Donate
 

PPIS Newsletter July ’22

The last few months have been extremely significant ones. And I am glad we at PPIS were able to experience them with you.

 

The month of May reminded us that patience is indeed a virtue and that good things come to those who wait. After two and half years of scaling back Lebaran, this year we were able to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with our loved ones, much like the good old days. I was particularly grateful to host family and friends and rejoiced visiting loved ones.  But I was also nervous to celebrate Hari Raya sans restrictions. Like you, I was a little out of touch.  Since Covid-19 changed our lives forever, I was inspired to write this Berita Harian commentary on the importance of a Lebaran that was kind and compassionate, and celebrating festivities with social responsibility along with gratitude, husnuzon (positive thoughts of others), respect, tolerance, and patience, starting with family members under one roof.

 

I was also very excited to celebrate Harmony Raya with our members and respected female community leaders. The icing on the cake was to have SPS Rahayu Mahzam join us as we learnt more about “The Legacy of Historical Women in Islam”.  We were inspired by the historical female figures who were trailblazers’ way ahead of their time and by our keynote speaker, Dr Basma Abdelgafar, Vice President of Maqasid Institute whose sharing on identity and agency resonated with us. We were reminded again, both men and women can be agents of positive change and play an equal role in fighting cultural stereotypes and breaking societal norms. Read more on Berita Harian and BERITA Mediacorp.

 

In June, as part of our 70th Anniversary of “Celebrating 70 years of Resilient Women”, our Family Service Centre East (FSCE) recently launched its Community Art Project, where residents and beneficiaries designed pinwheels which illustrated what resilience means to them. “Wheels of Resilience” promoted a sense of belonging and reflects on our collective strength. The splendid showcase of pinwheels at Wisma Geylang Serai symbolises our community standing together as one, despite any impending challenges. I was inspired by the creativity and heartfelt renditions the pinwheels captured and the project left a deep impression.

 

Another meaningful event we held in June, was the finale of our #REDGirlsForGood initiative, in partnership with Pertapis Centre for Women and Girls. The girls picked up new skills, were inspired by stories of their kakaks and jie jies (big sisters) but more importantly, learnt that they were not alone in their journey. More milestone projects are in the pipeline as we commemorate our platinum jubilee this year. The upcoming Social Service Professionals’ Forum, as well as the opening of our two newest centres – PPIS Women Space and Rise Above Halfway House, reaffirm our mission of uplifting women and their families, to build a better future for the women of tomorrow.

 

With 2022 dedicated as the Year of Celebrating SG Families (YCF), let us also express our appreciation for our male allies and father figures, who play an equally key role in a women’s journey towards achieving their aspirations, as well as building the resilience of children and families.

– President Hazlina Abdul Halim

This issue, we celebrate acts of kindness from Raikan Ihsan (Celebrating Compassion) during the fasting month of Ramadan to Doing Good Together during the recent June holidays.

 

We touched the lives of our beneficiaries through our gifts of Iftar (breaking of fast) and we thank sponsor, Hungryy for making this happen for the second year running. There were others such as UNIQLO and GLOWco. who reached out to us, to add meaning to the lives of the individuals we serve.

 

And while others reached out to us, we reached out to the residents living next to our Rise Above Halfway House, which is under renovation.

 

There are indeed many ways of giving back to the community. At PPIS we start the journey of giving back at a young age. Doing Good Together was an initiative by Senior Centre Supervisor of Student Care Bedok, Mdm Zaleha Ahmad and Centre Supervisor of Student Care Jurong, Mdm Kalthom Kassim.

 

Through its various activities, students learn the meaning of volunteerism from corporate partners as well as contribute their time to clean our beaches. The month-long activities culminated in a family recreation sponsored by SportCares.

 

The easing of restrictions allows for physical events as well as working from office. As we embrace the new norm, we are grateful for the courage and tenacity to overcome the two difficult years of pandemic. We achieved this because we believe that the individuals we serve matter. And through kindness, we make a difference in their lives.

