well as the expenses for travel insurance,
dining, and recreational activities for all the
participants. CWT also sought a sponsorship from
five-star resort Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket
Panwa Beach to provide comfortable and stylish
accommodation over the three days of the trip.
Mr Keh said, “The degree of planning and
organisation from Carlson Wagonlit Travel was
immaculate from start to end. They planned and
booked everything, tirelessly seeking sponsorships
through fund raising from employees and their
industry partners and reassuring our caregivers and
staff of the trip through in-depth pre-trip briefings.
In Phuket, they arranged for outdoor activities like
coconut bowling, kite-making and batik painting
for our children while our caregivers rested. All
the families came back extremely happy, and some
had more confidence to travel with their children in
future. We are profoundly grateful to them.”
MINDS would also like to extend our thanks to
Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach for the
lovely accommodation and comprehensive facilities
that provides such a memorable experience; Emirates
Singapore for flying these five beneficiaries who have
never taken a flight before and Asian Trails for bringing
them to places they have never traversed before.
It must have been an
unnerving experience for
many in the group who were
travelling for the first time. As we
shared a few sweets with the children
to suck on when the plane ascended,
I suddenly remembered, warmly,
that was how I myself felt
comforted by my parents
when it was my first
time on a plane.”
- Miss Loh added
11
Ne w I niti ati v es / Ser v ices
MINDS Caregivers
Conference 2014:
Unveiling Insights
on Caring for
CLients
T
he first ever MINDS
Caregivers’ Conference
drew successfully to a
close on 23 August 2014 at the
Furama RiverFront Hotel after a
day of topics discussed, bringing
caregivers closer to understanding
the needs of persons with
intellectual disability.
12
The conference was graced by
Guest of Honour, Mdm Halimah
Yacob, Speaker of Parliament,
along with a number of senior
management staff from the
Ministry of Social and Family
Development (MSF), the National
Council for Social Service (NCSS)
and several members from the
Executive Committee of MINDS.
Over 300 caregivers and staff
participated in this conference.
Various partners of MINDS came
to the conference to promote
products that are helpful towards
the development and well-being of
persons with intellectual disability.
The conference saw a number
of guest speakers including
professionals from MINDS
Allied Health Professionals
(AHP), who provided insights
on home care for clients. Issues
that were discussed included the
Mental Capacity Act, Care Services,
Residential Services, Vocational
Pathways, Caregivers Stress
Management, etc.
The Conference ended with
a Question-&-Answer Panel
Discussion formed by MINDS
President, Mr Jeffrey Tan; MINDS
CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song
and Executive Committee Member,
Mr Mike Lee. Some topics
discussed revolved around the
future direction and plans of the
organisation.
The inaugural Caregivers’
Conference organised by MINDS
was very well received, with more
than 80 per cent of the caregivers
indicating their satisfaction
with the conference’s choice of
topics. More than 90 per cent of
the attendees are interested to
attend similar workshops and
conferences in the future. We are
definitely keeping our eyes peeled
for the next conference!
A client service was also set up by
MINDS staff, in which volunteers
from Jurong Junior College took
care of the clients while the
caregivers attended the sessions.
senting a
g, MINDS CEO, pre
• Mr Keh Eng Son ion to Jeffrey Tan, President
iat
token of apprec
of MINDS
• Mr K
eh Eng
• Guest of Ho
nour, Mdm
Halimah Ya
her opening
cob makin
speech
g
Song,
MIND
S CEO
, givin
g a spe
ech
Ne w I niti ati ves / Ser v ices
MINDS Community
Group Home:
Updates
• Benny Sun enjoying local delights at the hawker centre
F
ive years ago, Benny Sun,
Tham Kar Soon and Low
Boon Chin moved into a fourroom rental flat in Bedok in eager
anticipation to build their own nest
in the East.
Today, they have moved to a new
flat in Bukit Merah after the lease
in Bedok ended.
The three musketeers were among
the first tenants of a four-room
rental flat secured to realise the
aim of MINDS Community Group
Home (CGH) project.
MINDS CGH project was initiated
in 2005 to train higher functioning
clients with intellectual disability
to live independently and be
integrated into the community, in
which the designated HDB rental
flats are retrofitted with disabledfriendly facilities.
In their initial phase, the tenants
would stay in a mock-up unit
in MINDSville to train them on
independent living skills. They
were consequently moved to a
CGH where they get to leverage
on existing community services
and network.
• Tham Kar Soon cooking his lunch at home
The training for the clients is
arduous yet the rewards are
immeasurable. The clients will
have to learn and practise beyond
what was taught in its current
Hostel Core Training Programme.
Yet, what they received is a life
filled with confidence and pride
of ownership.
Travel and Community
Activities
The residents under this project
learn how to travel independently,
cross the road safely, take public
transport, top up their EZ-Link
card and even make purchases
at grocery stores. The residents
also partake in daily community
activities such as grocery
shopping, seeking doctor’s
consultation and even enjoying
simple leisure activities such as
running and exercising at the
communal fitness area.
integration into society, they
are also taught social skills such
as maintaining appropriate eye
contact, tone of voice and sense
of space.
