2009/2010 - MINDS

6
PRESIDENT’S REVIEW
clients. The caregivers provided their expertise and
networks; the EDC provided the structure; the TDC
used this as a training ground for the clients, and
MINDSville provided the space.
‘Start a Social Enterprise Contest’ with
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
In November 2009, we jointly organised a ‘Start a
Social Enterprise Contest’ with Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s
School of Humanities. Through the contest, MINDS
tapped on the talents of the second year Business and
Social Enterprise students to create new ideas for social
enterprises as well as create awareness of MINDS and
the employability of our clients. 10 teams participated
with very creative ideas. Through the kind donation of
the family of Dr Lee Kum Tatt, prizes were given to the
top three teams.
People Developer Award
MINDS successfully met all the new criteria for the
People Developer Award and achieved a Commendable
Performance in People Excellence conferred by Spring
Singapore in December 2009. The assessors noted
MINDS commitment to the mission, vision and values
of the organisation through the management of its
human resource. For example, they noted that there
was a planning process addressing the organisation’s
strategic directions, platforms for employee
involvement, a structured training and development
framework, a rewards and compensation system
linked to performance, a structured information
management system, regular sharing sessions such as
in-house seminars on intellectual disability for staff
and stakeholders, and talent development.
Job Placement and Job Support Programme
From January 2010, MINDS was appointed the service
provider for a 3-year pilot Job Placement & Job Support
(JPJS) Programme by NCSS. In collaboration with
SNEF, who will source for jobs, MINDS will facilitate
the placement of clients with intellectual disability
in open employment, as well as provide continuing
support to these clients as they adjust and adapt to the
challenges of open employment.
Community Group Home
In March 2010, with the help of NCSS, MINDS
successfully secured two HDB 4-room flats in Bedok
for the setting up of a Community Group Home. After
many years of preparation, three male and three female
residents from our residential home made the move
to independently living into the Community Group
Home on 10 May 2010. All six residents are engaged
in open employment. The residents will continue to
receive support and supervision from MINDS as they
live independently within the community. Adaptive
resources such as smart home technologies and assistive
technology devices are being used to ensure that
the residents’ security is not compromised with the
increased independence. The safety and welfare of our
Community Group Home residents will be monitored
closely.
MINDS MYG Coffee Table Book – Simply
Serve
In March 2010, MINDS MYG launched its first coffee
table book Simply Serve documenting and celebrating
the contributions of 50 dedicated volunteers, 27
caregivers and three persons with intellectual disability.
The book is a tribute to the spirit of giving, and of
caregivers and volunteers who made a difference in
the lives of persons with intellectual disability. It also
commemorates MINDS MYG’s journey through the
passage of 35 years. Publication of the book was
made possible by the donation from the family of Dr
Lee Kum Tatt.
APPRECIATION
MINDS is what it is today because of the significant
contributions of preceding generations of stakeholders
who made a difference.
On behalf of MINDS, I would like to thank our former
Exco members, namely, our immediate Past President,
Mrs Jaya Mohideen and Mr Lee Chak Meng, Mr Goh
Siang Khin, Mdm Goh Siam Imm, Mr John Lee, Mr
William Teo, Mr Chng Jong Ling and Ms Jamie Lau
for their selfless giving of themselves and their time.
Their decision to step down was part of the process
of renewal that is a necessary part of good corporate
governance, a major initiative of Mrs Mohideen.
Under the leadership of Mrs Jaya Mohideen, there were
many important outcomes and achievements, and I
am unable to do justice to them in this short message.
These achievements can be found in the annual
reports from the years 2003 to 2009. Nevertheless, I
think Mrs Mohideen’s most significant contribution
was entrenching sound corporate governance within
MINDS, even before the spotlight was put on Charities
in recent years. Many MINDS clients, volunteers and
employees have benefited from the contributions of
Mrs Mohideen and her team, and many more will
benefit in the future. For this, we would like to say a
big “Thank You”.
CONCLUSION
2009/10 has been another fruitful year for MINDS.
Together with volunteers and caregivers, the staff of
MINDS has worked tirelessly towards enhancing
MINDS’ standard of service delivery.
We extend our deep appreciation to the many donors
and volunteers who believe in and support our cause,
the Community Chest for raising funds needed for our
programmes, and the Ministry of Education, MCYS
and NCSS for their funding, guidance and support.
Mr Conrad Campos
President