– Mdm Tuminah Sapawi, CEO

This year, we welcomed the physical return of our Harmony Raya celebration; an annual inter-faith get-together among women leaders from various secular and faith-based organisations. PPIS was honoured to have Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health & Law, Mdm Rahayu Mahzam officiate the event.

 

This year’s theme, “The Legacy of Historical Women in Islam”, centred on demystifying societal misconceptions, while concurrently providing a safe space for attendees to learn more about the historical women in Islam and the relevance of their practices and values in today’s contemporary society.

 

The theme also follows after the findings of our inaugural Aspirations of Singapore Muslim Women Research (AMWR), which revealed that many of our young Muslim Women (MW) cited the lack of MW role models, and how we should continue to expand narratives of success of MW as well as reframe prejudiced perceptions and clarify societal misconceptions, many of which are rooted in cultural practices.

 

 

Attending the event virtually, our keynote speaker, Dr Basma Abdelgafar, Vice President of Maqasid Institute, narrated on women in the Quran and the significant roles they played in establishing and contributing to the advancement of Islamic society.

 

 

 

 

Following the keynote speech was a panel discussion among multi-faith speakers sharing on their respective faith’s historical women role models, challenges in navigating religious values and practices in today’s modern context, and how we can collaborate as one diverse and cohesive, interfaith community to overcome these challenges.

 

Indeed, both men and women can be agents of positive change and play an equal role in fighting cultural stereotypes and breaking societal norms. Read more on Berita Harian and Berita Mediacorp.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, students from 7oaks Preschools took great effort in staging singing and poetry performances for the most important women in their lives – their mothers. Despite being conducted virtually, the mothers thoroughly enjoyed the performances and had lots of fun during the trivia, where students were tested on their knowledge of their mothers.

 

 

The mothers felt touched by the heartfelt efforts of their young ones, and were pleasantly surprised to receive handcrafted, personalised gifts like flower bouquets and paper handbags, when their children got home.

 

The pandemic has seen our mothers pulling an extended double shift with some juggling work on top of added caregiving responsibilities. PPIS recognises and celebrates the women and mothers in our community who persistently demonstrated resilience, patience and compassion despite tough times.

After two years, PPIS RED held its final physical session of the #REDGirlForGood, otherwise known as #RGFG collaboration with PERTAPIS Centre for Women And Girls (PCWG) last Monday, 20 June. A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) effort that was initiated in 2020, the collaboration aims to improve the lives of girls and women in the community, through mutual collaboration with like-minded sister organisations, corporate partners, and hosting of confidence-building workshops.

 

 

 

The sessions were held to engage these young girls in practical activities that provide them a safe space to express their individuality and be reminded of their own self-worth. To emphasise the value of self-expression, a journal named “Bloom” was gifted to document one’s feelings and journey of growth throughout the series, and beyond.

 

 

 

 

The workshops were further complemented by sharing of success stories and journey of resilience by invited women role models from various industries. By inviting role models to the sessions, RED seeks to advance the girls’ aspirations, and show them that despite their present circumstances, they have immense potential and a bright future ahead of them. Pictured to the right are past and present role models veteran radio deejay Nur Hafiza Osman (Fiza O), pianist Nabillah Jalal, and Country Chair of Inspiring Girls, Jacqueline Chua, together with PPIS President Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim and PERTAPIS Education and Welfare Centre Executive Director, Ms Hana Sofiah.

 

 

 

 

To conclude the  #RGFG series, the fourth and final session was themed “Self-Empowerment through Music,” and featured Nabillah Jalal, the first Malay-Muslim Singaporean to study at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London, United Kingdom (UK). Nabillah shared on how she navigated adversities in her journey towards becoming a world-class musician, in the hopes of inspiring the girls to realise and pursue their passion.

