everychildmatters - TOUCH Community Services

Transcription

E V E R Y
C H I L D
M A T T E R S
ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
ADDRESS: Blk 162 Bukit Merah Central #05-3545 S150162 | TELEPHONE: (65) 6377 0122 | FAX: (65) 6377 0121 |
young.arrows@touch.org.sg | https://www.facebook.com/TOUCHyoungarrows/ |
@touchyoungarrows
GREETINGS FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
EUGENE SEOW
DEAR FRIENDS,
2015 had been a year of many exciting opportunities to make a difference in the lives
and families of our TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) children and I would like to extend my
heartfelt appreciation to all our community partners, donors and committed volunteers
who have supported TYA in one way or another.
I am also heartened to see many former TYA children giving back by volunteering their time at TYA to provide
academic and social support to their juniors. Some of them have shown exemplary leadership qualities and
dedication. I am proud to see some of them developing into TYA Club leaders, playing an important role in nurturing
the next generation.
The work of TOUCH Community Services started in 1986 as a service for latch-key children in Clementi and
Jurong, and this small attempt by a group of volunteers to impact the children has transformed into an integrated
network of 17 services, including TYA. We are deeply humbled by the various opportunities to serve the needy
and disadvantaged.
Looking ahead, I am excited to hear that TYA will be adding two more TYA Clubs this year and will also be
introducing creative learning activities at the clubs to develop the next generation in a holistic manner.
As we enter 2016, we look forward to partnering each one of you in nurturing and sharpening the children like
arrows and to make a positive and lasting impact in society.
You are indeed SPECIAL and you can MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
GREETINGS FROM MANAGER,
LAWRENCE TAN
DEAR FRIENDS,
As we enter 2016, TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) is looking forward to celebrating our
30th year in serving the needy community! Moving ahead, we aim to continue nurturing
children in realising their potential by providing educational, social and emotional support,
as well as to strengthen families and enable volunteers to serve the community effectively.
With support from our community partners, 2015 was a year where we saw the launch of four new TYA Clubs,
namely TYA Boon Lay, TYA Kampong Eunos, TYA Macpherson and TYA Sengkang, enabling us to serve some
570 children across 23 TYA Clubs in Singapore. We are humbled by these opportunities to extend our reach to
even more needy families.
In view of the increasing number of single-parent households and the numerous challenges that a single parent
faces, TYA launched the inaugural Family Befriending Project last year to better support TYA children from singleparent families. We are thankful for the volunteers who had stepped forward to be our family befrienders, extending
love and support to these TYA families.
Lastly, we are looking forward to partnering with each one of you in 2016. Thank you for your support in developing
and sharpening our next generation, making a positive impact in the community!
CONTENT PAGE
MESSAGES
Greetings from our Executive
Director and Manager.
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ALL ABOUT TYA
TYA’s vision, mission and
history. Find out how TYA first
started and developed over
the years.
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EVENTS
COMPILED BY TYA STAFF:
Lawrence Tan
Chia Wen Jia
Jenny Liew
Jessica Leck
Melvin Lim
Sarah Soh
TYA’s Annual Events that
aim to nurture children,
strengthen families and
enable volunteers.
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CLUBS TESTIMONIALS
Children and volunteers’
testimonials. Read how
TYA has impacted the next
generation here!
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EDITORS:
Terry Lim
Rachel Anne
DESIGN LAYOUT:
Jessica Leck
CONTRIBUTORS:
Anders Soh
Chantel Tan
Cheryl Hoi
Chris Yean
Daniel Gan
Esther Chow
Helene Tan
Mitchel Goh
Nathaniel Tay
Nicole Soh
Ruth Lin
Sia Vic-ki
Tobie Wee
TYA Supervisors
TYA Club Leaders
PRINTED BY:
PCL Printers Pte Ltd
TYA MAP
Twenty-three TYA clubs
and number of clients and
volunteers at ONE glance.
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YOUTHPHORIA
A platform that connects with
TYA’s ex-clients.
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2016 CALENDAR
Year-round TYA events.
Check out the 2016 events
here as TYA celebrates 30th
Anniversary.
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TYA THROUGH THE YEARS.
A L L A B O U T T YA
TYA, previously known as TOUCH Children’s Club
(TCC), has been running club activities since 1986 for
children, aged six to 12 years old, from low-income
and/or single-parent families.
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TOUCH YOUNG ARROWS
(TYA) is a service of TOUCH
Community Services Limited,
a not-for-profit charitable
organisation officially registered
in 1992, and a member of the
National Council of Social
Service since 12 December
1994. TOUCH is also the
winner of the Outstanding
Non-profit Organisation Award
at the National Volunteerism &
Philanthropy Awards 2007.
TYA runs weekly children
activities on Saturdays across
its 23 clubs, serving more
than 500 needy children. Our
weekly programme includes
one and a half hours of free
academic coaching in English
and Mathematics as well
as an hour of values-driven
activities planned by our regular
volunteers. TYA also organises
family bonding activities and
character development camps to
boost family harmony and build
the children’s self-esteem.
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VISION.
To nurture children and young
persons holistically to help
realise their potential by
providing educational, social and
emotional support, and to see
families strengthened.
MISSION.
Strengthen parent-child
relationships of our clients,
Help develop every child and
young person to uncover their
potential in a positive learning
environment,
Inculcate moral values and build
character in every child and
young person,
Nurture and challenge every
young person to continuously
contribute to the society,
Encourage, equip and empower
every volunteer to strengthen
children, young persons and
family.
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TYA EVENTS IN 2015
Games Day | Sri Lanka Exchange | Survival Camp | Run & Raisin’ |
Volunteers’ Day | Family Chalet | Family Befriending Project
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GAMES DAY
14 MARCH 2015 NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC
Every year, TYA Games Day is organised to foster strong
were the top two clubs fighting for the title. Finally, after a
camaraderie among families and clubs. It is a day where
tough fight, Hougang 1 emerged as the champion winner. It
the children, parents and volunteers gather and engage in
was a moment of glory as the team stood before a gallery full
various exciting games.
of supporters. The Frisbee competition had instilled a spirit
of sportsmanship and unity among the various clubs and
14 March 2015 marked our annual TYA Games Day. Held
clusters.
at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, this event garnered excitement
amongst over 500 volunteers, children and families from all
Following the Frisbee Championship was the annual crowd
the TYA clubs island-wide. The day was packed with fun-
favourite – the 8x50m relay. The mass relay included the
filled games on the track and field that aimed to maximise
participation of the children, parents and volunteers. The
participation with all participants, of which many undoubtedly
atmosphere was kept alive as everyone continued to cheer
enjoyed themselves.
for their friends and family. It was exhilarating just watching
the competitors dash past the finish line.
One of the track games involved hunting for tissue paper
packets as a cluster to form the longest line. This encouraged
Games Day 2015 was undeniably a memorable event that
participants to interact with the spectators in searching for
united the clusters and all our centres. It was a great time
tissue paper packets, engaging all parents and children
of fun and excitement for the children, while concurrently
sitting at the gallery as well.
developing their communication skills, team work and
instilling a positive and persistent spirit.
Moving on to field games, participants had to throw paper
balls into buckets that were attached to the volunteers’ backs.
For many parents, it was a great opportunity to support their
What made it more challenging was that these volunteers
children and connect with other families. At the end of the
were moving simultaneously. Many were all smiles as they
day, every person that left the stadium was beaming from
scored for their teams.
ear to ear.
Every TYA club fought vigorously and gave their ultimate
best to win the Frisbee Championship Game after weeks of
diligent training in their respective clubs. As the teams fought
to win the title, non-participants cheered on enthusiastically
along the sidelines, keeping the team spirit alive. After several
rounds of intense competition, Hougang 1 and Jurong West
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SRI
LANKA
EXCHANGE
18-21 APRIL 2015 COLOMBO
A team of seven volunteers embarked on a trip to Sri Lanka
to enrich our experiences with the children and even the leaders
on 18 to 21 April 2015 to learn about how the locals serve the
and teachers in Sri Lanka. It was such a wonderful time that I
community and the children. Throughout the trip, the volunteers
went back to Sri Lanka again in December 2015 for another
learnt that all children require the same thing - love and concern,
round of community work.
for them to grow up with the right set of moral values. It was
inspiring to see genuine smiles on the faces of the children
Thank you TYA for the eye opening, utterly enjoyable, fulfilling
despite having little resources to live by, and the compassionate
and great teamwork experiences in TYAxLanka 2015!
hearts of the locals who would selflessly open their homes to
By Chris Yean
conduct value driven activities for the children. Being in a less
developed country has allowed a greater appreciation for what
we have been blessed with in Singapore, and the passion of
Going to Sri Lanka was a really interesting experience for me.
the locals there for the children have influenced us volunteers
Over there, I not only did some hard labour such as carrying
to make a tremendous impact for the next generation here in
bricks and rocks across the railway with trains passing, I also
Singapore.
had the chance to visit various children’s clubs including the
By Daniel Gan
ones in the slums. I met many people from different backgrounds
and played games with the children there. One thing I learnt
Serving in Sri Lanka had been an exciting experience. While I
was that joy does not necessarily come from getting what we
was preparing for the trip, I kept receiving downloads of ideas
want all the time, but also through giving, sharing, and being
on what I could do to facilitate learning with the children there.
thankful for what we have. It was indeed a blessing to have
As such, I ended up with three fully-packed personal suitcases
been given this opportunity to go to Sri Lanka, and learn many
and still felt something was missing!
valuable lessons there. I am now able to better appreciate and
be contented with what I have been blessed with.
