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Many things can be said for a family. Having a family brings warmth, happiness and simple joy to those who cherish it. How can we strengthen our family relations?

We should never take each other for granted. Every little thing that ANYONE has done for us deserves credit.

Thank your wife for whipping up your breakfast even if it’s just a slice of toast. She probably woke up early just to do that. Or make your dad coffee after his long day at work to thank him for his long hours at work to support the family. Not to forget, even the simple deeds by your siblings - like not using your toothbrush. Ok, that’s probably a bit too stretched but you get what I mean.

By learning to appreciate the small things our family members do, we see the sacri�ce and contributions of each one and I’m sure, what goes around comes around.

Communication is very important to any rela-tionship. Often, in our busy lives, we neglect sharing our experiences with our family. It’s rare that we share personal details with the closest people; our loved ones. Ironically, in a conservative Asian society, the people closest

to us sometimes are the ones who we con�de in the least.

Perhaps it’s because family members tend to be harsher on each other, thus creating this fear of revealing too much. However, I’ve come to realise that, the more comfortable I am sharing private details with my family the closer we have become. Over time, we can provide feedback and improve on our shortcomings as a family. Bite your tongue before you reprimand or nag for it sti�es the willingness to open up.

Reward yourself and your family by spending some time together. Many will complain about work taking up a lot of time etc. Time is created by man, and man manages time. Take the initiative to organise a family dinner weekly. Have the discipline to do at least one activity together. A family that makes time for each other will reap the bene�ts of a happy family. We’re often in the pursuit of riches but a person who is appreciated, treasured and rewarded will also experience a certain kind of wealth. To me, money doesn’t buy happiness, truly. So let’s take a bit of our time to tell our loved ones how special they are to us today. I know I’m telling mine!

A wise man once said, “A rich man is not a man of riches, but a man of family.”

LIVING RICHBy Azri Zulfarhan

Photograph by Dominic Khoo, www.whatisthesight.com

My Experience in Tropical ParadiseNot in Hawaii

Healing with Mandarin It’s not just a language

Beyond the RunRunning into Prison

Living RichPursuit of Happiness

SPARKSMICA (P) 170/02/2009 ISSN 1793-8562 ISSUE 01/Feb 2010

A publication of Singapore After-Care Association

Helping ex-offenders and their families get back on their feet

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River View hotel was decorated for our Tropical Paradise

SPARKS is published thrice yearly by the Singapore After-Care Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form in whole or part, in English or any other languages is prohibited. The views and opinions expressed or implied in SPARKS are those of the contributors or readers and do not necessarily re�ect those of the publisher. MICA (P) 170/02/2009. Singapore After-Care Association, 81 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209408Telephone: +65 6294 2350/+65 6294 2763Fax: +65 6295 0095Website: www.saca.org.sg Email: enquiries@saca.org.sgIf you are interested to receive or advertise in SPARKS, please email enquiries@saca.org.sg, with the subject: Subscribe / Advertise.

MANAGING EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITORS

CONTRIBUTORS

DESIGNER

CHRISTINE NG

NOOR HASLINDA BTE MOHD SO’ODDON - BATCH 17

AZRI ZULFARHAN

AGNES LIM 97 84 84 02 agnes@rainingfavor.com

EDITORIAL TEAM

DOMINIC KHOO www.whatisthesight.com

PHOTOGRAPHED BY

COVER PAGE

3 Beyond the Run

4 Experiencing Tropical Paradise

6 Healing through Mandarin

7 Let’s make cookie dough

8 Living Rich

CONTENTS Editor’s Notehaving a one-to-one romantic dinner, perhaps it could be a group candle-light reunion dinner! An East meets West occasion with an underlying similar notion: relationships. 2009 was a year I got humbled and appreciate the things in life. In October, I attended the Social Icon conference. When it came to lunch time (every Singaporean’s favourite), the organizers decided to play Roulette with us. They were trying to pass the message on to us that we did not get to choose to be born poor or rich.

So we were divided according to the colour of our name tags. Black = Upper class, Orange = Middle Class and White = Lower Class. We then ate according to our class. The upper class was served a 10-course lunch, complete with waiters and silver cutlery. The middle class had a buffet, and the lower class had to queue for watery porridge with peanuts. I sat on cardboard boxes and ate atop biscuit tins. I could only look across the room at my colleagues (who were in Middle Class), green with envy while I learn to be grateful with even a bowl of porridge. It was certainly a humbling experience as I count back on my blessings and fortunes.