 

“I strongly believe that people who have attained some level of success have a crucial part to play to share their stories. It is a way to contribute back to society and passing on the kindness and help that they have received to get to where they are. Furthermore, success breeds success! When youths can see, listen and interact with real-life role models, they get inspired and hopefully a fire will ignite in them to work even harder,” said Ms Nabillah Jalal. 

 

 

Staying true to the theme, these girls also participated in a traditional artistic endeavor known as “dikir barat”.  Under the guidance of representatives from NTU-NIE Dewi Samudera, a female dikir barat group, the girls were thought to harness the strength of their voices through poetry singing, as well as explore choreographing their own routine. Pictured to the right are the girls showcasing their routine at the end!

Since 2020, Raikan Ihsan was established to galvanise collective efforts towards uplifting our beneficiaries and those in greater need. Leading up to Ramadan this year, we were heartened to have enterprises reaching out to us to give back to the Malay-Muslim community. We welcome more businesses in the near future to step forward in the spirit of celebrating compassion and uplifting the underserved communities.

 

This year’s Raikan Ihsan kicked off with our first benefactor, Hungryy; Singapore’s largest halal food delivery and group buy platform. Running for the second year, the ‘Gift of Ramadan’ initiative provided beneficiaries with pre-packed meals for iftar. Pictured above are Hungryy directors, Mr Muhammad Zulkifli and Ms Sarieta, in the humble abode of Mdm Suffiyah, one of the 122 PPIS beneficiaries who benefitted from this collaboration.

 

In the spirit of celebrating compassion this year, PPIS also took this opportunity to extend the ‘Gift of Ramadan’ to our non-Malay/Muslim clients and beneficiaries. In addition to the pre-packed meals, beneficiaries also received Ramadan essentials such as dates and groceries, which were sponsored by SuzyAmeer Online and KedaiSujimy.com.

 

Mr Muhammad Zulkifli, Director of Hungryy said, “This is the second year we are collaborating with PPIS, and we are pleased to be given yet another opportunity to help those less fortunate. As Muslims, we believe if we are blessed with more, we should share with others who need it more.”.

Just two weeks before the Eid festivities, as part of their charity campaign “For Every Glow”, GLOWco founder, Nawal Alhaddad and her team personally delivered 400 instant sports shawls of varying designs and colours to be gifted to PPIS’ vulnerable women and children. An online charity sale was also organised for PPIS.

 

“For Every Glow is a charity campaign organised by GLOWco, a leading modest activewear brand for women. As a woman-owned business, GLOWco strives to grow a market for women to continue to benefit from its diversity of activewear, ranging from sports hijabs to sweat-wicking tops and bottoms. Our readily available resources and platform enabled us to initiate the campaign with PPIS by donating sports hijabs and raising funds through our charity sales.

 

PPIS & GLOWco share a common mission, which is to empower the women in our community. It can be seen through the many projects and services PPIS has been providing for decades-long. This is why PPIS was our first choice of beneficiary. We believe that the efforts to raise funds with the help of GLOWco‘s community will encourage further acts of giving back & support, helping us to learn our purpose & obligation to the women & children of the Malay-Muslim community.  The charity sale was conducted from 15 April 2022 to 30 April 2022, and $2,896 was raised for PPIS.”

– Contributed by GLOWco.

An especially meaningful partnership given its first time giving back to the Malay-Muslim community, UNIQLO Singapore gifted care packages to PPIS families, featuring essential apparels from their AIRism line (e.g. masks and T-Shirts), with something for everyone in the family.

 

 

 

“UNIQLO believes the power of clothing can change the world for the better. This is why we have partnered PPIS to empower families with new apparels that give them comfort, protection and pleasure as they observe the holy month and welcome the upcoming festivities. Supporting the needs of our local community is important to us,” said Mr Yuki Yamada, CEO, UNIQLO Singapore & Malaysia.