Living in CGH is a dream come true
for many who teach in MINDS, for
it is a significant step to bringing
these clients closer to society and
eventually, fully integrated into
society. Witnessing how they enjoy
the simple pleasures of life such as
freedom to choose the food to eat or
movie to watch is what spurs the
training officers on – that every
little effort made, will help make
this dream come true for persons
with intellectual disability.
Daily Living and Social Skills
To be self-sufficient, the residents
learn to clean their home and
do their own laundry. They are
also taught to seek help from
appropriate personnel during
a power failure or emergency
situations. To ensure complete
• Low B
oon
his room Chin revising
h
is work
in
13
V o luntee r ing & Outr each
MINDS
MYG First Health
Screening
O
This health screening session
is the first ever organised by
MINDS MYG. We are glad that
this session helped bring us closer
to the clients and their families and
learned about their health. It also gives
us the relevant knowledge and skills
to serve them better. For example, we
could better cater food that adheres to
their dietary requirement or render
first-aid in the event of emergencies.
We are glad to know the clients enjoyed
the session as much as we did..”
n 29 March 2014, MINDS MYG organised
their first health screening session for MINDS
clients, their families and caregivers.
In conjunction with a carnival co-organised with
the Joo Chiat Neighbourhood Committee @ Marine
Parade, the turnout was overwhelming. More than
200 clients, caregivers and volunteers attended
this symbolic event held at SIA-MINDS Employment
Development Centre (SMEDC). There were close
to 30 medical practitioners who volunteered for the
session, encompassing general practitioners for health
consultation, dieticians, first-aiders and the like.
14
Held at the multi-purpose hall, the carnival offered
a wide range of activities for attendees to enjoy
during intermittent breaks. The seasoned MINDS
MYG volunteers expertly engaged and taught the
clients how to play the different games. Clients were
thrilled with the prizes they won.
- said one MINDS MYG volunteer
Caregivers who came with MINDS clients were
extremely satisfied with the session. “Health
screening helps to detect illness in its early stages;
this allows us to dole out appropriate treatments or
measures to tackle any health problems we have.
However, this can be costly for some families. MINDS
MYG is very gracious to organise this free health
screening session for us as the cost to go for one may
take a toll on some families,” shared one caregiver
who attended with MINDS client from IEDC.
• MINDS
tioners
h General Practi
• Consultation wit
To quote John Holmes, “There is no exercise better for
the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
It was indeed gratifying to be able to help so many!
• MINDS client
client play
ing a gam
e at one of
the statio
ns
one
playing a game at
of the stations
V o l untee r ing & Out r each
MINDS
Clients Refurbish
MacPherson
Homes of Elderly
M
acPherson elderly residents were in for
a pleasant surprise as the volunteers
who came to give a facelift to their
studio apartments were clients from SIA-MINDS
Employment Development Centre (SMEDC).
This meaningful project was arranged by ShangriLa Hotel, Singapore and Habitat for Humanity
Singapore who teamed up with SMEDC clients to
tidy, clean and repaint their studio apartments.
SMEDC clients and volunteers of Shangri-La Hotel,
Singapore scrubbed floors and washed kitchen
appliances that were filled with oil and grime.
“Some of the elderly residents have poor eyesight
and could not see the grime that is on the appliances.
We helped to clean the nooks and crannies, which
may contain germs that are potentially hazardous to
their health,” said Karen Er, Supervisor of SMEDC.
15
• MINDS Volunteers cleaning the kitchen
Clients together with the corporate partners also
helped with the painting work, giving a fresh new
look to the studio apartments.
The elderly residents were also presented with
hampers, which further brightened their day. “We
are touched by everyone, especially MINDS clients,
who helped to clean our houses and accompanied us.
In spite of their disability, they want to do as much
as they can to give back to the community, which we
are so fortunate to receive. I am thankful for their
help and companionship,” said one of the elderly
residents.
• Volunteers taking a group photo with an elderly resident
It was a fulfilling activity for MINDS clients, for
they struck new friendships with volunteers
from Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and Habitat for
Humanity Singapore, and made the Macpherson
residents very happy.
* Volunteers taking a group photo with an elderly resident
V o luntee r ing & Outr each
MINDS SMEDC and
ATDC RunIn with
LinkedIn
• MINDS clients and volunteers posing for the camera
16
• MINDS client playing blindfold at one of the stations
Every morning starts with a new page of your story, and it is no different for our
clients from SIA-MINDS Employment Development Centre (SMEDC) and Ang
Mo Kio Training & Development Centre (ATDC). As the sun rises to beckon the
start of RunIn, a marathon organised by LinkedIn at MacRitchie Reservoir Park,
40 of them were up and ready to kick start a day of activities filled with fun and
laughter.
T
he organisers of RunIn
planned a two-km route
for MINDS clients within
the MacRitchie Reservoir Park
with games along the way. MINDS
clients, while basking in the
morning’s warmth, thoroughly
enjoyed the games played with the
LinkedIn volunteers.