Also in October, we hosted our volunteer appreciation night. As much as we need to appreciate what we have in life, we need to appreciate people too. Our volunteershave dedicated their time, effort and sometimes even money to our cause. It is certainly encouraging to know we’re (18 staff) not alone in this walk!

A young boy, Azri whom I met at the Yellow Ribbon Run is my guest writer for this issue. Enthusiastic to support our cause, he submits not one but two articles! At the inaugural run “into Prison”, it was eye-opening to get a glimpse of the prison life. I also managed to chat up Ms Lee, who is a volunteer teacher at Kaki Bukit prison school. Having been given a second chance herself, she now encourages inmates to not give up.

In November last year, SACA was also appointed as the agency to provide compulsory basic training to all volunteers intending to work within the prison setting. We’re excited with this new endeavour and we look forward to it!

Though we might all get busier, we shouldn’t forget to take time to appreciate our love ones, take time to sip a coffee and re�ect. On our cover image, celebrity photographer Dominic Khoo shares with us how his coffee showed him some love! This new year, let’s not take anything or any one for granted.

sn’t it a coincidence that Chinese New Year falls on Valentine’s Day? Instead of

Christine NgManaging Editor

SPARKS — Igniting Change

We appreciate your views! Contribute a story, opinion, feedback or even a commentary. Your entry may win you a Sandwich Maker, courtesy of AKIRA! Email your contributions to: sparks@saca.org.sg, subject: Mailbox; or post it to: Singapore After-Care Association, 81 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209408.

MAILBOX

BEYOND THE RUNBy Azri Zulfarhan

We refused to accept this and encouraged each other on.

the successful-completion plaque inside, we couldn’t have been more pleased and proud of ourselves. Friends who weren’t participating asked why I had to participate even though it was Ramadan and I was fasting. They felt I was putting myself at risk, for I could have collapsed due to the low energy levels from fasting.

For an ex-offender to reintegrate back to society, he/she will need to go against the odds. That was exactly why I felt I should do

September – Everyone thought I was crazy. What started as a bizarre proposal

turned to reality when we found ourselves waiting for the bus outside Singapore Expo. Though the rain came down relentlessly, we did not let it dampen our spirits. We boarded the last bus and arrived after the of�cial �ag-off. Not allowing this to affect us, we dropped our belongings and immediately headed towards the starting point. Due to my excitement, I easily ran past my friends and stayed ahead. The idea of challenging myself in a new experience gave me that boost of energy. Not wanting to lose out, my friends were forced to catch up. After only a few minutes, one of us showed signs of giving up.

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We passed historical sites such as the Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall with motivational chants from the cheerleaders (who shouted till they were hoarse) lined up on the side. Collecting the goodie-bag which had

this – to go against the odds too; to run when no one thought I could or should.

Have faith, and believe...

Always questioning how things will turn out and whether it will last makes you doubt your initial good intentions. With the support and encouragement of friends (who in this case, also joined me in the run), family and society who believe in you, everyone can achieve

what they set off to achieve. We might not be able to envision the end point or predict the result but with a little faith and belief, embarking on the journey will be rewarding and enriching. Congratulations to Hanniel Choong who took part and outran many in the race. His determination to outrun his drug abusing past was an inspiration to many. I’m glad to be part of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run.

Curious cats

SACA's volunteer in print and in person Little girl comes to support by buying a badge!3

My Experience inTropical Paradise

By Jeff Chen

The sporting guest-of-honour Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee came dressed in bright tropical colours.

or a long while now, I have been wondering how I could get involved with a charity without much

change to my other commitments. I have always had an af�nity with causes that promote second chances. However, I felt ill-equipped to be a befriender. I am also cautious of leading someone else when I am clueless myself. Then I heard from SACA that a volunteer need not necessary be con�ned to being a befriender! Neither was it a programme where I had to clock in hours. And so, begins my experience in Tropical Paradise…volunteering to be a photographer at SACA’s annual volunteer appreciation night.

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Volunteers are such good sports – they participate in stage games without much persuasion.

It wasn’t a match-making event, but our volunteers looked for their other half at the start of the night. The year has quickly passed and it was nice to have this gathering. A client came to share his reintegration walk with his volunteer, a group of clients came to sing and play musical instruments. It was all a magical moment as like-minded people gathered to share their experiences.

Volunteers need encouragement as well. Kudos to sponsors like Kenko Holdings Pte Ltd, Robinsons Singapore Pte Ltd, United International Pictures Pte, Coca-Cola Singapore Pte Ltd, WMF Singapore Pte Ltd, Asean Chess Academy, Dr Ameen Talib and Mr Lakshmanan s/o Seenivasakan for providing the prizes that night. Every Singaporean loves a lucky draw (apart from buffets, of course)!