 

 

 

 

To the left is Mr Izhmir and his family receiving the UNIQLO gifts from PPIS CEO, Mdm Tuminah Sapawi. The gifts could not have come at a better time for their use during Hari Raya.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

400 care packages were distributed to PPIS families across PPIS’ social services and student care centers. In addition, 200 masks were given as a form of appreciation for PPIS volunteers. Of course, the collaboration would not have been a success without the support of our volunteers! Pictured to the right are Grant, Juanis and Namira hard at work, packing over 2,000 apparels for our beneficiaries.

Held from 2 April to 14 June, this year’s PPIS Ihsan Ramadan, themed, Kembalikan Sinar or Lighting Lives, is all about bringing the message of hope to our beneficiaries who are experiencing or have gone through trying times. We thank our donors, sponsors, partners and supporters for helping us raise more than $200,000 to light the lives our beneficiaries this past festive period. We are extremely heartened by the support and look forward to seeing you next year!

 

Say hello to Hazique! A person-in-recovery (PIR), Hazique first came to us in 2021 to seek support for his mental health. While many may be familiar with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), for Hazique, he experiences OCD when it comes to religious obligations. This in turn resulted in excessive religious rituals, disrupting his day-to-day functioning and self-efficacy.

 

Taking the first step to take care of one’s mental heath can be daunting. However with the unwavering encouragement of his parents and two younger sisters, coupled with regular therapy and healthy coping mechanisms recommended by our therapists at SYM Academy, Hazique has been making great strides in his recovery journey.

Ms Norhasni, who is presently a single mother of three, was referred to PPIS Family Service Centre West (FSCW) back in 2018 when she was experiencing financial difficulties. Presently, she is the sole breadwinner of her family, and currently working as a care assistant in a nursing home.

 

Over the years, Ms Norhasni had persevered through domestic violence, divorce and having to struggle with the multiple responsibilities of being a single parent. In addition, she is suffering from thyroid, with stress being one of her main health triggers.

 

The case work and counselling support provided by FSCW to families such as Ms Norhasni aims to build on their internal strengths to help them better cope with their life challenges.

 

 

Through the casework support, Ms Norhasni has been fortunate to have met other passionate members of the community serving those in need. Amidst all the adversities faced, Ms Norhasni’s unwavering love for her children remained as the constant motivation to keep her going even when the future seemed bleak.

Our Heartfelt Thanks to Our Sponsors and Partners

 

Cash Sponsor

 

 

In-Mall Sponsor

“During the PPIS Ihsan Ramadan Campaign, WGS allowed the campaign posters to be shared on our LED screens. WGS is an arts and cultural civic centre that welcomes collaboration from partners to reach out to the Malay-Muslim community. As PPIS is one of our co-located partners, we humbly hope that the campaign received wider outreach as intended and reached their campaign target.”

 

 

Digital Agency Partner

 

 

Retail Partner

Heartful Bouquets

Another one makes the record of milestones for PPIS’ platinum jubilee commemoration this year. The launch of the Community Art Project (CAP) by PPIS Family Service Centre East (FSCE) was well-received by the community. Held in partnership with schools and various community partners, the residents and beneficiaries residing within the catchment areas of FSCE were given pinwheels to embellish and express their views on resilience. Pictured above was the soft launch of CAP held on 26 May, featuring PPIS President, Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim as one of the judges for the submissions.

 

Aptly themed “Wheels of Resilience”, the CAP was held to promote the community’s varying depictions of resilience in an art form, while the public display of pinwheels at Wisma Geylang Serai symbolises the community standing together, no matter any challenges that may come. 

 

We thank participating schools and community partners for this successful community project. Catch the sea of pinwheels in person when you pop by Wisma Geylang Serai!

Strong families are the bedrock of society and vital in developing resilient individuals and building a caring and compassionate society. Amidst this backdrop, the Ministry of Social and Family Development had announced 2022 as the Year of Celebrating SG Families (YCF) in March.