In one of the games, clients had
to mimic different poses the
volunteers made. The poses were
so comical that it roused much
laughter among the participants.
As MINDS clients walked leisurely
on the paths, they got up close
with native creatures of the park.
They were rewarded with rare
sights of the Common Sun Skink
and Clouded Monitor Lizard that
were lounging lazily under the
warm sun. The clients watched in
amazement how the squirrels leapt
• Volunteers elaborating about the rules of the game to a MINDS client
gracefully from tree to tree.
RunIn is the second year LinkedIn
collaborated with MINDS as part
of its community involvement
initiatives. Besides organising
RunIn, LinkedIn volunteered
in MINDS centres and schools,
organising numerous birthday
celebrations for our clients.
We are deeply thankful to LinkedIn
for going above and beyond in
helping our clients in every way.
V o l untee r ing & Out r each
Community-Minded
Undergraduates
Support MINDS
In 2014, undergraduates from the three local universities have, in many ways,
contributed to the beneficiaries of MINDS, touching the hearts of many. It is
heartening to see local undergraduates taking the time and trouble to make
a difference in the lives of many. MINDS clients enjoyed the company of these
passionate young adults who are filled with so much energy, at the same time;
and got to practise the skills they were taught at school. The public learned more
about MINDS and the funds raised went a long way in contributing to the wellbeing of our beneficiaries.
17
• Craft Items displayed at the “Get Lost” exhibition in NUS
NUS “Get Lost” Exhibition
Raises Awareness
I
n a bid to raise awareness and
drive recruitment for MINDS
volunteers, the students
from the National University
of Singapore (NUS) who are on
the NUS-Lead Programme, a
programme designed to develop the
leadership potential of students,
organised an exhibition within the
campus on 14 October 2014.
Titled “Get Lost”, the exhibition
invited campus students to enter
a maze interspersed with photos
and captions, depicting the
struggles and joys experienced by
volunteers and caregivers when
caring for persons with intellectual
disability. The students gathered
materials from interviews
conducted across a few weekends
with volunteers and caregivers
from MINDSville@Napiri and
MINDS MYG. The exhibition that
portrayed their struggles and
triumphs were stirring, leaving
many of the students and staff
much afterthought.
• Presenting caricature drawn for Guest of Honour, Ms Ellen Lee
NTU Raised Funds through
Touch of the Hearts
(TOTs) Event
T
18
he Nanyang Technology
University (NTU) Hall of
Residence Four organised
an annual fund-raising event at
Causeway Point, raising more than
S$15,000 for MINDS. Dubbed as
“Touch of the Hearts”, the event
was held on 23 and 24 August 2014,
offering a gamut of games, snacks
and retail options. Gracing the
event was Guest of Honour,
Ms Ellen Lee, Member of Parliament
for Sembawang GRC as well as
MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song.
MINDS Craft was invited to set up
a booth at the carnival to sell their
craft items exquisitely handmade
by our beneficiaries. The Taiko
Drummers too, performed for the
event, which has garnered positive
feedback from our clients and
caregivers.
Our deepest gratitude goes to NTU
Hall of Residence Four for raising
funds for MINDS.
• MINDS clients and Uni-Y SMU volunteers
Uni-Y SMU Raise s Client s’ Spirit s with
River Safar i Outin g
tudents from University YMCA @ Singapore Management
University, affectionately known as Uni-Y SMU, a
university service club of YMCA Singapore in SMU,
brought 20 of MINDS clients on an outing to River Safari on
15 August 2014.
S
g
The clients visited the freshwater aquariums that were teemin
saw
and
life
with an amazing range of freshwater marine
.
Singapore stars, Jia Jia and Kai Kai at the Giant Panda Forest
Red
the
d
watche
they
as
d
thrille
They were also particularly
Pandas happily circling the forest.
Through this fruitful outing, our clients have not only made
new friends with volunteers of Uni-Y SMU, they were also
given the opportunity to apply essential life skills including
travelling, being mindful of their own safety and taking
responsibility for their own belongings. Most importantly, the
to
interesting sights they saw at River Safari brought big smiles
all of them.
C o mmunity & Co r p o r ate Sup p o rt
Students from
FGS Gets to Shop
at Uniqlo
FGS students with
• Happy faces of our limantary Secretary,
Par
Ms Low Yen Ling,
and Uniqlo staff
19
• CEO M
rK
FGS stu eh Eng Song w
dents
ith one
of th
e bubbly
C
lients will have something to look forward
beyond classroom learning – Uniqlo has
partnered with MINDS to provide an exclusive
shopping experience for them on a regular basis,
which will be assisted by their team of retail
assistants.