Thankfully, we were able to utilise many of the items creatively
By Tobie Wee
with all of us working as a team to brainstorm ideas for activities
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SURVIVAL CAMP
8-11 JUNE 2015 PIONEER PRIMARY SCHOOL
The TYA Survival Camp is an annual event that many of
activities, from the hair-rising mystery box segment, to talking
our children and volunteers look forward to. This year’s
in front of a camera about their ambitions. The message of
camp theme was “Camp ARISE: I am UNIQUE; I can be
reaffirming the unique identity of these children and what they
CONFIDENT and EXCELLENT.” The vision was to see each
could become were impressed upon their hearts and minds. A
individual understand their unique significance, find security
structured experience was organised at the end of the day to
and learn that excellence is not how well we perform but what
put the children through many decision-making processes, for
we choose to do.
them to see the impact of their choices and innate potential in
them to take control of their lives through the right decisions.
Survival Camp 2015 was held at Pioneer Primary School.
This sealed a deeply meaningful day.
More than 200 children from the TYA clubs all around
Singapore gathered for an enriching four days from 7 to 10
Day Three marked the time for the children and volunteers
June 2015. Joining the children were 150 volunteers and staff,
to leave the concrete building of Pioneer Primary School and
who dedicated their time and efforts to facilitate the wonderful
experience the outdoors. With great excitement and packed
learning journey.
bags of rations, the four clans embarked on two different
five-kilometre hiking routes through MacRitchie Reservoir.
To kickstart the entire camp, children and volunteers engaged
While the nature was fascinating to many children, the sheer
in a time of mass games (or mass hysteria rather), to build
distance, unevenness of roads, steepness of daunting slopes
“clan” unity and spirit. The high energy levels were kept up
and unpredictable weather conditions took a toll on many
through the mass dance session, as the children danced
children. However, no challenge proved too difficult for our
to the rhythmic beats of a song. As the night drew closer,
spirited children to overcome with grit, determination and
excitement amongst the children was palpable as they
encouragement from their peers and volunteers with all the
awaited the highly anticipated Night Games! Clans set out to
clans completed their hikes with great success!
build and protect their well-lit bases against the hydrophobic
eight-legged “creatures” of the night. Eventually, the clans
Upon arrival back at school, the children were awed by the
were called to unite and rid of the common enemy of darkness
demonstration of expert survival skills and outdoor cooking.
in the final showdown, which paid off as the clans gained a
The demonstration built up to the highlight of every Survival
well-deserved victory!
Camp - the Campfire. Led by the emcees, the hype and
energy spread across all clans as everyone danced, cheered
At the beginning of Day Two, the children and volunteers
and sang at the top of their voices. Children and volunteers
gathered together for a minute of silence in remembrance of
took turns to appreciate one another on stage. Tears and
the eight victims from Tanjong Katong Primary School, who
hugs were shared as the ambers glowed lightly, warming the
lost their lives during the Sabah Earthquake. The children
atmosphere and the hearts of many.
stood in sombreness as they continued to read the Campers’
Creed with strong will and an overcoming spirit. As the day
It was indeed a wonderful camp where children and volunteers
went by, clans worked to build even deeper team spirit through
played, made new friends, and learnt together. As the final
a series of challenging teambuilding activities. Through these
day drew to an end, everyone prepared to return home
activities, clans recognised their collective strength in unity.
having overcome various challenges along the way with great
confidence, excellence and friendships.
Switching gears in the afternoon, “I am Unique & Confident”
started off with children being placed through a series of
By Sia Vic-ki
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RUN & RAISIN’
5 SEPTEMBER 2015 GARDENS BY THE BAY
The fifth edition of Run & Raisin’ held
on 5 September 2015 was yet another
successful event, raising more than
$200,000 to support the children and
families of TOUCH Young Arrows
(TYA).
It was an uplifting sight to witness over
2,000 runners from all walks of life
coming together to pledge their support
towards helping the children at TOUCH
Young Arrows (TYA) and their families
with
disadvantaged
backgrounds.
There were sports enthusiasts, families
pushing their babies in prams, the
young and the old, and even Olaf from
Frozen and some of his cartoon friends,
taking part in Run & Raisin’ 2015. The
running route was tweaked and had a
special uphill segment which took many
by surprise but it added a fresh element
to the whole experience.
Once the horns sounded, the avid
runners sprinted off through the scenic
route along Gardens by the Bay with
the cool morning breeze blowing across
their faces.
Besides the run, another big highlight
at the event was the performance lineup at the much anticipated carnival
featuring local talents like Seth Chiam,
the lead singer of the up and rising
indie rock band, Cadence, and Joie
who serenaded the crowd with her
sweet and soulful voice. Apart from
the other energetic music and dance
performances that kept the crowd
entertained, foodies and adventure
seekers got their fair share of joy with
the myriad of food, drinks and game
stalls. A frequent participant of Run &
Raisin’ since 2011 said, “I love coming
to this event as it not only helps me keep
fit, but I am able to soak in the vibrant
atmosphere at the carnival and enjoy
the time spent with my family.”
All in all, Run & Raisin’ 2015 was
another successful event for TYA - the
children, their families, the volunteers
and all those who have been passionate
to help in many ways. We would also
like to express our appreciation to
APEX Private Wealth Management as
our esteemed Gold Sponsor, as well
as City Developments Limited as our
Silver Sponsor.
With all the generous support, this
iconic event has risen over one million
dollars over the last five years to enable
TYA to help some 500 children and
their families rise above their difficult
circumstances to reach their dreams
and shine even more brightly. With this,
we look forward to Run & Raisin’ 2016!
By Anders Soh
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VOLUNTEERS’ DAY
27 JUNE 2015 LEISURE PARK KALLANG
As we serve as one, we have fun as
one too. For Volunteers’ Day 2015,
a total of 152 volunteers aged 13 to
60 gathered at Leisure Park Kallang
on 27 June 2015, Saturday for a time
of games, testimony sharing, review
of past events and finally, the widely
known movie that everyone was
looking forward to - ‘Minions’!
Every time we gather together with
volunteers from the other clubs, it
always brings me joy to see both
familiar and new faces as that
represents passion and growth.
After a time of ice breakers, we were
grouped in our clusters – East, West,
North and Central, and set off to
complete a list of tasks. The tasks
included taking photos with a foreigner
to identifying the favourite toy of our
TYA staff, and Uncle Lawrence’s blue
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car, as well as taking crazy groups
shots like riding on a bus. The mall
was filled with our laughters as the
volunteers animatedly cracked their
brains to complete the tasks in the
shortest time possible.
Even though the time we spent playing
together was short, everyone enjoyed
themselves in yet another opportunity
to grow closer as a TYA family.
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FAMILY CHALET
4-5 DECEMBER 2015 D’ RESORT PASIR RIS
TYA’s annual Family Tour was held
from 4 to 5 December 2015. The
newly built D’resort in Pasir Ris was
the venue that hosted more than
350 children, families and volunteers
from the various TYA clubs around
Singapore.
The itinerary included fun-filled
activities such as visits to the
Singapore Zoo and Wild Wild Wet.
Every family had the chance to
compete against the other families
at Zoo Bingo – a game that involved
completing tasks to ultimately taking a
picture with the animals. Through the
thrills and spills, the nine rides at Wild
Wild Wet kept the families engaged
for hours after a sweltering day at the
Zoo! The night ended with a barbecue
and more games to knit closer
relationships and bring everyone
together as one big TYA family.
“This BBQ dinner helped our family to
bond together, and we truly enjoyed it,”
said TYA child Bryan Ooi. Witnessing
the families spend quality time with
one another, warmed the hearts of the
volunteers as our goal to bring families
together was evidently accomplished.