 

 

As part of YCF, on Tuesday, 26 April, the Alliance for Action to Strengthen Marriages and Family Relationships (AFAM) launched the SG Family Pledge. As one of its partners and a non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting women and their families, PPIS welcomes the pledge to strengthen the bond between family members, and build their collective resilience in overcoming challenges and transitions as one united family.

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, 4 June, The launch of National Family Week (NFW) themed, “Yes to Family Time, Anywhere, Anytime” saw various non-profit organisations coming together to commemorate the launch, and going into discussion groups to drive conversations on how to better support and strengthen Singapore families. Pictured to the left are PPIS President, Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim and PPIS CEO, Mdm Tuminah Sapawi, alongside Families For Life (FFL) representatives in the heart of all the action. 

 

 

 

PPIS remains committed to supporting the vulnerable segments of our Malay-Muslim community, and build their resilience through our suite of family and community services. Down the pipeline, more events are on its way to support and celebrate diverse families, such as our Fostering Workshop by PPIS OASIS,  Celebrating Couples Outreach Programme by INSPIRASI, and Grandparents Day physical celebrations by 7oaks Student Care Centres (SCC).

 

In the meantime, keep reading to find out what our students and families have been up to during the June school holidays!

Study hard, play hard! With the easing of safe management measures (SMM), students of 7oaks Student Care Centre Bedok (SCCB) and Student Care Centre Jurong (SCCJ) were thrilled at the resumption of physical engagement activities during the June school holidays. Taking advantage of the SMM easing, 7oaks took the opportunity to plan for activities that not only engaged these students physically through the Sport Singapore partnership, but intellectually as well through learning journey visits to various exhibitions and centres. We thank our corporate partners and partnering schools for filling the June holidays of these students with such adrenaline pumping programmes and socially responsible activities!

 

 

Starting off strong, students from both SCCs’ participated in Duathlon & Fun Duathlon at 100 Plus Promenade Sports Hub. Under the guidance of Coach Weixin, the students did a warm up, athletic drills and some sprints to prepare for the duathlon. For primary school students, the duathlon  comprised a round of running at the 800m track, a round of cycling and another round of running on the same track. As for the secondary school children, the course was a round of running and three rounds of cycling, ending off with a round of running.

 

 

Despite the exhaustion, the atmosphere was terrific, filled with athleticism and boisterous cheering as the students conquered each sport station. While the duathlon was aimed to engage them physically, it was also to drive home the importance of exploring their strengths and adopting a positive mindset that can result in a happier, healthier life. Hitting home run, all students involved managed to complete the whole cycle of the duathlon and received special awards from SportCares. Well done students!

 

 

 

To establish a sense of belonging for the Malay cultural arts and its dance community, SCCB students were introduced to traditional Malay Dance. Eight members of National University Singapore (NUS) Malay Dance Club, Ilsa Tari,  hosted a Malay Dance workshop, demonstrating various genres of Malay Dance to them, including  Joget, Inang and Zapin. It was also encouraging for the workshop to be led by a male dancer, as it communicates to the students that dancing is a form of expression regardless of one’s gender.

 

 

 


 

The room was filled with enthusiasm as the students enjoyed dancing to the traditional music, following every movement as they prepared to perform. After a few rounds of practice within their smaller groups, they showcased their choice of dance to Ilsa Tari as well as their peers and teachers. The session was closed with a parting gift from the NUS Ilsa Tari dancers.

In a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of 7oaks students, the following week saw SCCB students embark on a quest to ‘Do Good Together’ by doing a beach clean up on their first outing in more than a year. Being the first physical outing ever since the easing of SMM, the children were more than excited to stretch their legs out and soak in the sun and sand.

 

 

The students were geared up with gloves, tongs and plastic bags to clean up the Changi Beach, and worked in small groups, spreading themselves all over the park and beach area to litter pick all the rubbish in their way. Many joggers praised the students for their efforts to keep the beach clean. 