Uniqlo’s second shopping experience, known as “InStore Shopping Experience”, was held at the Uniqlo
Suntec City outlet this time with students from MINDS
Fernvale Gardens School. It was attended by Guest of
Honour, Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliament Secretary for
Social and Family Development, Culture, Community
and Youth alongside Human Resource (HR) personnel
from various industries. In conjunction with SG
Enable’s Learning Journey, this experience also
aimed to highlight to the HR personnel the capabilities
of persons with disabilities that they too, can make
good employees. Two of our MINDS clients who were
employed by Uniqlo, have displayed such high levels
of diligence and aptitude in their work that they left a
deep impression on the HR personnel.
ary,
• Ms Low Yen Ling, Parlimentary Secret
clients
working alongside one of our MINDS
outlet
employed at the Uniqlo Suntec City
During the In-Store Shopping Experience, Uniqlo
will give the clients S$100 store credits to spend
on clothing of their choice. Our clients can use this
opportunity to learn to buy within their means
through simple calculation and essential buys.
By organising these shopping trips, MINDS and
Uniqlo hope to empower the clients with key decision
skills such as choosing what they need over what
they want. Not only do they get to apply what they
learned in school in real-life situations, they get to
bring home and enjoy the purchases they made for
the day as well. This collaboration will see a large
group of clients benefiting from its series of In-Store
Shopping Experience.
The In-Store Shopping Experience garnered huge
popularity from MINDS schools. Currently, Uniqlo
is working to design similar programmes and
experiences for MINDS’ adult clients to enhance
their skills.
C o mmunity & C o rp or ate Sup p o rt
MINDS Success
Story: Model
Client in Open
Employment
him along by sharing ideas and
tips with his co-workers on how to
better interact with him.
Jason’s diligent performance at
work impressed Uniqlo immensely
that the store manager, Mr Takao
Hashimoto sang praises of him.
He even won a customer service
award, the first for a person with
disability to receive an award from
Uniqlo, who has more than 800
stores worldwide. The winning
of award assents his capabilities
and determination to transcend
his limits and excel in the job. The
sense of pride he receives from
working in Uniqlo is immeasurable.
20
Uniqlo’s commitment to hiring
persons with special needs is
part of their Corporate Social
Responsibility Programme, to
hire one for each of their outlets.
Believing that each and every
individual is unique, they hope
to bring out the best of every
individual.
• Jason Goh, now a proud employee of Uniqlo
S
tepping into Uniqlo at
ION Orchard, one would
invariably feel the warm
welcome as Mr Jason Goh smiles
radiantly to greet customers
entering the store. When he is not
at the storefront, he would be seen
either attending to customers,
bringing them to the latest store
arrivals or replenishing stocks
from the storeroom.
Jason Goh, the 24-year-old retail
associate, is a “shining star” of
MINDS for his stellar performance
at Uniqlo despite his intellectual
disability. Ever since joining Uniqlo
in August 2012, he paved the ways
for many of our clients who are
now employed by Uniqlo.
Jason was first enrolled in MINDS
Lee Kong Chian Gardens School,
then Woodlands Employment
Development Centre. He worked
as a dishwasher for three years
before joining Uniqlo in August
2012. The Uniqlo staff trained
and mentored him for the job.
Mr Jaieden Shen, Head of Hi-Job!
(Job Placement / Support
Programme) in MINDS, helped
Companies like Uniqlo echoes
the job landscape in which more
companies are now more receptive
towards hiring persons with
special needs in their workforce,
thanks to the increased awareness
of successful cases, as shared by
SG Enable’s assistant manager, Or
Beng Hua.
“They are hardworking and
unlikely to job-hop,” says
Mr Shen. Indeed, Jason goes to the
store three hours before it opens
at 11am!
C o mmunity & Co r p o r ate Sup p o rt
Empowering
and Engaging
Clients:
Maybank
Global Corporate
Responsibility Day 2014
L
ined with colourful flags, the
participants were getting
ready as they carried pails of
water to race against each other to
the end of the line. A larger-thanlife inflatable foosball sat in the
field’s centre while children stood
at their respective positions and
turned into life-sized foosball men.
The spectator area was packed with
attendees as they waited with bated
breath for the action to unfold at
the Maybank Global Corporate
Responsibility Day.
The event that was held on
27 September 2014, saw more
than 3,000 participants from
Maybank, ComChest and MINDS
with more than 200 students from
MINDS schools participating in the
exciting games. Guest of Honour,
Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for
Social and Family Development
graced the event along with Mr
Keh Eng Song, MINDS CEO.
The carnival was held outdoors
with booths selling a medley of
food and games for families to play
with their children. A trackless
train painted in vibrant shades
of colour was the main draw,
attracting many children and
families to ride on it.
In the relay races, students from
MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens
School emerged as the winner for
scoring the most points.
Maybank had also raised
S$100,000 for MINDS through
ComChest. A cheque was
presented by Mr Lim Hong Tat,
Maybank CEO in the presence of
Guest of Honour, Minister Chan
and Mr Sim Gim Guan, CEO of
National Council of Social Service
to Ms Ng Ling Ling, Managing
Director of ComChest and Mr Keh
Eng Song, CEO of MINDS.