The family chalet ended off with a
“PIAH” activity, which included a video,
stirring the emotions of the parents as
they watched other children thank and
appreciate their family for the little
things they have done. By exchanging
“PIAH” with one another, it was an act
of seeking forgiveness, symbolising
restoration in the family. This sweet
moment continued as we transited to
crafts, where children penned down
their personalised messages for their
parents and vice versa. After which,
the families came together to build a
house using scrapbooking materials,
beautifully decorated with a photo on
the front and slot-in messages.
Despite the chalet coming to an end,
everyone’s hearts were filled with love
and gratitude for one another, truly
reflecting a famous saying: “The love
of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”
Let’s all not take our families for
granted and treasure them while we
can!
By Cheryl Hoi
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FAMILY BEFRIENDING PROJECT
12 DECEMBER 2015 BUKIT MERAH CENTRAL
In 2015, an exciting and meaningful initiative
was launched in TYA. Called Family Befriending
Project, it tackled TOUCH’s vision of building
strong families by having family befrienders walk
alongside single-parent families, and providing
the latter with community support.
The birth of the project reflects the deep-set trust
which the TYA community has earned over the
years in our work with the children and families.
With the precious support of family befrienders,
TYA children from single-parent households
have the opportunity of spending time with their
matched family befrienders every fortnight. Some
of the activities include going for a picnic together
or having a meal at home together. TYA hopes that
these consistent experiences would encourage
the children to identify and appreciate the positive
qualities of these families and be empowered to
apply the same practices to their own homes.
During the first session of the family befrienders,
meeting the single-parent families whom they
were matched with, I was personally touched by
an amazing atmosphere of love and acceptance.
When Patricia Koh, Principal Social Worker of
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TOUCH Family Services, shared with the TYA
parents and befrienders about the importance on
loving themselves before loving their children.
The needs and emotional pressures these single
parents faced were evident. The mother whom
I sat next to shared her loneliness in raising her
children while being a foreigner here in Singapore.
She seemed like a strong lady but when asked if
there was one thing she was proud, she found it
extremely difficult and tears welled up in her eyes.
It is incredibly humbling to see how this platform
of support can be a real help for single-parent
families. We look forward to see how this initiative
will unfold and develop to bless more families
in 2016. We also fully appreciate every family
befriender who stepped forth to join us in this
wonderful journey.
By Jenny Liew
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TYA’s SUCCESS STORIES
Ang Mo Kio | Bedok | Boon Lay | Bukit Merah | Bukit Panjang| Clementi | Eunos |
Geylang Bahr u | Hougang 1 | Hougang 2 | Jurong West | Kampong Eunos
| MacPherson | Mar ine Parad e | Mountbat ten | Queenstown | Sengkang |
Serangoon | Tampines | Teban Gardens | Telok Blangah | Woodlands | Yishun
*Names of children in these articles are not the actual names of persons.
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ANG MO KIO CLUB
MAYFLOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL, 9.15am-12.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: ANISSA TAN, KENNETH LIM
First impressions do not count; at least for 11-year-old Joel. Over the past year at TYA,
Joel’s rude and ill-mannered behaviour has improved significantly. Under the guidance
of the volunteers, he has learnt to be more conscious in his language, apologising when
he slips up, and has improved in his interaction with his friends over the months. Joel,
who would previously react furiously when wronged, has learnt to be more forgiving
and patient. Last month, when another classmate intentionally kicked his chair and
caused him to lose his balance during a game of Captain’s Ball, Joel gritted his teeth
and remained calm.
Joel also offers to help the volunteers in whatever way he can and can always be
counted on him to encourage other children to be quiet and quick to gather.
Despite Joel’s boisterous personality, his tender love towards his four younger brothers
can be seen through his actions. On their way back from an event, Joel was very
determined to help his brothers carry home a large bag of donated clothes, without
complaining. He remained cheerful despite being tired. Similarly, this altruistic attitude
is seen during club sessions. We believe in his great potential, and that he will grow into
a fine young man.
Mark, 18, joined TYA Ang Mo Kio as a volunteer in 2015, under Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s
BP-NP Mentoring Club programme. Since then, his attendance has been very regular
and his attitude on par.
Mark never fails to go the extra mile to provide the children with a beneficial and fruitful
Mathematics lesson. He ensures that he is updated on the latest MOE syllabus before
constructing questions that targets a child’s area of weakness. To make Mathematics
more interesting for the children, he modified a game to teach the topic on mathematical
operations.
Through volunteering, Mark has grown in maturity and has become more dedicated to
his assigned role.
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BEDOK CLUB
BEDOK BUNGA MERAH RC CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: DANIEL LEE, REGINA LIM
Kayla was floundering in Primary Four Mathematics and English when she
first joined TYA at Bedok Club. As she spoke predominantly Mandarin at home
with her parents and her hobby was reading Chinese comics, these affected
her ability to form a good foundation in the English language and also affected
her understanding of Mathematics during lessons in school. Without having any
assessment books, she was also unable to practice at home.
Through persistent coaching and encouragement, Kayla eventually mustered up
courage to attempt Mathematics questions to the point where she would ask for
more exercises to test her understanding. She also began to understand the
importance of memorising the multiplication table and reading English books,
and started to practise and read at home. She has also taken the initiative to
request for more assessment books from her TYA club leaders to practice at
home in her spare time. Kayla has just started Primary Five in 2016 and her
mentors are looking forward to seeing her grades improve!
Regina Lim, a former TYA child-turned-volunteer who supervises the TYA Bedok
Club says, “I used to be a beneficiary of TYA in Primary Six. That being said
even though I received benefits from TYA for less than a year before graduating,
the true benefits of serving in TYA after my graduation far outweighs what I had
received as a beneficiary. I made plenty of close friends, I had so many role
models to look up to and last but not least I get to experience the joy of serving
the children at TYA, be it at the club or during camps, no matter how tiring it can
be, it’s always worth it.”
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BOON LAY CLUB
BOON LAY PLACE ZONE ‘A’ RC CENTRE, 10.30am-1.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: LEONG HAIWEI, MITCHEL GOH
Boon Lay Club started in March 2015, and currently serves about 15 children
weekly at Boon Lay Zone ‘A’ RC. The attendance of the children has been
regular and we have been blessed with dedicated volunteers who have
selflessly taken time out to serve the children.
On top of weekly academic coaching, we implemented a reading programme
for the K2s and Primary Ones whom we found to have a weaker grasp of
the English language. Before the start of academic coaching, these children
spent about 20 minutes reading together with a volunteer. One of our K2
children, Charlie, used to not like reading due to his inability to recognise
words and understand the story in books. As the weekly sessions went by,
he took the initiative to pick up a book to read quietly on his own once he was
done with academic coaching.
This programme has also helped one of our Primary One girls, Joey, to
open up to her peers and be more confident. Joey was a soft-spoken girl
who was lacking in confidence. After attending the reading sessions, she
started to enthusiastically answer questions about the story posed to her by
the volunteer, and we gradually saw Joey becoming chattier and more willing
to strike up a conversation with others. We hope to help more children like
Charlie and Joey through this programme, to cultivate their interest in reading
and build up their self-confidence.
We are also very thankful for our volunteers who have been very loving and
patient with our children, particularly Gin. Gin started volunteering with us in
April with little experience in handling children but now, she is one of our key
volunteers who serve with great passion. Our Boon Lay family seeks to love
one another while accepting one another’s differences, and we look forward
to serving more families in 2016.
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BUKIT PANJANG CLUB
BUKIT PANJANG CC, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: DICKSON TEO, YAP JUN YI
When 8-year-old Zen first joined Bukit Panjang club, he was noisy and hyperactive.
He would be unwilling to participate in games that were not of interest to him.
Often, Zen would wail when the volunteers chided him.
However, Zen transformed remarkably after attending Survival Camp 2015.
Since then, his behavior and attitude at the club has improved greatly. Zen has
also become more independent in his studies and does not have to be reminded
to do his work.
As a person who loves challenges, Zen is persistent to finish a task well. When
learning something new, he exhibits interest in learning, making it a joy for his
mentors to teach him. Now, he participates actively in games and many of us
who have seen him through the start of his journey in TYA would testify to his
transformation.
Judy has been a dedicated volunteer at TYA since the start of her service. At the
club, she teaches the children wholeheartedly and ensures that they grasp and
understand the assignments that they are tasked with.
She follows up conscientiously with the children’s work and makes sure they
complete assigned tasks before heading to the games session. She engages the
children every time she is around and builds a strong rapport with them.