 

 


 

They also learnt of how the beach is a place of habitat for both the land animals and sea creatures, and how trash can contaminate the sea and endanger them. Through this experience, the students were connected to nature which stimulated their senses, and were part of an activity that taught them compassion and responsibility for our environment and surroundings.

Throughout the month of June, students of 7oaks Student Care were also exposed to various educational and value-added learning journeys. A wide scope of stimulating trips were planned, with different learning journeys targeted at different aspects, such as learning about Singapore’s past, natural occurring sciences, as well as the environmental health.

 

 

 

In the “THROUGH THE LENS OF TIME” exhibition at Singapore Discovery Centre, the students learnt about 700 years of Singapore’s history. They were in awe as they learned about Singapore’s early years through interactive technology, which became food for thought, for this young generation to consider how they may get ready to contribute to Singapore’s future.

 

Students of SCCJ went on a learning trip to Nanyang Technological University (NTU), organised by NTU Alumnis’. The objective of the trip was to make the children practice their speaking skills by articulating the information they found in Yunan Garden to their peers as they explored different areas with different focal points. 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the above, the students attended a printing demo located in the HIVE building of NTU, otherwise known as the Learning Hub South. There, they learnt how 3D printing was done and watched in real-time how a 3D figurine of a small dinosaur was printed. While they were amazed at the technology, they were exhilarated upon learning that they each get to bring home the 3D dinosaurs as a keychain. 

Organised by Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) and in partnership with Tumadi Traditional Batik Painting, students of SCCB had been participating in a series of batik painting sessions, which subsequently garnered them an invitation to the Batik Junior Competition. Under the guidance of Mr Tumadi, a veteran batik artist, the students delved deep into the different techniques of Batik painting, letting their artistic skills and learnt knowledge come to life in colour.

 

 

 

 

Out of four of our 7oaks student, Alicia Jong Yi Xuan emerged second place! Presenting the awards to the winners was Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Mr Tumadi as the judge of the competition.

What better way to celebrate the last weekend of the June school holidays than to spend it with your family! The CareRunners Family Day out featured a myriad of family-bonding exercises and games, fostering stronger bonds within the family and encouraging them to move their body! A total of 150 children, youths and families of PPIS participated in the day-long programme.

 

 

 

 

 

Telematches were held among families, honing their communication skills to complete the activities, as well as being in pace with one another to cross the finish line. Pictured to the right is one such activity where families compete against each other to cross from one end of the hall to another, while making sure that the ball stays balanced in their collective hands!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending the day off with a splash in the pool is definitely a way to feel invigorated! Pictured here are the attendees who were engaging and strengthening their bodies’ core muscles through water aerobics and aquafit! A long and tiring day, but well spent indeed with loved ones.

In this series, we feature PPIS staff who are driving a positive impact in our community as we strive in our mission to inspire women and strengthen families. This edition of the newsletter features four individuals who have built their own communities and touched the lives of many.   

Meet Elise Huang! She is a social worker at Family Service Centre East (FSCE) and has been working in the social service space for four years. This year marks her first year with PPIS! Despite not being long with FSCE, her journey has never been a dull one and she enjoys working with her team mates and the community. She strives to make her clients feel safe and secure by treating them like family. Elise believes this approach will ensure an effortless support system for everyone. During last year’s circuit breaker, she rendered assistance to vulnerable elderlies such as purchasing groceries or food for them.

Her positive outlook in life means going the extra mile doing what she loves! Elise’s experiences at PPIS embodies her deep passion and commitment to serving the community.

 

“In Chinese, there is a saying that “Rather relying on faraway family, why not rely on your neighbours”. After working in the community for the past four years, this saying has rung true to its words.”

– Ms Elise Huang

Mariah Noor Mohamad is a counsellor at SYM Academy, a practice academy specialising in therapeutic family-related work for individuals and couples. She has been with PPIS for the course of 10 years as an associate counsellor and six months as a professional counsellor. As a counsellor, Mariah is committed to journeying alongside individuals or families on their path towards healing and understanding. Through therapy and training programmes, Mariah educates and empowers the community to weather through life’s challenges. Her extensive experience at PPIS has been empowering, purposeful and humbling.