In addition to their fund-raising
efforts for MINDS, Maybank
recently launched its M-Powering
MINDS Volunteer Challenge,
a two-year programme aimed
to help people with disabilities
to move towards achieving
greater independence in their
daily lives. This programme
will see the bank’s volunteers
working with MINDS on a series
of activities that focuses on
community mobility and social
skills, equipping clients with
more essential independent living
skills. It is expected that more
than 200 MINDS clients would
benefit from this programme.
MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song
said, “Not all our beneficiaries
have opportunities to showcase
their talents. A number of
them require more care and
development and as such, their
opportunities become even more
limited. It is great to see Maybank
coming forward and proposing
this long-term partnership which
will see a number of volunteering
programmes being organised in
the coming months. I am sure
that this collaboration with
Maybank will greatly enhance
the integration of persons with
special needs into our society.”
Our deepest gratitude to Maybank
for making this event such an
enjoyable one for MINDS clients!
• Students and staff of MINDS engaging in a
competitve game of human foosball with Maybank
Management
• Cheque Presented to Community Chest for MINDS
by Maybank
21
C o mmunity & C o rp or ate Sup p o rt
HP Celebrates
th
25 Anniversary
with MINDS
I
t is amazing how time flies and that HewlettPackard (HP) celebrated their 25th year in
Singapore last year. For this special celebration,
HP held an exclusive two-day carnival for their
staff on 28 and 29 October 2014 at their premises
on Depot Road. They extended invitation to
MINDS, roping in MINDS Craft, MINDS Bakers,
MINDS Perform and MINDS Wash to participate in
their celebration.
MINDS Bakers put up their signature cookies for
sale, which were very well received. At the MINDS
Craft booth, clients skilfully demonstrated the art
of pointillism, a technique of dotting art, which
impressed many of the staff in attendance.
MINDS Perform team joined in the celebration and
put up flash mobs at different intervals during the
two-day carnival. Volunteers from HP Singapore
together with the MINDS Perform team, immersed
in the celebratory cheer as they sang and danced
around the different booths.
The team from MINDS Wash, who came on the
second day of the carnival, busied themselves with
the long queue of cars waiting to be washed by
the “experts”.
We sincerely thank HP Singapore for including
MINDS at this event.
22
• MINDS clients with HP staff and volunteers
• MINDS clients together with HP staff washing the cars
• MINDS Perform Team together with HP staff putting up flash mob
• HP staff trying the cookies baked by MINDS Bakers
C o mmunity & Co r p o r ate Sup p o rt
Minister
Tan Chuan-Jin
Publishes Travel
Photography Book
for Charity and
Supports MINDS
As the book, “The World We Live In”, was passed around the training room,
MINDS clients clamoured around to admire the photographs that were taken
by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower.
T
his book is a compilation of photographs
of people, landscapes and city scenes that
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin captured during
his many travels across Amsterdam, Siem
Reap, Moscow and other places of interests. An
extensive traveller with an eye for aesthetics and
photography as passion, Minister Tan decided to
use his hobby to support good causes, benefiting
the community.
More than 300 copies were sold since the book was
launched in May 2014, and on 30 August 2014, the
night of the official launch, a silent auction was
held where eight framed prints were successfully
auctioned. The Golitha Falls photo which was
displayed at the MINDS booth, was bid by
Ms Olivia Lum, Executive Chairman and Group
CEO of Hyflux Ltd.
23
• A client of SMEDC, admired the photo taken at Golitha Falls in Bodmin Moor at
United Kingdom. The framed print was bought by Executive Chairman and
Group CEO of Hyflux Ltd, Olivia Lum
Minister Tan in his pursuit for the perfect picture,
experimented with different textures and colours
to capture the mood evoked by the scenes that
were presented before his eyes.
Drawn to nature, Minister Tan tries to capture the
essence of the moment that tells the full gamut of
emotions experienced. He admires Ansel Adam’s
capability to capture the different details of nature
that are perfectly composed.
Through his photography hobby, he hopes to
support some of the people whom he has met and
the causes they champion.
• The Book, “The World We Live In” published by Minister for Manpower,
Mr Tan Chuan-Jin
C o mmunity & C o rp or ate Sup p o rt
50 for 50: Young
Changemakers
Support MINDS
50 for 50, an SG50 movement initiated by The Social Co. that aims to bring
together 50 changemakers under 35 years old, to raise funds for their nominated
charity. Funds raised by changemakers will be matched dollar for dollar by
corporations. On top of this, the sum will further double with the support from
Community Chest’s Care and Share @ SG50 programme. This movement aims to
change the mindset that Generation-Y people (under 35) are a bunch of selfish,
entitled young people.
T
24
rue to their cause, one
young changemaker,
Mr Alexander Fang,
Assistant Vice President,
Solutions Partners at Credit
Suisse, successfully appealed
for funds in support for MINDS
beneficiaries, raising an incredible
sum of S$81,602.
Dubbed as “Make a Reel Impact”,
Mr Fang invited his friends and
family members for a private movie
screening at the Platinum Suites
in Cathay Cineplex. Before the
movie screening, he showed a video
that illustrated the triumphs and
tribulations of clients at MINDS.