Judy also takes the initiative in helping out with the distribution of refreshments
and contributes by bringing materials to the club. Judy exhibits enthusiasm in
participating in club activities as well as the various events that TYA organises.
She has been a wonderful example of a committed volunteer and an asset to
Bukit Panjang club.
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BUKIT MERAH CLUB
BUKIT MERAH CC, 10.00am-12.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: MAGGIE CHEN, TIMOTHY KOZAKI
Yvonne has been with TYA for a few years. Initially, she was shy around
others and preferred to keep to herself. However, she has matured greatly
since her initial years at TYA and even became a prefect at Primary Five.
Today, Yvonne takes on the older sister role at the club and treats the younger
girls as her sisters. She has always been a well-behaved child and it has been
our joy to mentor her.
Antonia has been volunteering at TYA Bukit Merah since 2014. When she first started, she experienced difficulties
connecting with the children. Over the years, she has taken more initiative when it comes to taking care of the children and
helping out with the logistics for club activities. She would chat with the children to find out what is going on in their lives
and mingle around with them. Antonia has been a great help to the club and we are happy to have her as part of our team.
CLEMENTI CLUB
TOUCH CLEMENTI CHILDCARE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: CHRIS YEAN, EUNICE HUI,
Clementi club is one of the oldest clubs in the whole of TYA. There are many
dedicated leaders who had served here before and it is an honour to know
and be guided by some of them.
Clementi club has a good history of having many former clients coming back
to serve. Currently, at least two of our current Primary Six children have
shown keen interest on returning to serve along with us on a regular basis
afer their graduation. This is really encouraging and heart-warming for all of us involved in the club. It makes us feel that
our service is especially appreciated!
We would like to thank our volunteers for all the hard work and foundation they had built into the lives of the children in
2015. As one of our volunteers, Hui Min shared, “It is very heartwarming to see how the children have grown and are now
even able to step out to raise funds for the TOUCH iCAN fundraising campaign!” We look forward to a new and even better
beginning in 2016!
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EUNOS CLUB
EUNOS CRESCENT RC CENTRE, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: JUDAXIL SOH, NICOLE SOH, PEH CHU MING
Nisa first joined TYA in 2012 at the age of nine. When she first came to Eunos
club, she was very guarded and had difficulty expressing herself. During club
activities, she would often choose to sit at a corner rather than participate actively.
However, throughout the years, we have seen a great improvement in her. She
gradually opened up to us, and participated more actively in club activities.
Being one of the older children at the club, she plays the role of a mentor to the
younger children. The environment in TYA and the many opportunities given
for growth and character development (e.g. the annual TYA Survival Camp)
have undoubtedly helped her in becoming a more confident, outspoken and an
expressive individual.
During her Primary Six graduation ceremony, she was awarded the Eagles’
award by her school for her leadership qualities, service to community and
school, and excellence in other non-academic activities. She also expressed interest in returning to Eunos club to serve as a
volunteer, a testimony of the impact that her mentors had on her during her time as a TYA child. We are truly heartened to see
how much Nisa has grown during her time with us in TYA!
Cindy began serving in TYA in 2014 under the outreach programme offered in Nanyang Polytechnic. When she first attended
club activities, Cindy realised that there was a lot to learn as it was her first time working with children. In spite of the challenges
ahead, Cindy never gave up and did her best to learn.
It was truly heartening to see the amount of effort Cindy put into helping the children. Even though her participation in the
outreach programme through her school was voluntary in nature, she often went out of the way to contribute to the club. For
example, she would volunteer to plan and lead club activities out of her own accord, choosing to take the initiative to lead. She
is also exceptionally patient with children, often coming across as an elder sister figure to them. Today, she has become one of
Eunos club’s key volunteers.
Cindy’s journey as a volunteer has shown us that no one is born a great mentor or a great leader – it is through determination
and passion which is what Cindy has shown us from the day she started serving in TYA.
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GEYLANG BAHRU CLUB
TOUCH SENIORS’ ACTIVITY CENTRE, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: ER LI LING, JONATHAN PANG, NG LI JUAN
This year we want to recognise and highlight one of our children, Aiman, for
being able to get into Secondary School. When he first joined us, he had a
short attention span and had trouble with his work. However, after he received
his preliminary results last year, he took it upon himself to work harder.
His attitude and behaviour took a turn for the better as he began to focus on
studying and asked for help when in doubt. He also started to open up to the
other children and with the support of the other volunteers and teachers in
school, he managed to get a good score for his PSLE examinations. We hope
that he will continue to put on a spirit of determination in his future endeavours
and believe in his own abilities.
Isabelle started out with us as a volunteer from her school’s Co-Curriculum
Activities (CCA). With her selfless dedication and genuine love for the children,
she became a key volunteer that we could depend on week after week.
There have been many occasions where Isabelle has taken the initiative to
ensure that the children followed instructions and activities are carried out on
schedule. She always has a smile on her face and assumes responsibilities
with a pleasant attitude.
Isabelle is responsible for teaching the Primary Six children at the club and
always makes extra effort to note the students’ progress in their studies. It
has been a great joy working with her over the years and we look forward to
impacting more children together with Isabelle.
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HOUGANG 1 CLUB
TOUCH YOUNG ARROWS CENTRE, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: VERNICE HENG, TAN YING YING
2015 was an exciting yet challenging year for our club. This year we had many
new children joining Hougang 1 Club as well as new club leaders rising up.
Amongst all the memories and great testimonies of the year, we would like to
share about George and the volunteer leader who mentored him.
When six year-old George first joined us in 2015, he would shut himself off and
was very unpredictable in his behaviour and emotions. No one knew what he
was thinking or how he would respond. On top of that, his immediate reaction to
anything that upset or angered him was to run away to a corner. During club activities, he mostly stayed silent and communicated
only through Mandarin if necessary. It was not easy for the volunteers to engage him or teach him how to read and write.
Thankfully, with careful observation and gentle probing, George began to open up as Ying Ying, one of our volunteers, used
games to encourage him to share his thoughts. Ying Ying would also observe George and try to understand his thoughts.
Eventually, she broke through to him and George spoke in full English sentences to explain his favourite game to Ying Ying.
Since then, George has continued to grow and develop his ability to speak in English. He has been more responsive to other
volunteers, and has started speaking in more complete sentences while slowly learning to control his emotional outbursts
better. George’s transformation has positively impacted the volunteers and his own family. It not only lessened his parents’
anxieties but also showed us that the effort and labour we put in to impact a life is worth it!
It has not been easy on Ying Ying to teach George but her faithfulness to help him grow is inspiring and she has also learnt
many valuable lessons in the process. “I began serving with the interest and desire in helping the less fortunate. However,
volunteering at TYA was different from what I expected. I did not see my efforts pay off immediately. To see changes made
in the lives of the children was more of a process, which requires commitment. Along the way, I could see how the other
volunteers can impact the lives of the children. I also saw how these children may seem fine on the outside but are struggling
internally with academics, self-worth and relationship with others. This encouraged me to sow into the lives of the children,”
Ying Ying shared.
Hougang 1 Club is grateful for a fruitful year of serving in TYA and we look forward to another year of helping children grow
and working hand-in-hand with families to positively impact their lives.