 

“A support system is one that is “contrapuntal” – similar to music where the relationship between two or more members are harmonically unique and independent – yet interdependent too – and forming a “melodic” contour of the community.”

– Ms Mariah Noor Mohamad

Let’s welcome Muhd Farhan! A senior social work associate at PPIS Family Service Centre West (FSCW), Farhan has been serving the organisation for four years! With the abundance and variety of experiences gained at PPIS, Farhan has found greater meaning and mission in his work. His time at PPIS has provided a space for him to grow as a person, cultivate stronger outlooks and relationships with his team and the community at large. Not only does Farhan take pride in helping vulnerable segments to the best of his ability, he believes everyone has a part to play in advancing the community. Farhan opines helping the community requires compassion, cooperation and a strong sense of “kampung spirit”.

 

The word community described a ‘kampung’ spirit where everyone looks out for each other including strangers coming together to help others in need.”

– Muhd Farhan

Last but not least, presenting Muhd Zahin. an assistant senior social worker at PPIS Family Service Centre West (FSCW)! If there is anyone who best exemplifies the dedication and drive required to uplift and improve the community, it is Zahin. His positive personality has influenced him to fulfil the true meaning of his passion for social work. What started as an internship soon became a fulfilling career for Zahin. This year, he is embarking on his fourth year at PPIS! His journey here has been both fulfilling and eye-opening. Not only was he given the opportunity to grow in the social service landscape, he was exposed to important insights into social issues that are still prevalent today. These experiences exposed him to a diverse range of perspectives and skillsets from fellow peers at FSCW and the community he serves.

 

“The word “community” attaches a different meaning across different points in my life. Community no longer means a neighbourhood or people in the area. It actually encompasses each and every one of us, all of creation. We all face challenges in our lives, so why not lighten them by helping one another?”

– Muhd Zahin Bin Saini

On Wednesday, 25 May, Yayasan MENDAKI hosted a Community Leaders Forum (CLF) sharing session for community leaders and representatives of our Malay-Muslim Organisations (MMOs). The second quarterly sharing themed ‘Capability Building’ focused on Volunteerism and Volunteer Management, as well as Organisation Health Framework for Social Services (OHFSS).

 

OFHSS, which was developed by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) includes a one-stop portal for social service agencies to conduct a self-assessment of their business operations and identify the areas they can improve on. These areas focuses on seven domains: Strategy & Leadership, Governance, People, Finances, Digitalisation, Communications & Partnerships, and User-Centric Services.

 

The session started off with insightful sharings by Mr. Bruce Liew, Director of Sector Digitalisation & Transformation and Ms Priscilla Gan, Director of Volunteer Resource Optimisation, who are both from NCSS.

 

 

 

During the session, we were proud to have Puspa Thangavelu, PPIS RED Volunteer Manager, present on the overview of the Volunteer Management Capability Development (VMCD) project, as well as its focus areas and slew of initiatives which PPIS had been embarking on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following her presentation was a panel sharing that delved into the present and future outlook of volunteer management, as well as optimising vounteering resources in the face of a digitalisation wave. Close to 40 community leaders and representatives attended the CLF, and we are confident that they’ve benefitted greatly from the sharings.

 

 

On Saturday, 23 April, as part of its community engagement efforts before officially moving into the site, PPIS conducted door-to-door house visits to introduce Rise Above Halfway House (Rise Above) to its neighbours, the nearby residents of St George’s Lane. Pictured above are Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC GROs, Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah, PPIS President, Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim and PPIS CEO, Mdm Tuminah Sapawi alongside our volunteers.