This was my �rst time volunteering and I have the deepest admiration for the volunteers who have dedicated 5 years and more!

Clara Yap, May Hui and John Ho were also commended for going the extra mile. Radha Chowdhuri and Tee Kai Peng, a newbie and senior respectively, were recognized by SACA for their outstanding efforts this past year. In my opinion, all volunteers are to be commended for their dedication and commitment.

Maybe next year I will win an award too!

NOBODY says no to our Wonder Girlz & BoyzThe experience of a volunteer is one of joy as well as

tears. It starts with the jitters of meeting your client for the �rst time. It then leads to happiness and pride when together you grow in life. Sometimes it can end in tears when they re-offend; sometimes you get exasperated when trying to help. Then comes the volunteer appreciation night and you get embarrassed; such good fun ;-)

Got sabo-edagain!!

Christmas

came early!

present for

me?!!

Not me.

Who has myother half?

I won, I won!!

Hands clasped in earnestness and sincerity, the guests prayed for a feast of their favourites.

i hope we get steak tonight.

Hmmm.

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Not forgetting her childhood af�nity for law enforcement, she volunteered to be a teacher at the Kaki Bukit Centre prison school (KBC). Having an af�nity for the inmates under her charge, they naturally took a liking to her. After all, she could relate to them having had to overcome many obstacles in her own life. Due to the lack of funds, Xuan Man only had a primary education from Johor Baru at age 25. Only at 29 then did she manage to complete her secondary education. She �nally received her Bachelors Degree in Chinese Language from Taiwan at age 34.

Xuan Man was not only able to share her experience at having a second chance at education but was also living proof that you’re never too old to learn. This greatly inspires and motivates the student-inmates in their own learning journey. Mandarin to the Gen Y is a much dreaded subject, but Xuan Man constantly updates herself with innovative teaching methods that even involve using Lee Kuan Yew and Obama as class-room subjects. She inspires the student-inmates with Obama’s dream about bringing change to America and he accomplished that. She also told them about Lee Kuan Yew’s dream on overcoming Singapore’s weakness — the lack of water as a natural resource. He realized his dream with NEWater. She then probed the student-inmates to think about their dreams and how they will come about to realize it after release. She challenged them to write their thoughts out with the Chinese language. She instilled in them that an education can change the course of their fate. With education, dreams can become reality.

Asking her about how she feels about walking into prison weekly, she shares that in prison, the basic necessities we take for granted are a luxury. The student-inmates look forward to lessons and

HEALINGTHROUGH

MANDARIN

By Christine Ng

teacher wrote, “I have a dream” in Chinese on the blackboard. Typical students would probably groan and think “not this title again” but the student-inmates at the Kaki Bukit Prison School are inspired to start writing as soon as they meet Ms Lee Xuan Man.

This Millennia Institute teacher had an ambition to be a police woman. However, she ended up a Mandarin teacher instead and was the recipient of the Inspiring Chinese Language Teacher Award in 2009.

feet shuf�ed into the class room and students scrambled to settle down, the As

thus value education even more. They are a very hardworking bunch and her proudest moment was when her KBC students score in their exams.

Halfway while chatting, Xuan Man brought out her “babies” and proudly showed them to me. Making sure there was neither water nor dirt on the table, she carefully laid down these precious things. Pointing to each one, she begins her story. Every Teacher’s Day, the KBC students would hand-make cards for her. She says these students are very grateful to her for volunteering in Prisons and appreciate her even more as they know she also has a full curriculum to teach outside of these walls. Students probably dread teachers piling them with homework, but the student-inmates worry about the day their teacher stops giving them homework!

Xuan Man is even surprised that even after release, her students remembers her and still sends her Teacher’s Day cards! Such appreciation from the students really touches her. With their handmade cards, the students apologetically tell her, “We can’t give you any material presents except to show our gratitude with the language that you’ve taught us.”

As their main concern upon release is �nding a job, these students have realized the importance of education and work hard to improve their chances of successfully reintegrating into the community.

Prison Service Outstanding Contribution Award 2008

亲爱的宣漫老师：感谢您一路以来为我们的学业与前途费尽心思，不辞劳苦。您为我们所付出的一切，

我会铭记于心，并会痛改前非，重新做人。

知识改变命运，梦想成就人生。

SACA has education support services that provide funding, support networks and workshops to motivate student-clients who are enthusiastic about upgrading their skills and continuing their learning. Contact us for more info.

by Tim Foley

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