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Bukit Panjang Club
TYA
IN 2015
Location: Bukit Panjang CC
Established in 2014
Children: 20
Boon Lay Club
Woodland
Location: Semba
Established in 20
Children: 36
Location: Boon Lay Zone ‘A’ RC Centre
Established in 2015
Children: 15
Jurong West Club
Location: Pioneer Primary School
Established in 2012
Children: 34
CHILDREN
SERVED
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REGULAR
VOLUNTEERS
Teban Gardens Club
CLIENT-TURNED
-VOLUNTEERS
Location: PAP Ayer Rajah Branch
Established in 2013
Children: 37
Clementi Club
Location: TOUCH Clementi Child Care
Established in 1994
Children: 19
Queenstown Club
Location: Queenstown CC
Established in 2008
Children: 24
Telok Blangah Club
Location: Telok Blangah CC
Established in 2014
Children: 18
TYA
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Yishun Club
ands Club
Location: Chong Pang Zone “1” RC
Established in 1998
Children: 25
embawang Zone “J” RC
in 2010
Ang Mo Kio Club
Location: Mayflower Primary School
Established in 2010
Children: 41
Serangoon Club
Location: Braddell Heights Zone “F” RC
Established in 1997
Children: 34
Hougang 1 Club
Location: TOUCH Young Arrows Centre
Established in 2013
Children: 21
Hougang 2 Club
Location: TOUCH Young Arrows Centre
Established in 2008
Children: 22
Sengkang Club
Location: Rivervale Village RC
Established in 2015
Children: 24
G AP O R E
Tampines Club
Location: PCF Tampines Changkat
Established in 2005
Children: 34
Bedok Club
Location: Bunga Merah RC
Established in 2008
Children: 5
Kampong Eunos Club
Location: Eunos CC
Established in 2015
Children: 19
Marine Parade Club
Location: Marine Crescent Ville RC
Established in 2007
Children: 35
Eunos Club
Location: Eunos Crescent RC
Established in 2012
Children: 8
Mountbatten Club
Bukit Merah Club
Location: Bukit Merah CC
Established in 2009
Children: 30
Geylang Bahru Club
Location: TOUCH Seniors Activity Centre
Established in 2012
Children: 40
Location: Mountbatten CC
Established in 2005
Children: 16
MacPherson Club
Location: T-Net Club @ MacPherson
Established in 2015
Children: 13
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HOUGANG
2 CLUB
TOUCH YOUNG ARROWS CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: NG JIEYING, NORMAN LIM
Yvonne joined Hougang 2 Club back in February 2015 to fulfil the
requirements of her university scholarship. However, the end of her 80-hour
stint marked the beginning of her journey as a regular TYA volunteer. “Even
though looking after the kids is tiring, it makes me happy when I start to build
rapport and see them enjoying their time at TYA. I feel a responsibility to
follow through rather than just pack up and leave once my time was over.”
Yvonne shared.
It has definitely not been a bed of roses over the last 10 months but regardless
of the difficulties Yvonne faced when the children refused to listen, her spirit
is lifted when children specifically looked for her to play, or to share their
stories as they trusted “Yvonne-jie-jie”.
She learns and feels encouraged by the children too, as she sees them able
to learn and play like any other children despite their circumstances. While
her volunteering experience has sometimes been mentally draining, Yvonne chooses to focus on the simple joys of
serving such as the opportunity to interact with the endearing little ones. “Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Perhaps, it may not work out or be something you expected. But nothing will work out and you will never know unless you
take the courage to try,” Yvonne added with a smile.
One of the children that Yvonne regularly mentors is Charles. He came in as a timid boy in 2013 but has definitely grown
and matured as an individual.
Even with his delightful smile, Charles used to be bashful at times when volunteers interacted with him. He was also
dealing with anger management issues and remediation in school. Like all other children, Charles can be cheeky and
restless when asked to study. Depending on his mood, he can either be extremely motivated or lacklustre in attitude.
However, Charles is teachable and has a kind-hearted spirit. He has been a valued helper during camps, events and
weekly club meetings. He never fails to share his little treats with the younger ones, and always keeps a look out for their
safety and well-being.
In 2016, we await to see Charles rise up even more to be a bold individual, cheerful boy and positive influencer in TYA.
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JURONG WEST CLUB
PIONEER PRIMARY SCHOOL, 10.00am-12.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: HELENE TAN, SHAUN LAU
Jurong West Club first started in 2012, and has since seen the growth of many
children. Some have even risen up to take on the challenge of being a volunteer
and mentor for the children.
Hasmirah, 11, has been in TYA for less than a year. When she first joined TYA,
Hasmirah would keep to herself. Through the one year spent at TYA, Hasmirah
has grown by leaps and bounds. She has opened up to her peers as well as the
volunteers, and is very willing to share her personal stories with everyone. She
even attended TYA camps where she stepped out of her comfort zone.
Full of energy, Hasmirah’s bubbly personality has also spread joy among the
children and volunteers. In addition, Hasmirah has displayed maturity beyond
her years and portrays an older sister figure among her peers. During academic
coaching time, she is very hardworking and dedicated. She is very keen to help
out, and has displayed leadership qualities during club time and at numerous
outings.
Carine Goh, 16, was once a client of TYA. During her time as a client, Carine had
difficulty with her academics. Through hard work and with the help of dedicated
volunteers, Carine succeeded in passing her PSLE and was posted to Crest
Secondary School. Upon Carine’s graduation from TYA, she decided to stay on
as a volunteer to help mentor and tutor her juniors and has gone on to help plan
for activities despite juggling her schooling and work commitments.
In school, Carine has displayed exemplary leadership qualities and has gone on
to achieve multiple accolades. These include taking on the role of ‘Vice President’
of the Student Council, receiving an Excellence Award for ‘Values in Action’, and
receiving a Sports Residence Award. Three years on after her graduation from
the TYA programme, Carine is still volunteering regularly with TYA to help impact
the next generation.
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KAMPONG EUNOS CLUB
EUNOS CC, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: ANDERS SOH
TYA Kampong Eunos Club, one of the youngest of the 23 TYA clubs, opened
its doors in March 2015 and the programme has been well-received by many
families in the area. Operating out of Eunos CC, the club has a total of 10
volunteers and serves about 20 children. During these few months, there
have been many observable improvements and transformations in the lives
of the children, their families and even the volunteers.
When Sykirah first enrolled into Kampong Eunos in April, she was a shy and
soft-spoken Primary Four girl. She avoided interacting with the other children
and did not have the confidence to speak out during the sessions. Through
the warmth and kindness shown by the volunteers to teach and care for her,
she began to open up and gained more confidence and assurance in herself.
Furthermore, she participated in her first Survival Camp in June 2015 and at
the end of the camp, she even took home the “Best Camper” award.
Sykirah’s growth can be further witnessed during club activities where she proactively offers a helping hand to her fellow
peers when they needed guidance. Sykirah also takes on the responsibility of caring for her younger Primary One brother
who is also part of the club.
Jiang Ming, started volunteering at Kampong Eunos since its doors first opened. Being an introverted person, he was not
very expressive and preferred to keep to himself, often choosing to bury in his work.
However, he started taking on the responsibility of teaching children and began to open up to them. He has also gained
the valuable experience of knowing what it means to be a good role model and positively influencing the children at club.
The children now really look up to him as an older brother. Furthermore, he has built rapport and relationship with the other
volunteers through serving with them weekly. The team of volunteers at Kampong Eunos work very well together and are
committed to the building up of the many lives entrusted to them.
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MACPHERSON CLUB
T-NET CLUB @ MACHPHERSON, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: KIMBERLY ANG, PRISCILLA CHOO
MacPherson Club is one of the latest additions into the big family of TYA - the
23rd TYA club to be precise. Like the youngest child of any family, MacPherson
club has been given great favour and showered with lots of love and blessings
even before it started on 3 October 2015. From the successful publicity of this
new club to the great facilities provided by T-Net Club and MacPherson CC, we
cannot emphasise how thankful we are for the many open doors shown to us.
Marked by joy and laughter each week, the volunteers of MacPherson Club have
also been able to forge great friendships with all the 13 children. This created a
new excitement and enthusiasm from the children towards academic learning,
and also allowed the volunteers to easily exert positive influence on the children’s
character and behaviour. This was evident from the beginning as we received
affirmation from the mother of Atikah & Ateefah right after the first club session,
who mentioned that her children loved the academic coaching programme and
returned home smiling and excited despite being rather shy and skeptical at first.
Apart from the strong friendships forged among the children and volunteers, we
are also glad to have built good relationships with the children’s families. As a
result, parents have entrusted TYA with their children over camps like Camp
Explorer, despite only knowing us for a short while. In addition, many families
have also actively participated in events organised by TYA such as Family
Chalet, which helped to further foster the building of strong bonds between the
volunteers and the children’s families.
Despite being a new club, the MacPherson club had the privilege of working
with many external organisations. From the kind sponsorship of Christmas gifts
from RHT Management Services and Robinsons for the children to creative and
engaging programmes planned by students from Singapore Polytechnic and
Temasek Polytechnic, MacPherson Club has truly been more than blessed by
the love showered upon us.
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MARINE PARADE CLUB
MARINE CRESCENT VILLE RC CENTRE, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: HENG YINGCHAO, NATHANIEL TAY, THOMAS TAN
2015 has been a fruitful year for TYA Marine Parade Club. Besides impacting
our children and volunteers, we have witnessed the following children and
volunteers grow in maturity.
Amil, 10 (as of 2015), joined Marine Parade Club in 2013. He is currently
enrolled in a special school due to his learning difficulties. During club
programmes, he would usually be on his own as he felt uncomfortable being
with a large crowd. Over the years, he has slowly opened up and started to
participate in group activities during club. Recently, he was seen taking the
initiative to join some of the children from TYA to play “catching”. We believe
Amil will continue to grow to be more confident in the near future.