Mr Fang shared, “My father
passed away when I was five, and
coming from a single-parent family
unit, I want these individuals
to feel the warmth and stability
of being in an integrated family
unit. MINDS reaches out to the
people with intellectual disability,
especially those in the lower
socio-economic groups, as these
families are generally unable
to cope with managing such
individuals. Through special
education and teaching them a
set of very basic vocational skills,
these people can and will be able
to live relatively normal lives
together with their families.”
Support from friends and family
members poured in.
With the funds raised, Mr Fang
hoped that it will help fund MINDS
clients’ training for employment,
empower volunteers to conduct
more meaningful activities and
reinvigorate the premises for an
even more beautiful environment
for them to live.
PREENK, an online womenswear
label, along with Coast-to-Coast
Alumni, an alumni association
made up of young and promising
graduates who lived and worked
abroad of Singapore, took up the
baton and attempted to match
dollar-for-dollar the funds raised
by Mr Fang.
sed
xander Fang organi
• Changemaker Ale
” at the Cathay
“Make A Reel Impact
tes
Sui
Cineleisure Platinum
t showcasing
• MINDS clien
dotting art
• Eating and bon
ding with MINDS
clients
their skills in
• Roseline, Co-founder of PREENK, with her brother playing Hand Shake.
• Source: facebook.com/PREENK
PREENK
With the grit to make a change,
PREENK raised S$13,220
and organised a luncheon for
clients from Idea Employment
Development Centre (IEDC) with
their partners and clients.
MINDS Craft was tasked to set up
a pop-up store to showcase their
artwork. From mosaic tiling to
glass painting, it was all it could
to contain the excitement and
fascination of the onlookers.
The luncheon started off with
casual ice-breaking games,
where clients had to do different
handshakes with different
people. Throughout the game,
the chemistry was flawless as
the clients performed different
handshakes with the PREENK
volunteers. Lunch was deliciously
sweet with the company of a
bunch of young professionals
who were so full of vigour. JJ and
The Paperplanes was an icing on
the cake as they captivated the
attendees with their beautiful
renditions of Christmas carols.
Coast-to-Coast Alumni
Coast-to-Coast Alumni held an
intimate cocktail event at Mezza9
for its members to celebrate the
festive season and at the same
time, not forgetting to contribute
25
to good causes. Members of
Coast-to-Coast Alumni rallied
support and raised more than
S$5,000 of funds for MINDS.
As the sounds of revelry issued
into the night, new friendships
were forged, sharing a common
goal of building a better future
for persons with disability. We
hope their examples will inspire
more influencers in the Singapore
community and beyond.
C ommunity & C o rp or ate Sup p o rt
MINDS Christmas
Stocking
Challenge 2014
MINDS
Christmas Stocking
Challenge is back for
the fourth year. The
Social Enterprise team put their heads together
to select a set of stationery, complete with
cookies from MINDS Bakers as presents to put
into the Christmas stockings.
To prepare for this challenge, MINDS Bakers
team baked masses of cookies topped with
colourful M&M’s chocolates that certainly
helped put a smile on the beneficiaries’ faces.
26
This year, white stockings, which were inspired
by MINDS client, Mr Aldie Sujak, were used
to bring out the colourful Christmas symbols
on the stockings. White, a colour at its purest,
symbolises Mr Aldie’s pure devotion in
replicating beautiful scenes as best as he could
from pictures and photos.
• MINDS clients and volunteers presenting their completed artwork
Volunteers from various corporations such as
Soup Restaurant, Standard Chartered Bank,
Agility, AkzoNobel, Barclays and Evolve MMA
pooled in their efforts to bring a touch of
Christmas cheer to the beneficiaries.
With combined effort, the team managed to fill
6,000 stockings with presents and delivered
them to 25 voluntary welfare organisations,
comprising Arc Children’s Centre, Blue Cross
Thong Kheng Home as well as MINDS’ own
beneficiaries.
The MINDS Christmas Stocking Challenge
aims to empower people with special needs
by instilling confidence and equipping them
with skills by making stockings for other
beneficiaries. Through this charity project,
clients not only get to engage the community
for volunteerism and donations, they are
also involved in the act of giving, which was
rewarding for the clients as well.
• MINDS clients with volunteers for MINDS Christmas Stocking Challenge
Ac ti vities U p dates
IEDC Annual
Party 2014:
Around the
World in a Day
On this momentous day, 300 trainees from MINDS Idea Employment
Development Centre (IEDC) had the rare opportunity to “travel around the
world” on 21 November 2014 as they celebrated their annual party held at
Pin Si Restaurant, in SAFRA Yishun.
M
any of the trainees had taken the effort to
dress up to the nines, reflecting the vibrant
colours and cultures from all over the world.
RSAF’s COL Jonathan Tan, Commander
Participation Command (PC); COL Joseph Tan,
Commander DAG and Commander TASG/HD ODG;
COL Yap Kwee Chye; General Manager of Social
Service Office (SSO) @Sengkang, Serangoon
& Hougang, Ms Lim Lay Ling and Director of
SureFood Pte Ltd & Samsui Services Pte Ltd,
Mr Dicky Seow, came to support the annual party.
