The support for one another was visibly immense. When the emcee called for the fastest table to present a complete set of items to the stage during the games’ segment, every participant worked hand in hand to do their best to contribute, all in a bid for a friendly win or cheers for their teammates.
It was the last ‘WeCare for U Project: Together U & Me’ event held by NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) at Downtown East on 10 December 2011. The network of friendship forged among the 1,359 members (comprising 459 mums and 900 children) was strong and close-knitted.
In 2011 alone, WDS organised 17 activities like the year-end celebration and gatherings that have benefited many. Other activities to help the single mothers build confidence and bond with their children included learning journeys to top-notch schools in Singapore, movie screenings, talks on legal issues, workshops on financial skills, training on first aid and CPR, one-day overseas learning journeys, among many others.
Educational programmes such as ‘WeCare kidsREAD’ was also launched on 3 July 2011 to inculcate reading for children from a young age. NTUC WDS Director Sylvia Choo thanked all unions and the women union leaders for referring single mums to the Project, and urged for their continuous support in her welcome address. Ms Choo also paid tribute to the teacher mentors and students volunteers from Hwa Chong Institution and Raffles Institution, as well as staff volunteers from the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd (GIC) for helping out with the various activities organised to date.
WeCare for U Project's key driver and UPAGE Deputy General Secretary Suseela Singaram added: “We have touched the lives of single mums and their children, such as changing the programmes to be more structured like the ‘WeCare kidsREAD’ and speech-and-drama classes for the children’s development. We have seen how these programmes transformed the children who used to be very timid. But their enthusiastic participation in the stage games today shows that they have built a lot of confidence over the years, through all the volunteers’ regular interaction with them.
“We hope more organisations will come forth and lend their support to WeCare for U Projects such as camping, specialised training or development of leadership qualities, so that more could be done to upskill the members in 2012. My vision is that they will get out of the vicious cycle of their past, progress individually, while their children also grow up well and do their part for society.”
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"The activities organised by WDS not only allow me to develop a closer bond and relationship with my daughter, but the free courses also give me better insights to take charge of my life.”
Madam Helen Ng is a Chinese teacher and has an eight-year-old daughter. She has been with the WeCare for U Project for two years.
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"We all know that solo parenting, on top of juggling their careers and family, can be a challenging task. With such a community like WeCare for U Project, it allows single mums to come together where they can find assistance in terms of comfort, friendship and advice for themselves and their children. Please continue to spread the news to anybody who needs help, and encourage them to join this community so that they are aware of avenues to seek support, upgrade themselves and gain greater financial independence in their lives.”
NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS) Director Sylvia Choo (pictured)
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“I am happy to learn that there is such a network for single mums and their children through NTUC WDS’ WeCare for U Project. Now my children have something to look forward to through the activities organised. I also look forward to the workshops which will be enriching not just for my children, but for myself too.”
Madam A. Prema Archanah has just joined WeCare for U Project. She works as a customer service officer and has two children aged 12 and 10.
