WGS Jaguar Scout Group - MINDS

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HSBC Helped to Improve the Lives of Low-Income Families Text and photos by MINDS Social Workers MINDS social workers were approached earlier this year to identify families who might benefit from a corporate project undertaken by HSBC. This project sought to create conducive study environments for children from low-income families as part of HSBC’s 2010 Corporate Responsibility Challenge. Based on the criteria set by HSBC, our social workers recommended some potential families, and facilitated the visit and assessment of each family. Assessment of the homes took into consideration the layout of the flat and the type of renovations or furniture necessary for the makeover. Spring cleaning work, repainting and installation of new furniture were then carried out from 9 to 11 June 2010 with volunteer staff from HSBC rolling up their sleeves to turn the homes into a comfortable place for the children to study and learn in. A total of 18 families from MINDS schools, EDCs and TDCs benefited from this wonderful and generous corporate initiative of HSBC. 11 mindspeak: the heartvoice of special people HSBC makeover experience for Norton* , a MINDS student and one of the beneficiaries Volunteer HSBC staff came bright and early to Norton’s flat at 9am and began to shift furniture and belongings out of two congested rooms where Norton, his elder sister and younger brother studied and slept in. As there was very limited space in the house, Norton’s father would sleep on a mattress in the living room every night. The children’s beds were old and shaky, the paint in the rooms was peeling off, and the walls were very old-looking. There was a need for more space for the family of four and Norton’s sister had to use her ironing board to do her homework. However, after a day of hard work, Norton and his family were filled with delight to see the finished outcome! Norton’s sister said, “My brothers now have a proper room! It is more organised and they finally have a place to study. I can teach them homework in their own room now. They even have a new whiteboard!” “Now, they have new fans, pillows and tables. The old broken things are thrown away. Children happy, I also happy,” said Norton’s father simply. Norton himself had something to say too, “I like my room now. It is in my favourite colour, yellow!” Commenting on the overall experience, his sister said, “HSBC Challenge has helped me and I am really grateful. I hope that other families like me can have this kind of experience too.” * Name has been changed to protect the family’s identity Details contributed by Cherlyn Oh. Before makeover After makeover
MINDS Community Group Home Text and photo by MINDS HQ MINDS’ in-house transitional Group Home project was initiated in 2005 to train higher functioning clients with intellectual disability to live independently and be integrated into the community. With the help from NCSS, MCYS and HDB, as well as funding from the VWOs Capabilities Fund and the Tote Board Social Service Fund, MINDS managed to secure two rental flats to realise the aim of this project – that is, to see 12 adults with intellectual disabilities integrated successfully into the community over the next three years. The first batch of two female and three male tenants moved into the two four-room rental flats in the East on 10 May 2010. Some 50 guests attended their house-warming luncheon on 22 May 2010 and were glad to hear them expressing their happiness and joy for their new home and new lives. MINDS adopts strategies such as co-tenancy, duty rosters and social support to prepare the clients for Visiting Group from Macau Text by Rosalyn Peng Photos by ATDC and MINDS HQ On 26 July 2010, MINDS welcomed 25 visitors from Macao Association of Parents of the Mentally Retarded. The visiting group comprised mainly of board members and members of the Association who are also caregivers of people with intellectual disability. Mr Keh Eng Song, CEO of MINDS, and the management personnel of Woodlands Gardens School, Woodlands EDC and Ang Mo Kio TDC dedicated the entire day to making this visit interesting and fruitful for the visiting group. They introduced MINDS and our services through our corporate presentations, orientated them around the three premises and engaged in lengthy Q&As with the visitors. Residents of the MINDS Community Group Home with MINDS staff and volunteers who made the project possible. independent living in the HDB rental units. A Community Facilitator from MINDS will help the tenants build a support network with the Residents’ Committee, volunteers and their employers etc. The Community Facilitator, together with some selected volunteers, will conduct regular home visits to monitor the wellbeing and progress of the residents too. In addition, CCTVs were installed at the Community Group Home so that residents could call the staff from the 24-hour MINDSville@Napiri for assistance if they should encounter problems. The Project received a Special Mention in the NCSS inaugural Outstanding VWO Award 2010 (Innovation) during the recent NCSS Members’ Conference. mindspeak: the heartvoice of special people 12
Page 2 and 3: MINDS’ Vision To be a world-class
Page 4 and 5: Interview with Mrs Jaya Mohideen Mr
Page 6 and 7: The Flame within our Youths Text an
Page 8 and 9: WGS Jaguar Scout Group Bagged Silve
Page 10 and 11: Fun Fit @ FGS Text by Quek Yan Ying
Page 14 and 15: A Cut above the Rest: Enhancing a C
Page 16 and 17: Being Able Text by Salinah Kader Ph
Page 18 and 19: Occupational Therapy in MINDS EDCs
Page 20: About MINDS MINDS stands for Moveme

WGS Jaguar Scout Group - MINDS

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