Calven, 21 (as of 2015), joined TYA Marine Parade Club as a volunteer
when he was a teenager. He started off being afraid to take on challenges.
But over the years at club, he has learnt and grown in maturity, becoming a
key volunteer for the club. Calven has even volunteered himself to join TYA
events as a organising committee member (notably for TYA Survival Camp
2015 as a Head Log). Earlier this year, he was also appointed as a club leader
for TYA Tampines club. We are excited to see Calven realise his potential as
a leader and mentor to the children.
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MOUNTBATTEN CLUB
MOUNTBATTEN CC, 2.00pm-4.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: ISAIAH PANG, LINCOLN CHENG, RUTH LIN
We have witnessed the children of TYA Mountbatten club transform tremendously
over the year, which leaves us excited to continue serving. Most of the volunteers
at Mountbatten club are clients-turned-volunteers, coming back to provide the
same support and care they received as a TYA child. They have been a great
source of joy for the children. Recently, the volunteers prepared an “escape room”
activity during one of the post-exam club sessions which the children enjoyed
very much. The children were able to pick up important life skills like teamwork
and communication in a practical and fun way through this game.
In addition to activities like “escape room”, Mountbatten club also carries out other various fun activities like baking, science
experiments, and crafts as post-exam activities. We believe that these experiences are little imprints in the growth and
development of children which they will appreciate for life.
The families and children have been participating more actively in TYA events this year, and there has been an increased
attendance in our club programmes. Serving at TYA Mountbatten has been a great joy for all the volunteers and teens here!
We interviewed some children in Mountbatten club on why they chose to attend club activities regularly and below are two
interesting testimonies we received:
“It is a place where kids come to learn and play. I get to make many new friends while having fun and I look forward to attending
more of TYA’s events.” Fatin (Nine years old)
“Mountbatten Club is a very fun place to learn Mathematics and English. Besides studying, we get to go for outings, camps and
chalets during the holidays!” Jacqueline (10 years old)
“After I graduated from TYA, I contemplated coming back to serve after the amount of trouble I gave the volunteers when I
was a client back then. The volunteers who tutored me helped me both academically and emotionally. I used to be rowdy and
playful which affected my grades. However, after being in TYA from Primary One to Six, I grew and learnt a lot those six years
from the Kor Kors and Jie Jies. So I wanted to come back to serve and impact lives the same way I was transformed. I also
wanted to witness the growth of the kids I taught. It’s a privilege to serve the children and I like using my time on Saturdays to
do something useful and fun to help transform the lives of these children.” Jun Hao (volunteer, 14 years old)
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QUEENSTOWN CLUB
QUEENSTOWN CC, 10.00am-12.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: JASON LUM, TAN QI WEI
When Shaun, 12, first joined Queenstown Club in 2015, he was quiet and
reluctant to participate in the club activities. After a few sessions at the club,
he became inquisitive and more comfortable to speak his mind. Since then,
he has become more positive and less pessimistic. Shaun has also started to
show interest in participating in group activities. In 2016, we look forward to
having Shaun returning to volunteer with us, helping those in need and be a
positive role model to the younger children in TYA.
Joel, 23, is a very dedicated volunteer who always goes beyond his call of
duty to meet the needs of the children. Being a university student, Joel leads
a hectic lifestyle but he still dedicates time to serve at TYA. On occasions
where both of the club leaders are unavailable, Joel will step up to help in
anchoring club sessions. When interacting with children, Joel tries to be
more child-like in his speech so that the children would feel more comfortable
conversing with him. There were a few instances during club sessions where
the children spoke vulgarities and when Joel got wind of it, he would speak to
each child privately and make them reflect on their behaviour. The children do
not hesitate to speak to Joel about their personal issues and his club leaders
are confident in assigning tasks to him as he is dependable. Truly, Joel is an
exceptional volunteer who exemplifies his values with his speech and actions,
and one that children would look up to as a model to emulate after.
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SENGKANG CLUB
RIVERVALE VILLAGE RC, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: CHANTEL TAN, ISABEL NG
The initial phase of setting up the Sengkang Club involved a team of volunteers
reaching out to the community through door-to-door and school publicity. Their
hard work paid off when TYA Sengkang started its first club session in September
2015 with 10 children and five volunteers. Since its humble beginnings, the
number of children at TYA Sengkang has gradually increased.
Currently, we serve 20 children at the club. Through club activities, we cultivate
a sense of voluntarism and responsibility and our children are encouraged to
take up responsibilities such as being the Room In-Charge (I/C). The duties
of the Room I/Cs include taking charge of giving out and collecting journals,
files and time keeping. Every week the children look forward to being picked
for the role and volunteer enthusiastically. We are thankful for the success of
creating this role for the children as it gives them a better sense of ownership and
responsibility for our club. Furthermore, we have also seen children who are less
outspoken volunteer enthusiastically for the role as well.
As for our volunteers, it has been a blessing to have a huge number of new
volunteers who are very willing to grow and learn through the process of serving
the children and families. Though some of them had no prior experiences to
volunteering, they were very eager to take on responsibilities in running the
club, such as planning games for the children and buying refreshments. We are
grateful for their pro-activeness in teaching the children and supporting them
academically and social-emotionally.
One example of such support is to witness one of our K2 children, Ali, who could
not recognise letters initially, show tremendous improvement in literacy with the
persistent and patient help from the volunteers.
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SERANGOON CLUB
BRADDELL HEIGHTS ZONE ‘F’ RC CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: STEFANIE YEE, TOBIE WEE
Xiu Ling, 14, first joined Serangoon Club as a client in 2012. Initially, she would
keep to herself and her close friends. In 2014, with the encouragement of her
friends and her mother, she made a bold decision to serve as a volunteer. She
was committed to the weekly sessions, at times coming after gruelling volleyball
trainings in the morning.
Over the past two years, we have seen her blossom into someone with confidence
and faithfulness to serve the children. She challenges herself to step out of her
comfort zone each week by initiating conversations and activities with volunteers and children. While speaking in front of the
large group of children was a nerve-wrecking experience for her, she was willing to guide and facilitate a group of children in
a structured experience activity this year. The questions she posed to the children were thoughtful, and effectively conveyed
the meaning of the experience. Her maturity and empathy for the children can be felt through the care and faithful service she
provides each week.
We are thankful to have such committed volunteers, who inspire us with their big hearts.
In Serangoon Club, we have had the privilege to mentor many young children. One boy whom we have seen grow immensely
over the years is Henry, who turned 12 in 2015. When Henry first joined us, he was easily frustrated when situations around him
were not in his favour. If he became upset, he would keep quiet and not acknowledge the reason for being upset. This left the
volunteers puzzled.
However, with the persistence of the volunteers and a combined effort with Henry’s family (parents and grandmother), Henry
began to grow more comfortable with the people around him and learnt to express himself in a more appropriate manner.
This year, with the guidance and encouragement of the volunteers around him, he began taking the initiative to plan games and
help other children with their work. He has formed a strong bond with the volunteers around him and shares more openly, even
developing a talent for creating hilarious puns. We look forward to serving alongside him as he takes on a volunteer role in 2016!
We are thankful to be able to journey with these children, and see them through their ups and downs. This story, serves as a
reminder and encouragement to us as volunteers, to be persistent in loving and believing in the best of the children we serve.
With this in mind, we look forward to 2016!
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TAMPINES CLUB
TAMPINES CHANGKAT ZONE ‘3’ RC CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: ANG ZHAO LIANG, CALVEN GOH, PETRINA SEOW
When Alvin, 11 (as of 2015), first attended Tampines Club in 2014, he would
throw a tantrum whenever he had to do Mathematics problem sums or when he
lost during a game. He also had the tendency to spout vulgarities. When he was
unwilling to participate in any activities, Alvin would run around, hide under the
tables or climb onto the tables.
Overtime, with firm boundaries set in place and a lot of patience from the
volunteers at the club, improvements could be observed in Alvin’s behaviour.
Recently, Alvin even attempted his first problem sum during academic coaching
time on his own accord.
In the past few months, we have also observed that he no longer throws tantrums
during team games even though his team may be losing. For example, when
another child cheated during a game of basketball and caused the entire team to
be angry, Alvin remained calm.
During our end of year reflection in 2015, Alvin wrote “I learnt how to rely on
teamwork and exhibit sportsmanship during games. For example, when the boys
play basketball, I will pass the ball to my teammates and after the game, whether
we lose or win I make it a point to thank my teammates and opponents for a good
game.”
We rarely hear him spout any vulgarities now. Furthermore, he has become more
participative in club activities and does not run around wildly like before.
Given the right motivation, he is a very enthusiastic kid who does the right thing.