MINDS Vice President, Mr Robin Chua, Chairman
of MINDS Social Enterprise and Employment
Development (SEED) Committee, Mr Huang Cheng
Eng as well as MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song
attended the event as well.
The annual party kicked off with a rendition of
Dancing, Singing & Skits by a group of trainees.
Mr Jamael, a professional singer, also chipped in
to the party as he performed songs such as
We will Rock You, Macarena and Everything I Do,
I Do It for You, serenading the onlookers with his
melodious tunes.
One of the biggest highlights in the annual party
was the catwalk performance by the trainees.
The trainees graced the walkway with such poise,
leaving the audience in much awe.
COL Jonathan Tan, Ms Lim Lay Ling, Mr Dicky
Seow and Mr Huang Cheng Eng took turns to
present various awards and prizes to clients.
Among other deserving recipients, client Darren
Ong won the Best Trainee Award while client
Tan Ko Hin was named the Most Improved Trainee
for his working attitude and behaviour.
27
• IEDC clients performing on stage
MINDS CEO, Mr Keh Eng Song presented senior staff
Mr Joseph Lim a 10-year Long Service Award and
Ms Catherine Teo, Mr Simon Chng and Ms Jamiatin
bte Asane, the five-year Long Service Award in
appreciation of their dedication and passion.
Mr Cedric Chew, Manager of IEDC said, “We are
honoured to have practically the entire leadership
of the RSAF PC including three colonels to grace
our party. This is the first time we have had
such strong and high-level support for an annual
trainees’ party. We hope to grow our working
relationship with our supporters and open more
doors of opportunities for our trainees.”
The annual party ended on a high note as the
trainees and attendees danced away to songs such
as Kungfu Fighting, Macarena, and I Will Survive,
among other crowd favourites, singing along freespiritedly to the songs played.
Acti v ities U p dates
SMEDC Annual
Party 2014
Rock & Roll with
SMEDC
28
• Psy’s doppelganger from Silver Bullet Entertainment performing Gentleman, Korean pop song
T
he annual party at SIAMINDS Employment
Development Centre
(SMEDC) was a tad different this
year. They had specially fitted a
dance floor at the Hilltop Garden
Restaurant in Civil Service Club,
inviting all to dance and party
together. Trainees and staff came
with much fanfare: donning
party wigs in vibrant colours and
novelty glasses to complete the
“Rock & Roll” look.
This year, SMEDC invited a total
of 400 clients from Track &
Development, Social Enterprise,
Probation Unit and Open
Employment, providing a respite
from their daily routine.
Staff of SMEDC ushered in the
Rock & Roll party with an amazing
dance performance of La Song.
The music deejay continued to
notch up the atmosphere with
a string of rock and roll tracks
to keep the atmosphere lively
throughout, playing What a
Wonderful World, as well as the
beautiful Chinese song, The Moon
Represents My Heart by Teresa
Teng. The most memorable
dance performance had to be the
Silver Bullet Entertainment who
performed the famous Korean
song, which went viral for its
catchy lyrics and groovy dance
moves, Gentleman.
The audience were kept engaged
with the Photo Hunt Game where
they were tasked to identify the
staff whose childhood photos
were flashed on screen. When the
emcee revealed the answers, the
audience was so tickled as they
could not believe how some of the
staff looked in their younger days.
• SMEDC clients and staff pose for a photo
Mr Muhammed Fadhli was the
luckiest one during the annual
party as he snagged the top
prize for the lucky draw, winning
himself a Portable Air Cooler.
Mr Roy Ho Teik Ann,
Ms Genevieve Soh Jia Yi,
Mr Fu Ji Ming bagged the Most
Improved Trainee Award for
exceeding expectations in their
fields. Mr Lau Win San and Mr
Lim Boon Han were awarded the
Long Service Award having been
with us for 17 years!
The attendees were given a
customised water bottle with their
name on it. All good things come to
an end as the staff and clients bade
farewell at the end of a splendid
party, but we all know, the next
party will rock everyone’s senses
in time to come!
Ac ti vities U p dates
Aloha! WEDC
Ohana Annual
Party 2014
29
• WEDC staff performing on stage
he annual party of WEDC
was held on 27 November
2014. The ballroom at Orchid
Country Club was spruced up with
full-bloomed flowers, evoking a
convivial Hawaiian ambience.
T
obstacles with the help rendered
by the training officers. It was
a moment when the training
officers and staff were moved to
tears as her words touched the
hearts of many.
In Hawaii, “Ohana” means family,
and family means nobody gets
left behind, or forgotten. At WEDC
Annual Party, everyone was
invited and 309 clients attended
the party along with more than 50
staff and invited guests.
The attendees proceeded to play
games such as Bingo, a number
matching game. The atmosphere
was so hyped up that when the
final number was announced,
some attendees got so excited and
exclaimed loudly in surprise.
Ms Maria Cheng Wen Jia, a client
of WEDC currently on the Open
Employment Scheme, delivered
the opening speech, in which she
shared about her experiences
working outside of MINDS.