 

The first secular, all-women halfway house in Singapore, Rise Above is an extension of PPIS’ suite of community services to better meet the needs of women and their families, including former women offenders. The upgrading works for Rise Above commenced in April, and is soon expecting to receive its maiden batch of 30 residents in the second half of this year.

 

 

 

As the house visits were conducted just a week before Eid, Rise Above took the opportunity to extend some festive cheer to its neighbours by gifting them with specially-designed bottles of cookies, specially baked by inmates and were sponsored by Yellow Ribbon Singapore.

 

 

 

 

It was heartening to hear many of the residents welcoming the presence of Rise Above and its goal to form a supportive ecosystem to facilitate the reintegration of the residents so that these women could rebuild their lives, return to their families, and foster stronger ties with their families and the community. Helping these women offenders rise above their life challenges requires collective and collaborative effort, and PPIS hope for the community’s continued support on our journey to uplift these women and strengthen their families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again, a special thank you to our volunteers who signed up on a hot Saturday afternoon to give back to our community! With over 60 houses visited in a span of 1 hour, 100 cookies distributed, and 14 floors conquered, truly it take a whole-of-society effort to give and create more safe spaces and bridge across all communities in Singapore.

Presiden Halimah gembira ramai kunjungi Rumah Terbuka Istana

The Istana welcomed the presence of visitors during the Open House held on Sunday (8 May), in conjunction with the Workers Day and Hari Raya Aidilfitri Celebrations. President Halimah Yacob and her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, were also present to enliven the event while meeting visitors there. In addition, Madam Halimah interacted with students from 7oaks Preschools and Student Care Centres of PPIS, St John’s Ambulance Brigade, as well as SingTel volunteers.

Read more here.

Hari Raya Meeting with Ministers

Para pemimpin masyarakat alu-alukan usaha baru bagi masyarakat Melayu/Islam langkah ke hadapan dengan lebih kukuh

A slew of initiatives was launched to strength the resilience of the Malay-Muslim community during the Minister’s Hari Raya Get-Together on Friday, 13 May. Together with other Malay-Muslim community organisations, PPIS welcomes the various initiatives, notably the new programme “Saham Kesihatan”. PPIS President Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim also reiterated that good health is vital for us to be better versions of ourselves.

Read more here.

Harmony Raya 2022

Rahayu: Masyarakat harus bantu kaum wanita tangani cabaran praktikal

After two years of virtual gatherings, PPIS Harmony Raya returns physically this year, gathering over 50 women leaders from various faiths and communities. This year’s theme – “The Legacy of Historical Women in Islam”, centered on demystifying some societal misconceptions, while concurrently providing a safe space for participants to learn more about women in Islam via historical narratives and how the practices and values of our historical women leaders remain relevant in today’s contemporary society.

Read more here.

6th DPPMS Annual General Meeting (AGM)

DPPMS teroka peluang pertumbuhan pascapandemik bagi anggota

In a feature on Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI), its partnership with PPIS for the Microbusiness Foundation Programme (MBFP) was highlighted. Launched in 2021, the MBFP is a structured programme focusing on developing the capabilities of female microbusiness owners in Singapore, as well as on enhancing support and assistance for women whose families were affected by the pandemic.

Read more here.

290522_Kesihatan

Kesihatan landasan kejayaan

PPIS President Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim was invited to be a guest writer on Berita Harian, where she lent her thoughts on how one should consider health as an essential form of sustenance, in addition to its typical association with money and wealth. She shared how good health is a catalyst and how we can only help others to the best of our abilities, when we are the best version of ourselves.

 Read more here.

Kaum Hawa

Kaum Hawa, Adam saling lengkapi papar contoh positif

PPIS President Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim was invited to be a guest writer on Berita Harian, where she shared on the significance that female role models play in advancing the aspirations of Muslim Women in Singapore. In addition, the support and involvement of fellow male allies are also crucial to not only create a comprehensive support structure, but also strengthening the said structure for the younger generation of women. It takes a whole-of-society effort to help women realise and achieve their fullest potential.

 Read more here.