For example, during TOUCH Flag Day 2015, Alvin displayed an exuberant and
positive attitude. He took the initiative to approach the public for donations and
thanked them profusely regardless if a donation was made. Alvin also tries his
best to look after the younger children in club. We are extremely elated to see
such positive changes in him over the past few months.
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TEBAN GARDENS CLUB
PAP AYER RAJAH BRANCH, 10.00am-12.30pm
CLUB LEADERS: EUGENE LAU, RACHEL LEE
Melvin, 10, started attending TYA Teban Gardens in 2015. At that point,
he was introverted and experienced difficulty in English and was weak at
basic Mathematics particularly in multiplication and division. Melvin also
struggled greatly in constructing sentences and comprehending the English
language, which affected his ability to answer advance Mathematics
problems. Eventually, with a persistent and hardworking mindset, we saw
great improvements in his English. Gradually, he showed improvement in
Mathematics as well and could recite his multiplication tables swiftly and
mental sums accurately.
Melvin has also grown to be disciplined and responsible when completing his
work. He takes pride in his work and completes every practice he is handed
with great meticulousness. We are confident that Melvin will continue to
improve in his academics with his positive attitude.
Below is a testimonial by one of our volunteers, Zheng Wei:
In school, I am surrounded by students from decent family backgrounds and
sometimes I become numb and ignorant about those from less fortunate
backgrounds. TYA reminds me that people come from all walks of life, as
such if we are blessed with the ability and capacity to aid others, we should
do so with little or no hesitation. TYA has been a platform that allowed me to
be a better person and I hope to continuing impacting the lives of the children.
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TELOK BLANGAH CLUB
TELOK BLANGAH CC, 1.30pM-4.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: DANIEL CHEONG, JOCELYN TAY
TYA focuses not just on supporting our clients in their academic growth but also their
character development. It is heartening to see how clients and volunteers grow in
their confidence and self-esteem through the weekly sessions they attend at TYA.
Jovan, 10, who only started his journey with TYA at the start of 2015, has been an
active participant in club activities and events. He first came in shy and refused to
speak to the volunteers. He would silently sit at the table and do the assessments
handed to him. After attending club activities weekly, the volunteers saw him open up
and his level of confidence increased. He would speak up during activities and take
the initiative to bond with the other children.
Jovan’s family members are also frequent participants in TYA-wide events such as
Games Day and the recent Family Chalet. These opportunities provide TYA families,
like Jovan’s, an opportunity to foster closer family ties and enable parents to spend
quality time with their children despite their busy schedules.
Over the years, we are pleased to see new volunteers, some of whom are totally new
to volunteerism, slowly build meaningful relationships with the children and picking
up useful skills. One example is Tricia, 17, who joined us in mid April 2015, through a
mentoring programme in her school.
“I was interested in volunteering as I wanted to help children who could not afford tuition,” says Tricia, about how she got started in
TYA, “the first few sessions were awkward as I was unfamiliar with the children and the volunteers”.
Subsequently, she started building closer bonds with the children and now, it is part of her weekly routine to share her jokes and
stories about school during club sessions.
“In the coming year, I would definitely wish to better develop the children’s character and challenge myself in becoming more
responsible and outspoken so that I can be a better mentor to the children.”
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WOODLANDS CLUB
SEMBAWANG ZONE ‘J’ RC CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: DENNIS CAI, VICK-KI SIA
Asyraf, 15, started his journey with TYA when Woodlands Club first started
in 2010. While he was still a child at TYA, he was outgoing and a joy to
be around. Greatly encouraged by the volunteers who were teaching him
at the club weekly, Asyraf made the decision to contribute to TYA, which
he has benefitted much from. He said, “the volunteers at Woodlands club
really inspired me to contribute and pass on the knowledge and kindness I
have received in this place.” Today, he is one of Woodlands Club’s longest
serving beneficiary-turned-volunteer.
Even as he enters into his third year of service with TYA, Asyraf constantly
seeks to improve his teaching style, by remaining open-minded to feedback
given. He also takes the effort to understand each child’s strength and
weaknesses, so as to better cater to their learning abilities. Indeed, Asyraf
is a great example for all the children at TYA to look up to, not only in
service, but in work and attitude as well!
Mary, 9, has been with TYA Woodlands since 2014. When she first arrived
at the steps of TYA, it seemed almost impossible to get her engaged in
any activity, be it assessment books, games or anything that would get
a child excited. Her reluctance to speak was due to a prior incident that
happened during pre-school, leaving her afraid to speak up in public. The
club volunteers tried out various ways to interact with Mary.
With constant effort and encouragement, Mary has since been able to
open up to volunteers more easily and participates in games regularly.
She is also able to actively ask for help from volunteers, as opposed to
waiting silently for someone to realise her need as she would previously.
While we look upon Mary’s gradual improvement in her social interaction
skills, we are glad to be part of this journey to help Mary beyond her
academic needs!
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YISHUN CLUB
CHONG PANG ZONE ‘1’ RC CENTRE, 2.30pm-5.00pm
CLUB LEADERS: AMELIA TAN, GARY NG, JUSTINE OCAMPO
2015 was a year of growth and change for Yishun Club, welcoming old and new faces,
as the children and volunteers slowly yet steadily learnt more about one another and
about the heart of our service.
The children of Yishun Club have grown to become more confident in voicing out
questions and their opinions, and became more willing to form friendships with one
another. We have noticed our club becoming noisier (in a positive way!) as it’s filled with
laughter every week, making our Saturday afternoons vibrant and colourful.
One child in particular has surprised us in his growth. Danny, nine, has grown from being
a child who would run away and not participate in activities and games, continuously
pulling pranks in order to gain attention, to becoming a child who takes the initiative to help return assessment books for his
friends and offers to help younger children paste their works onto the Expressions Board. Furthermore, he not only shows
perseverance in his studies by doing more than the assigned work during tuition time, he also shows perseverance at home
by showing great care and concern for his four other siblings and mother, putting on a positive attitude despite going through
difficulties.
The volunteers add onto the warm atmosphere at the club, as they provide support and encouragement, taking time to get
to know each child individually and caring for them beyond their studies. The volunteers go the extra mile to understand the
quirks and personalities of each child, showing genuine concern through sharp observations during our post-club debrief
sessions.
Zack and Mingjie, both aged 18, recently joined Yishun Club. Despite being new, they have already formed close bonds with
some of the children, especially two boys whom they have taught consistently every week. It is also a joy to see old faces
return despite being busy, such as Yixuan who volunteers amidst her already packed schedule.
Aunty Evonne, our most seasoned volunteer, has also been a great help this year, consistently nurturing the lower primary
children and developing other volunteers by sharing her childcare training knowledge with them. Seeing our Primary Six
students return as teen volunteers was also a highlight this year, as we see them becoming role models for the younger
children to look up to, and an example of the familial and nurturing culture we wish to cultivate at Yishun Club.
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ALL ABOUT
YOUTHPHORIA
Youthphoria is a group organised by TYA volunteers to mentor youths who
have graduated from the TYA programme.
Youths through their adolescent phase desire for their voice to be HEARD. Beyond creating
a platform to HEAR them, we aim to dwell deeper, imparting into their lives the following
through bi-monthly activities:
Honor Parents
Effective Communication
Accountability and Resposibility
Realise Potential
Develop Compassion
The following pages highlight our Youthphoria activities and events that took place in 2015.
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YOUTHPHORIA CHALET
20-22 MARCH 2015 FAIRY POINT CHALET
1
TYA ushered in 2015 with a bang with our first event for
As we wanted to instill leadership qualities in the teens, we
the year - Youthphoria Chalet! On 20 March 2015, 20 teens
gave them many opportunities to take control during the
and 10 volunteers gathered at Aloha Changi over two days
chalet. They were in-charged of preparing meals, setting
accompanied by an appetite for great food, laughter and fun.
up and cleaning up before and after meals. We were
The chalet was packed with exciting and engaging activities
impressed to see many of the teens taking charge and being
planned purposefully to create a sense of belonging amongst
accountable for everything they did.
the teens in Youthphoria.
Youthphoria Chalet concluded on a meaningful note, where
The teens gathered in teams and worked their way through
the leaders shared with the teens a special Jubilee word of
exhilarating games such as “Minute to Win It”, “Humpty
encouragement. It was indeed a wonderful time for the teens
Dumpty’s Freefall” and the very popular game – “Running
as well as for us to enjoy the company of everyone.
Man”. They even cooked up a storm in a “Master Chef”
competition! As each activity possessed an element
of Youthphoria, the teens got to know more about the
Youthphoria programme while playing.