The biggest highlight of the
annual party was the amazing
beatbox performance delivered
by MediaCorp artiste,
Piratheeban, showcasing his
talents of controlling sounds with
his mouth and synchronising the
beats with his hands.
She brought up how she overcame
Mr Ng Mun-Wai, Manager of
WEDC, said, “This year, we decided
to rope in the clients who are
currently in the Open Employment
Scheme to share about their
experiences working outside of
MINDS. It was truly a touching
moment when they shared about
their experiences. We could really
feel our efforts have paid off and
we take pride in knowing that we
played a small part in making a
difference in their lives.”
The annual party of WEDC was a
memorable event where it not only
pulled the heartstrings of many
with Maria’s opening speech, but
also the games played and the
performances were eventful.
Acti v ities U p dates
Changi Airport
Outing with
KAPPS Consulting
Pte Ltd
30
• Group outing with KAPPS volunteers
n 9 October 2014, 25 clients from Napiri
Training & Development Centre (NTDC) were
excited as they looked forward to go for a
Changi Airport Tour, meticulously planned by KAPPS
Consulting Pte Ltd, a local IT consulting company.
The day began with the arrival of the volunteers.
O
attentive, ensuring the clients never left their sight.
We conducted a briefing for the volunteers, followed
by pairing of our clients with the volunteers. Our
clients were thrilled to have a buddy for the whole
day. Everyone eagerly boarded the bus that would
take them to the Airport.
Soon, it was time for lunch. We took the Skytrain to
Terminal Three and proceeded to McDonald’s where
lunch was kindly sponsored by KAPPS, who ensured
that our clients were fed well.
We walked to the Viewing Gallery at Terminal Two
where we began with an ice-breaker game led by the
volunteers. We tossed a ball around and wherever
it landed, our client, together with his or her buddy,
would have to stand up and introduce themselves.
Next, we took the Skytrain to Terminal One. Our
clients were extremely intrigued. Along the way, they
took photos with the volunteers who were patient and
At Terminal One, our clients enjoyed looking at the
aeroplanes and even exclaimed excitedly when they
saw a plane touched down. We also had some art and
craft activities to keep everyone entertained.
We went back to NTDC and continued to engage the
rest of the clients who did not go for the outing. The
day ended with a birthday celebration for our clients
and volunteers.
All too soon, the day came to an end. We presented
our volunteers with tokens made by our clients. It
was a pleasurable outing for our clients and they look
forward to more outings in the future.
Ac ti vities U p dates
MINDS
Embracing
Key Word Sign
T
he year 2014 marked another milestone for
MINDS as we adopted the Key Word Sign
(Australia) as the common signing approach
to enhance communication among our clients,
caregivers and staff. With an aim to create awareness
and encourage the use of key word signs across
MINDS, representatives from each school and centre
hunkered down and kicked off a series of initiatives
to inculcate a signing environment.
Initiatives to Encourage Key Word Sign at
Schools/Centres
To implement this successfully, all staff and families
needed to embrace the signing approach. The Key
Word Sign Committee put up posters featuring “Sign
of the Week” and “Fun Signs” in strategic places. They
also conducted “50 Core Key Word Signs at MINDS”
workshop to equip staff with the knowledge.
At MINDS Dinner & Dance on 16 May 2014, it
was enlightening to witness an awesome retro
performance put together by staff of the adult
• MINDS
Represent
atives
Word Sign
Certificatio at the Key
Australia
(Top row, n Training in
first on left
Shannen
Yu
:
right: Priy e; Second row, seco
nd on
a Sridhar)
Training & Development Centres and MINDSville
Home & Hostel using Key Word Signs whilst dancing
to the foot-tapping music!
Our Commitment to Key Word Sign
As part of the Key Word Sign implementation plan
across our organisation, MINDS identified and sent
two staff, Ms Priya Sridhar, ex-Speech Therapist
of MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School and
Ms Shannen Yue, Training Officer of SIA-MINDS
Employment Development Centre, for the Key Word
Sign Presenter Certification Training in Melbourne,
Australia in October 2014. It was indeed an exchange
of knowledge and learning experience!
Moving forward, the Key Word Sign Committee will
strive to elevate Key Word Sign to the next level
within MINDS. Stay tuned and do join us in key word
signing whenever you see the “Sign of the Week” &
“Fun Signs” along the corridors of the MINDS schools
and centres!
• MINDS Key Word Sign Committee 2014
What is Key Word Sign
Key Word Sign is an unaided Augmentative and
Alternative form of Communication (AAC) derived
from Makaton, Australia, to better help persons with
intellectual disabilities. Its practice is not new and
has been developed for individuals with multiple and
severe disabilities in the United Kingdom since the
1970s. Key Word Sign supports the communication
development of adults and children who are unable
to speak or whose speech is difficult to understand.
The use of Key Word Sign is not intended to replace
speech at all; rather, it is embraced as a total
communication approach where the communication
partner would speak and sign at the same time, and
use any visual referent (e.g. object, picture, and/or
photograph).
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