PPIS Newsletter September ’19
Over the past year, PPIS has achieved several milestones that we are very proud of. These milestones are a testimony to our aspirations of providing a seamless service to the community. They also cement the belief that we can achieve much more together as OnePPIS.
We started 2019 on a high with the launch of our fostering agency, PPIS Oasis, in January. It was launched by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Social and Family Development. It is also the first Muslim fostering agency in Singapore.
Our second PPIS Bridging and Humanifying Family Practice Symposium was held in April 2018, following the success of its inaugural symposium in 2016. It grew from being a platform to address service gaps for the community to a learning space for professionals working with families.
As always, we are constantly reviewing ways to improve our services and facilities. Earlier this year, our Family Service Centre (East) moved to its new premises at the social and cultural heritage hub, Wisma Geylang Serai. The re-location better positions the centre to serve the community and its new service boundary.
Our Child Development Centres continued to go above and beyond in caring for our children. To support the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)’s efforts to inculcate bilingualism and love for Mother Tongue languages in preschool children, the PPIS Malay Language Carnival was organised to contribute to the annual national campaign, Bulan Bahasa.
These events and programmes are emblematic of our commitment to serve the community. We believe that there are always strengths to be harnessed and opportunities to do better. In the coming years, PPIS hopes to advance our goals in building an inclusive community that supports the aspirations of Muslim women, while also developing visionary and resilient families that extend grace and compassion to self and others in the community.
– Mdm Rahayu Mohamad, PPIS President
Spotlight
STUDENT CARE CENTRE BEDOK
Recently, our PPIS Student Care Centre Bedok was invited by Ms Yap Su-Yin from Tan Chin Tuan Foundation to the ‘SHE IS MORE’ art exhibition at Sundaram Tagore art gallery.
SHE IS MORE – a Youth Art Competition, was opened to all youths aged 10 to 18 across the world to celebrate the value of women through art. Artists were invited to submit their own visual take on the theme ‘SHE IS MORE’, for a chance to be exhibited at world-renowned Sundaram Tagore Gallery in Singapore.
Prior to the gallery visit, the children from PPIS Student Care Centre Bedok participated in the competition a few months back. They were excited to visit the Sundaram Tagore art gallery when the students found out that their works were selected and exhibited at the gallery. The children were completely taken by surprise when they saw their artworks at the gallery’s main entrance.
The children felt proud that they have created artworks that the gallery thinks are beautiful and worthy of display. They took turns to take photos with their artworks before they were brought to the next gallery to see other budding artists’ artworks.
The children were fascinated by the beautiful drawings and paintings. They were given a sketchbook each to draw anything from the artworks that they were inspired by in the gallery. After the drawing session, each child got to take home their own framed artwork to give to their mothers as a Mother’s Day gift.
In the News
11 Jan – FSC (East) moves to WGS
The PPIS Family Service Centre East has officially moved to their new premises at Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) on 11 January 2019. The centre then hosted a visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during WGS’ official launch on 26 January 2019. With this move, the centre is now better equipped with more counselling rooms, workspace for staff and is better positioned to serve our community and their new service boundary.
20 Jan – PPIS Oasis Launch & Award Ceremony
PPIS Oasis had their Official Launch & Award Ceremony at Citizen Farm together with Guest of Honour, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim. The event not only raised the awareness of our Fostering Agency, the third of four such centres in Singapore, but also recognised and celebrated foster families in their efforts. Foster children were also given awards for their non-academic and academic achievements.
2 Feb – R.E.D.: Conversations with Muslim Leaders
The fourth edition of Conversation with Muslim Leaders featured a dialogue session with Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and some 30 Muslim female professionals who work directly with low income groups. Participants, together with Dr Faishal, discussed on the topic of “Social Inequality Faced by Muslim Females in Singapore”, sharing thoughts and experiences as well as insights from the government’s point of view.
30 Mar – PPIS International Women’s Day
This year’s PPIS International Women’s Day Celebration centered on the theme of #BalanceForBetter where we recognize the unpaid care work that women do every day by giving them an opportunity to learn something new as well as to relax and indulge in self-care activities. We aim to encourage women to embrace the spirit of life-long learning and to highlight the importance of self-care that is so vital for their health and overall well-being.
10 Apr – PPIS Board & AC Appreciation Dinner
An Appreciation Dinner was held for our current and past term Board Members and Advisory Committee Members at Village Bugis Hotel. The organisation is grateful for the commitment shown by these volunteers who have given their time and expertise in stewarding the organisation and its purpose.
4 May – PPIS ‘We Have a Dream’ Launch cum Lunch
PPIS launched its annual fundraising campaign this year, titled “We Have a Dream” at Wisma Geylang Serai together with stakeholders, donors and beneficiaries. This year, attendees were treated to a performance by our children from Child Development Centre Bedok Reservoir and Student Care Centre Bedok as they tucked into a sumptuous lunch kindly sponsored by Masjid Khalid and event sponsored by Lee Foundation. Maybank also distributed $10,000 worth of supermarket vouchers to PPIS’ beneficiaries.
Our donors such as Sym-Asia Foundation, SSA Consulting Group Pte Ltd and Tan Chin Tuan Foundation have played a big role in providing PPIS with resources to reach out to more beneficiaries with meaningful programmes year on year.
9 May – President Halimah Yacob visits FSCE
President Halimah Yacob visited PPIS Family Service Centre East on 9 May as part of her community engagement. She was given a tour of our new centre at Wisma Geylang Serai and joined an Urban Gardening workshop. The workshop was centred on encouraging women to grow their own herbs and vegetables. Mdm Halimah mentioned that women must not only be active in social circles but also endeavour to lead healthier lives for themselves and their families. Taking care of one’s mental and physical health should be a priority.