By Nicole Soh
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YOUTHPHORIA NIGHT RIDER
8 AUGUST 2015 EAST COAST PARK
Counting down to Singapore’s 50th birthday this year,
Once the storm subsided, we were all eager to get back on our
Youthphoria decided to bring back the highly popular
bikes and continue on our journey! As the roads and pavements
Youthphoria Night Cycling event: Night Rider 2015. This event
were all wet, we had to cycle cautiously. In spite of that, many
aimed to bring the youths through a journey that has been one
of the youths remained undaunted and were determined to
of Youthphoria’s traditions. Night Rider 2015 saw a total of 34
cycle as quickly as they could, all in hopes of reaching our final
youths and 10 adult volunteers participating, with the cycling
destination on time.
route taking in the sights of Marina Promenade, Gardens by
the Bay and the Marina Barrage.
We finally reached the Marina Barrage at around 5.30am, just
in time for a quick snack, or for the more tired ones, a quick nap.
When the participants gathered at 9.30pm, the atmosphere
The others eagerly awaited the first sunrise of Singapore’s 51st
was already filled with excitement and enthusiasm. After a
year! For many of the youths, it was certainly a wonderful time
short time of icebreakers and getting to know one another, the
to bask in the warm glows of the morning sun as well as to take
youths were more than happy to begin our cycling expedition
many selfies and photos with the new friends they had made
from East Coast Park.
through Night Rider 2015.
It was not long before we had to overcome our first major
We started to make our way back around 7.30am in the morning.
challenge. The unexpected unhinging of gears on two of our
Having overcome misaligned gears and a thunderstorm, we
youths’ bicycles brought about a sense of ingenuity among our
unexpectedly faced our third obstacle for the journey when
youths and a couple of our volunteers as they tried to solve the
one of our youths accidentally punctured his tires, and was too
issue. It did not take long before we were able to fix the bicycles
tired to continue on the journey back. Thankfully, one of our
and continue our midnight adventure.
volunteers decided to take over the youth’s bicycle, allowing
the youth to continue his journey back with ease.
After East Coast Park, we made our way to the Marina
Barrage, via the Kallang River, Gardens by the Bay and
As the adventure ended, many of us were visibly tired by our
Marina Bay Sands. Soon, dark clouds began to cover the
exertions throughout the night. However, we were proud of
sky before a curtain of rain started down, accompanied by
ourselves for persevering on all the way to the end, and took
flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. Taking shelter around
home the precious memories of new friendships and close
Kallang Wave mall, many of the youths and volunteers used
bonds forged over Singapore’s jubilee National Day weekend.
the unscheduled pit stop to know one another better through
Quoting Tolkien, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song
chatting and playing games, turning a cold and dreary moment
above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world…”, and looking
to precious memories of heartfelt joy and laughter.
back, it would be the memories of the journey that we will all
keep closest to our hearts.
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CHRISTMAS CHILL-OUT
19 DECEMBER 2015 LEISURE PARK KALLANG
The TYA Youthphoria committee organised a Christmas Chill-
Thereafter, everyone got to enjoy their all-time favourite board
Out event to invite the Primary Six children from TYA to join
games such as ‘Monopoly’, ‘Saboteur’ and ‘Ugly Ugly’. Youths
the Youthphoria family! More than 40 participants gathered at
got the opportunity to interact and soak in the festive mood
Leisure Park Kallang Mall for the Galactic-themed party.
before devouring a scrumptious Christmas dinner. As everyone
sunk their teeth into the ham and turkey, they sat together to
The early birds that arrived helped out wholeheartedly with the
watch –‘The Guardians of the Galaxy’.
decorations and setup for the party. It was heart-warming to
witness the teens and volunteers working together to ensure the
Youthphoria Chill-Out provided the youths a chance to make
smooth setup of the venue. This brought much affirmation to
new friends and built stronger friendships. The night ended on a
the adult volunteers to have seen how the children have grown
high note with a blessed draw where every teen brought home
in character over the years. This indeed reflected the spirit of
not just a Christmas gift but well wishes and precious memories
giving back what one has received.
that would be kept in their hearts always.
The much anticipated party kicked off with a time of introduction
and ice breakers to ease the atmosphere where we witnessed
everyone laughing together and running around enthusiastically.
It was followed up with a time of heart-felt personal sharing of
what Youthphoria is about as well as how this family gathers to
By Ruth Lin
serve the community together.
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The end of a journey is usually the beginning of another.
As our TYA children draw near to the end of their journey in
primary school, an open door to new experiences awaits.
However, with a new school environment, our graduating
Primary Six students often face new challenges – making
new friends, adapting to secondary school life, discovering
themselves, and living up to their own, as well as the
expectations of people around them. Hence, the annual
TYA Camp Explorer aids children in Primary Six with their
transition to secondary school life, preparing them mentally
for the new chapter ahead, as well as helping them grow
CAMP
EXPLORER
23-25 NOVEMBER 2015
HOUGANG SECONDARY SCHOOL
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and develop as they rise up to the challenges ahead of
them.
Camp Explorer 2015 was held at Hougang Secondary
School (HSS) from 23 November to 25 November 2015.
More than 50 children participated in the camp, along with
volunteers from both TYA and HSS. The volunteers and
children spent the three days of camp interacting closely
with one another and learning from one another.
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The first day started off with a CCA orientation by the HSS
CCA groups. Our campers got the chance to try out various
CCAs such as Judo and Red Cross. The next activity was
Water Expedition, which ended abruptly due to the heavy rain.
However, the children and volunteers still had a blast working
together, and were soaked with water (and happiness) by the
end of it. The day ended with team building where volunteers
saw the maturity of many children who stepped out of their
comfort zones to aid the team.
TITLE
Following the subject orientation, we took a camp photo
and enjoyed a highly anticipated BBQ. Both children and
volunteers had a wonderful time of singing and dancing to
music blasting from the speakers. Some children even put up
impromptu performances that engaged everyone. The night
ended with a prize presentation and the children wrote letters
to their future self to be mailed out in a year. Hopefully, they will
reminisce their Camp Explorer days and remember the values
learnt during the camp when they receive their own letters!
On the second day, campers learnt more about online bullying
The third day marked the end of the camp and was an emotional
and online conduct through a talk by TOUCH Cyber Wellness.
experience for some. Strong friendships were forged over the
This was followed by a movie screening of ‘Facing the Giants’
three days and memories of Camp Explorer would certainly
that brought forth many learning points, one of which was to
stay with the children for many years to come. But the end of
persevere through challenges one may face.
the camp meant the start of something new. The children went
to receive their PSLE results – it was the beginning of their
After the movie, the campers went for their subject orientation,
new journey.
which was carried out by the staff of Rockwell Automation and
Tanjong Katong Secondary School teachers and students.
The campers had fun as they were introduced to the different
subjects offered in secondary school through several engaging
and hands-on activities.
By Helene Tan
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1
JANUARY
2
MEET-THE-PARENTS
SESSION
7
JULY
02 JUL |
YOUTHPHORIA CHALLENGE
FEBRUARY
3
CNY CELEBRATIONS
AUGUST
13 AUG |
RUN & RAISIN’
4
12 MAR |
GAMES DAY
13 FEB |
YOUTHPHORIA TX
8
MARCH
26 MAR |
YOUTHPHORIA
GATHERING
9
SEPTEMBER
02-04 SEP |
VOLUNTEERS’ RETREAT
1
|
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47
2016 CALENDAR
4
6
5
|
A
G
10
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
09 APR |
FAMILY BEFRIENDING
GATHERING
29 MAY - 01 JUN |
SURVIVAL CAMP
26 JUN |
SURVIVAL CAMP ECHO
OCTOBER
CHILDREN’S DAY
CELEBRATION
11
NOVEMBER
05 NOV |
TYA 30TH ANNIVERSARY &
FAMILY DAY
12
DECEMBER
09-11 DEC |
FAMILY TOUR
17 DEC |
YOUTHPHORIA CHRISTMAS
20-22 NOV |
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CAMP EXPLORER
Volunteer today. Inspire a lifetime.
TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) not only offers needy children academic coaching and values-driven
activities, but they also provide clients who have graduated with an opportunity to return and
mentor the younger ones.
If you would like to help TYA continue making a difference in the lives of children and youths,
simply head over to http://tiny.cc/voluntya to sign up as a regular volunteer of TYA.
For further enquiries, you may contact us at 6377 0122 or young.arrows@touch.org.sg.
You can be a part of TYA’s work in the community too!

everychildmatters - TOUCH Community Services

Transcription

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